- The book starts with a brief scene from Art’s childhood in Rego Park, New York. The year is around 1958, and Art is ten or eleven years old.
- Art is skating with his friends when he loses a skate and falls. His friends skate off without him.
- Devastated, he goes to his father, who is sawing something in front of their garage. His father scoffs at the fact that Art considers these kids his friends.