Prologue Summary

Nine year old William Henry Devereaux Jr. is the only child of academic nomads. His father, a noted author and academic opportunist, moves his family from university to university every few years, teaching a light load of classes and writing. His mother teaches a full course in order to earn her way. Henry, as he is called by his parents, is an exasperating child. He is not a bad boy, but needy, full of energy and questions. His father rarely listens to him, so it falls to his mother to see to his wants, and what Henry wants most is a dog. His parents do not want a dog, and for all Henry knows, no pets are allowed in the housing provided by the university. However, he sets himself to the task of getting one, despite his parents denials. He speaks of nothing...