Prologue, Part 1: Chapters 1-4 Summary

The prologue begins in January 1953. Johnny Smith is six years old and happy to be alive on such a frosty day. Although the temperature is 20° neighborhood children all flock to Runaround Pond to skate and play hockey. Johnny's only wish at this point in life is to learn how to ice skate backwards. On the ice there is an accident where one of the larger kids collides with Johnny. Johnny is knocked out after he hits his head on the ice. After Johnny comes to, however, he rambles incoherently about an accident that has not yet occurred. The prediction is not noted by those around Johnny. When it comes true, no one realizes that Johnny had predicted it. After a few minutes, Johnny seems to be fine in the incident is all but forgotten.

It is the...