Summary

In Chapter One, Linda speaks from some two decades after the year Paul died. She says she thinks about him sometimes. He was only the second person she knew who died. Her eighth grade history teacher, Mr. Adler, collapsed and died at school. Linda grew up in Loose river, a small town in Minnesota. Adam Grierson was hired to replace Mr. Adler. Linda could tell he wanted the students to like him but most were indifferent to his efforts. Linda answered a question one day and Mr. Grierson seemed grateful. She felt that was her gift – to “give people what they wanted without knowing it came from me” (Location 98). The day after she answered the question, Mr. Grierson asked her to stay after class and he asked what they were studying before his arrival, hoping to get some help with his own lesson...