Chapters 3-6 Summary

Chapter 3. As Dawson drives from New Bern to Oriental, he recalls how shortly after Amanda left for college, he was driving home after picking up some tires for Tuck on wet roads and a car that drifted into his lane caused Dawson to swerve, hitting the town doctor, who was jogging in the gloom of dusk, in a fatal accident. Arrested due to political pressure from local politicians, Dawson decided to plead guilty out of a sense of responsibility for the young widow and her children. Dawson served four years and returned to Oriental to serve out his parole. During this time, Dawson's father resumed his demands on Dawson's paycheck. However, having had enough of this treatment, Dawson fought back, injuring his cousin, Crazy Ted, and scaring his father off.

Dawson arrives in Oriental and drives to the beach where he...