Pages 1-29 Summary

This novel is set in New York City where Jimmy lives with a family friend, Mama Jean. Jimmy has lived with Mama Jean since he was a small child. Jimmy's mother is dead and his father is in prison.

Mama Jean wakes Jimmy and makes him promise to make it to school before she leaves for her job. Jimmy gets up and dresses, intent on going to school. However, Jimmy has intended to go to school every day for the past few weeks, but has not gotten there. Today Jimmy runs into his downstairs neighbor, Cookie, on his way out of the building. Cookie insists on giving Jimmy an umbrella, but cannot find hers. Jimmy ends up walking to school without the umbrella.

At school, Jimmy is directed into the detention room, but he is released and sent to class without...