Valentino opens his door to an African-American woman. She claims her car has broken down and needs to use his phone. Valentino lets her in, but just as he is looking for his cell phone, an African-American man walks into the house. An angry Valentino asks what is happening, and the man tells him they are robbing him. Valentino's mind drifts and he starts to think about his life in Sudan. This acts as an introduction, Valentino briefly covering the major events of the book such as the Lost Boys walk to Ethiopia, and his friend's death in Kenya. Back in his apartment, the man thinks Valentino is getting too cocky and hits him with the butt of his gun. When Valentino tries to get to his feet, the man kicks him in the head. While he is unconscious, Valentino thinks about his current life in A... (read more)