summary

The beginning of the book introduces the setting and characters. The story begins in 1975 with Jimmy Marcus, Sean Devine, Dave Boyle, and their families. The readers learn how the boys know each other, which is through their father's jobs. Jimmy is the daredevil out of the boys and lives in a poor part of town, called the Flats. Sean is the most mature, levelheaded, and richest out of the three. He lives in the Point, the rich part of town, and attends a parochial school. Dave also lives in the Flats and always tags along with Jimmy. It is clear that Sean does not like being around Dave and tries to ignore him whenever he is around. While the boys are all together in Sean's neighborhood, Jimmy decides he wants to steal a car. Sean is against this idea, which makes Jimmy, and therefore Dave, angry. Dave punches Sean in the arm and Sean gets mad about this so he punches Dave back. Jimmy gets defensive of Dave and starts pushing Sean. The boys are rolling around in the middle of the street when a car pulls up with two men inside. One of the men get out of the car and starts asking the boys questions about the fight. The boys think this man is a cop and are scared they will get in trouble. The "cop" tells Dave to get in the car so he can drive Dave home. Dave, being the submissive one out of the three, gets into the car and drives off with the cops.