1919 Summary

National Suicide Day begins on January 3, 1920 and takes place every January 3 except during WWII. After being in the war in 1917, Shadrack returns home to the Bottom of Medallion not knowing who he is or what he should do. The only thing he remembers is a window overlooking a river full of fish.

During the war, Shadrack's first encounter with the enemy surprises him because he expects to be exhilarated or terrified, but he only feels the "bite of the nail in his boot." As he rushes into the crowd of people, he turns his head and sees "the face of the soldier near him fly off."

Shadrack then opens his eyes and he is in a hospital bed. His meal is waiting for him. He "looks" for his hands and notices them as lumps under his blanket. He carefully lifts his hands towards the plate...