Chapters 1 through 5 Summary

In chapter one, Gerald is three years old and his mother, Monique, is screaming at him to sit down in the shopping cart. Gerald doesn't want to sit because he has had an accident in his pants and it's very uncomfortable, but he sees that his mother is serious and does as she demands. Gerald doesn't know many things three-year-old boys know because he's never been allowed that knowledge. For example, he doesn't even know that the name of his hometown is Cincinnati. But he has a great deal of knowledge vital to his survival - things like he should never try to get his mother's attention if she is in bed, regardless of whether she's alone or has a man in bed with her. Gerald has also learned to hide behind the couch anytime Leroy has been to visit because...