Chapter 1 Summary

On a Saturday morning in late November, with the streets of Thalia completely empty, Sonny has the lonesome feeling that he is only human creature in the town. The night before Sonny played his last game of football for Thalia High School. As Sonny drives his old 1941 pickup truck through town, he sees Billy sweeping the streets, heading out of town. Billy lives at the pool hall with Sam the Lion and sweeps the pool hall and picture show, but if he is not stopped, he will sweep all the way out of town. Sonny picks Billy up, already feeling less lonesome, and drives to the pool hall.

While Sonny eats a packet of chips and warms himself before the fire, Sam the Lion teases him about how badly he played football the night before. Thalia was tromped, but Sonny doesn't feel too...