Chapter 1 Summary

Bud, Not Buddy begins with a picture of how it feels to be in an orphanage and be picked for leaving the orphanage. As an outsider, one feels that Bud Caldwell, the main character, would be happy about becoming someone's adopted son instead of being stuck alone in the orphanage. Bud and Jerry, another young boy in the orphanage, are both selected to leave and go to their respective homes.

Bud is happy, though a bit reluctant, to find he is going to a home with boys. He tries to cheer up Jerry, who is a little worried about going to a home with girls. Bud reassures him that it will be easy going and fun, since the girls will want to play house and dress him up. Bud feels as if Jerry got the short end of the stick, because he has...