Chapter One Summary

John receives a letter from his aunt, asking him to lunch. Since he visits her every Sunday and it is only Wednesday, he knows that the discussion will be serious. He is reminded of a movie he watched recently at Lake Pontchartrain with Linda, his girlfriend and secretary at the time. John explains that he is now happily living in Gentilly, a middle class suburb of New Orleans. John lives in a bungalow with his neighbor, Mrs. Schexnaydre, and works quite successfully at his uncle's brokerage firm.

John frequently goes to the movies and watches television as an escape. Even when he travels on the weekends or on business trips, John enjoys going to the movies. He usually takes his secretaries with him, who are typically named Marcia or Linda and occasionally Sharon. The relationships never pan out, however, though it...