Summary

In the prologue section “The Original” the author gives a synopsis of the original play Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare.

In the section “Watery Star” Shep, the narrator for this part of the novel, describes a strange sight as he was on his way from the bar where he plays piano. It was hot and humid but suddenly began hailing and raining. His son was supposed to pick him up in the car but he had not come. Shep took the shortcut by the hospital and its BabyHatch, a way he did not like to go because they had built the hatch when his wife was in the hospital dying.

Shep’s son, Clo, found him. He got in the car. Up ahead they saw two men beating another. Clo honked his horn, trying to get them to stop...