Chapter 6 Summary

Bill's mother died in childbirth. His father was a man who loved many women; he was a smooth operator who had numerous women in his youth as well as when he was an older man. He got involved with Bill's mother, a young girl from a large family who his grandfather didn't approve of. She became pregnant, and they married in secret. She died while giving birth to Bill. Bill's father told him that she was his one true love, but Bill isn't sure if he can believe that.

Bill was brought up in the mansion, and came back there because he flunked his LSATs. During the race riots of the 1960's, the mansion was almost destroyed but withstood the test of time. Bill sees the town as a wasteland, getting worse and worse each year. He tells the reader that the people...