Chapter 1 Pages 35-55 Summary

George thinks about some of the odd jobs his father performed over the yers to earn extra money. He saved a drowning girl once. Another time, he pulled the tooth of a hermit he would meet with once a year to give him supplies. The hermit supposedly went to college with Hawthorne. After pulling the tooth, George finds a copy of the Scarlett Letter signed by Hawthorne to the hermit on his front porch. The following year, the hermit doesn't show up for his meeting with Howard.

Charlie says that he's reading a book in his grandfather's handwriting. He says it's some sort of dictionary or encyclopedia. Charlie reads one of the entries to George. Howard likens his seizures to lightning striking. He also thinks about how the angels feed on natural things, such as lightning.

Ninety-six hours before...