Chapters 1 - 10 Summary

In June, Robert, his mother, and his little brother Dennis move from Dublin to a small rental house on a farm on the outskirts of Ennis. Robert states he has no plans to remain with the family. PJ Dooley, the landlord, picks them up in Ennis and transports them to the rental house. Dooley lives nearby. The house has two stories and three bedrooms upstairs. The previous tenant, Lars, was from Sweden and vanished under mysterious circumstances—literally simply vanishing one day. He left behind many things which have been packed into a large closet, and an automobile—a Skoda—that is left in the driveway. Robert immediately begins to scheme about stealing the Skoda so he can return to Dublin and be with his friends.

Robert looks around the area and secretly smokes a cigarette outside. Then...