Chapter 1, Fortune (pgs. 3-7) Summary and Analysis

It is 1955, and Toby and his mother are driving across the country to escape their old life in Sarasota, Florida and start a newer, better life in Utah. They are trying to get away from Toby's mother's abusive, obsessive boyfriend, Roy.

Right as they cross the Continental divide, their car, the Nash Rambler, overheats. Both Toby and his mother are used to this as the car has been overheating since they left. The car is such a piece of junk that when they get to Utah, his mother gives it to a woman she meets in a cafeteria. While they are waiting for the car to cool down, a truck speeds past them and drives over a cliff. The brakes are out, and it can't stop.

After this happens, Toby convinces his mother to buy...