Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary

Franks was born in central Oklahoma and adopted by Lorene and Ray Franks. Franks' father is the most influential person in his young life. A former Air Force Mechanic, Ray makes his living as a "Jack-of-all-Trades" who could repair anything. Franks' parents are not well-educated and hold a simple view of the world. For example, his father tells him that the Japanese are bad people who started World War 2, and that people who land up in jail deserve it, a consequence for the wrongdoing. Ray Franks thinks in terms of good and evil, right versus wrong. Franks' flexible job enables him to spend a lot of time with his son, not only as a parent, but also as his Scoutmaster.

Franks learns he is adopted by accident. Franks finds his birth certificate one day and notices that he has a different...