Summary

Grace convinces her parents to see Jesus in the “Drainpipe (30 July 1976).” Her mother sees Jesus, but her father is convinced it is the image of a famous football player, Brain Clough. John Creasy watches the avenue stir from the window of “Number Eight, The Avenue (30 July 1976)” but is uneasy about joining and worries the residents will ask questions about his wife.

The novel flashbacks to 1967, and John is watching out the window into the dark November night and sees Brain staring at Number Eleven. He goes out to join him, and Brain speaks about flushing Walter out of his house because he does not belong on the avenue. Brian brings up a past event involving his father, but the conversation is dropped. Harold comes out to take over the staring shift and John goes back into his house.

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