Summary

In the opening pages of the novel, the narrator introduces the reader to Micah Mortimer, a 43-year-old man (43) living in Baltimore. During the day, Micah works as a tech support expert for a company called Tech Hermit. The rest of the time he is the superintendent at the building where he lives in a neighborhood called Govans (4). The narrator describes the punctuality and consistency of Micah's daily and weekly routines. His activities described include his exercise, housekeeping, and driving habits, as well as the duties he carries out as the building superintendent. These include taking out the garbage cans and cleaning up the leaves around the building. The narrator also describes Micah's appearance and his social life. Micah has a girlfriend named Cassida Slade (referred to in the text as Cass), and apparently no male friends.

The narrative then recounts the events of a...