Summary

Frank Bascombe is putting gas in his car on the way to meet former client Arnie Urquhart. As he is doing so, he listens to a morning sports radio show where they are reviewing a local coach's expletive filled tirade. This gets Frank to thinking about the use of words and how he does not like the modern trends of catchphrases and other words. He does not mind expletives, Frank actually prefers them. He finds them more useful than the current slang that he feels will confuse others who do not use them on a regular basis.

Frank is awakened the previous morning by a phone call from Arnie Urquhart. Arnie's home has been blown away by Hurricane Sandy and Italian property flippers want to buy the property. Arnie wants Frank to come see the remnants of the house as it was...