Art Bechstein

The protagonist and narrator of this story, Art Bechstein is a complex young man with an unusual set of circumstances. Art's relationship with his father is tenuous and sensitive. Art almost always cries when he is with his father, who seems disappointed in Art no matter what he does. Art''s mother was killed when he was thirteen, and he has not been able to speak about her ever since. Although his father lied that she had been killed in a car accident, Art does not know what happened to her, but he knows that whatever it was, it was connected to something secretive. He knows that the false identity his father wears is one that he wears with Art, as well. Art spends a lot of time trying to discover who his father really is. When he tells Art he is in the mafia, Art is enthused...