Part One: Another Day Another Dollar. Summary

The novel opens up in a bar called Greeks in Brooklyn that is frequented by prostitutes and sailors. Unemployed hipsters such as Freddie, Vince, Tony, and Harry also hang out there. They hate the "square" records most of the sailors play, but enjoy the intense atmosphere, often hanging around to wait for something interesting to happen.

When a sailor puts on a Left Frizzel record on the jukebox, the boys wander outside, talking about cars, women, and clothes, occasionally adjusting their hair with their combs. Someone suggests a game of Mum and soon Vinnie is standing in the center of a circle with the others taking it in turn to punch him. The idea is that he has to catch the person who threw the last punch before the next person punches him...