Summary

The story follows Neto during his last few months in El Paso during the summer of 1970 as he prepares to move away for college. His relationship with his father is hateful and strained, mostly due to the loss of siblings in different manners, and his mother's affections are not enough to make up for it. Feeling distant from his friends and family, essentially ready to move on, Neto has a casual interaction with Brian Stillman one day as he cuts school and drives around. He is surprised at the polite behavior of Brian, who had been one of the people who bullied him while he was on the track team.

During a bonfire party by the river, Neto interacts with Rosie, an ex-girlfriend he is on good terms with. She reminds him of how he inspired the love of words in her...