"The Peeler" Summary

Hazel Motes is walking along the main street of a small town and sees a barker hawking potato peelers from a bridge table set up in front of the Lerner's Dress Shop. Some bystanders have gathered around, including a tall blind man, a scruffy young girl, and a yellow-haired boy with pimples named Enoch Emery. The blind man and the girl hand out religious leaflets, angering the peeler salesman, who accuses them of stealing his customers. Motes impulsively buys one of the peelers, and follows the blind man and the red-haired girl down the street, with Enoch Emery close behind.

As Motes attempts to follow the blind man and the girl, Emery is chatting constantly at his side, relating his life story and everything he can think of about his hometown. Motes remains distant and aloof, much to Emery's...