Summary

The story opens around the year 1980. The protagonist is a young Caucasian man who has recently graduated from college. He moves to the city of Chicago and takes up residence in an apartment building on the north side of the city, near Lake Michigan. He procures a job as a journalist for a Catholic newspaper. He spends his days either wandering the city or spending time in the apartment. In narration, he states that the three most interesting residents of the apartment are Mr. Pawlowsky, the superintendent; Ms. Elminides, the owner/landlady; and Edward, Mr. Pawlowsky’s dog. Pawlowsky used to be in the Navy. He has lived in Chicago his entire life. He is portrayed as a kind and sensible man who speaks in extended monologues of speech. The protagonist soon befriends Edward, who seems to have almost human-like intelligence, personality, and communication...