Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Thomas hangs out at the elementary school gym most weeknights, playing basketball, hanging with the guys, or playing craps. Thomas is the youngest boy allowed into the craps game and that is because he bullied his way into it. There is no game tonight, but there is a soldier back from the war showing off his samurai sword. The soldier claims that he took the sword from a Japanese soldier and then cut off another Japanese soldier's head with it. Thomas's friend Claude called the soldier's story untrue, which were fighting words to the soldier. Thomas, as Claude's friend, had to intervene, offering to fight for Claude. The soldier backed off and left.

Claude tells Thomas a few minutes later that he saw Gretchen get into Boylan's car. Thomas does not believe him, but takes Claude's motorcycle, one he borrowed on...