Chapter 3 Summary

Chess and Checkers Warm Water watch the band and discuss how they are not that good. Checkers is considered the most beautiful woman on the Flathead Reservation. Victor and Junior are getting increasingly drunk and it is affecting their playing. Thomas finds Chess attractive. Thomas wants to play a song for Chess, but Victor and Junior refuse at first and then Junior follows Thomas onstage. Victor remains at the bar.

The narrator describes the drinking history of Victor, Junior, and Thomas. Victor began drinking at an early age. Junior tried to avoid drinking because of what he witnessed with his parents' drinking, but Junior eventually succumbed to Victor's encouragement to drink. Thomas does not drink, but he has a father who is an alcoholic.

The guitar forces Victor onstage to help with Thomas's serenade of Chess. Thomas sings for Chess and the crowd...