Kevin O’Brien is terrified by torrential downpour when his mother calls him to take a shower. Kevin’s father and grandmother have already retired to bed. Kevin enjoys being bathed by his mother. His father, Judd O’Brien, is awakened by their conversation. Judd seems unpleased by the noise. Eventually, they all retire to bed.
The following morning Kevin takes breakfast and goes to school. He looks astonished at how the rainfall has wrecked the crops. On his way to school, Kevin passes by a sawmill yard and wonders how it operates. The mill-yard is full of men. Among these men, Kevin recognizes Eben Stingle, who drinks with his father. Stingle tells Kevin he will be late for school.
Kevin gets into school eventually. Upon arrival, he is bullied by Harold Winthrop and Riff Wingate, who are in Grade VI. Fear engulfs him. The boys are stronger than Kevin, and he cannot start picking fights with them. Therefore, he is molested without revenge. However, Kevin consoles himself by believing that at someday, the boys will be failures, and he will be successful. Throughout the novel, Kevin is hopeful and optimistic. The challenges do not slow him down.
Martha, Kevin’s mother, is tired of her husband’s behavior. She is seeing another man. Kevin spots them on one occasion, and he feels ashamed. At long last, Martha abandons her family. She seems to be fed up with her husband’s alcoholism and brutal incidences. Martha believes that O’Brien’s household is cursed. The novel is full of religious conflict between members of the family.
