Act 1, Scenes 1—6

The play opens with the narrator, Adult Bo Groden. She introduces us to herself as an eleven-year old child living off the map in northern New Mexico. Young Bo is a sassy, intelligent, determined young girl. She is creative, often writing letters to large companies, complaining about products and demanding free samples. Charley, her father, is experiencing an oppressive bout with depression. The man is always crying, not sobbing: tears are constantly draining from his eyes. Arlene, her mother, is a strong, stable woman who is able to support the family through Charley's debilitating depression. Adult Bo also introduces us to Charley's friend, George, a large, quiet man with a deep dedication to the Grodens.

Young Bo quickly expresses her desire to leave her life off the map. She plans to achieve her goal by applying for an American Express credit card so she can...