Summary

In "Snapshot" (pages 3-90), Michael Figlione begins the story at his house in Cupertino, California during the year of 1988. We get to know this character as being a fat, shy kid. His father, who works night shifts at a local power plant, is Mike's primary caretaker. Mike tells us that his mother is an anthropologist who has been in and out of his life for ten years because she spends her time in Africa (the exact location is undisclosed). The story begins with Mike working on what he calls "doing science" from the garage--he is interested in technology and building things.

While working the garage one afternoon, Mike's neighbor, Shelly Beukes, passes by the garage. She is an older woman, wearing a trench coat in the summer heat, and she is barefoot and holding a cloth canvas bag. Mike speaks to her and...