Chapters 1-5 Summary

Chapter one opens at the end of World War II. Sam, has just returned from the war, and he wants to celebrate life. Ned's mother, Jenny, tries to keep up with his partying, but the fun soon wears off, and she wants to get back to real life when she finds she is pregnant with Ned. Jenny and Sam separate shortly before Ned is born. Ned's grandfather dies six months after Ned's birth, and Jenny files for divorce the day after the funeral. She doesn't end up getting the divorce until many years later, because Sam beats up her lawyer and harasses her relentlessly. At the end of the chapter, Sam skips town and is not seen in Mohawk again for six years. Jenny can finally sleep at night.

In chapter two, Ned is a first grader at McKinley Elementary School...