Chapter 3, Mom- Chapter 4, The Football Fathers Summary and Analysis

In chapter three, wooden splinters whistle as big chunks of the fence fly into the sky. The debris burns. Some people in Coalwood wonder if the mine has blown up or if the Russians have attacked. Homer Sr. and Elsie start to fight when Sonny's father fears he will be embarrassed all over Coalwood. When Sonny realizes that his mother and father are "about to go off onto one of their standard quarrels," (p. 41) he eases back into the shadows with the dogs. They fight. The news travels all over town via the "fence line" method of communication. "Didn't I tell you not to blow yourself up?" his mother asks. His mother tells him he's a sweet kid but that's he's just been wandering, without direction. She desperately wants Sonny to...