- The novel starts with a letter from the main character, Robin, to his Uncle Richie.
- It's 2003, and Robin is about a hundred miles outside the Iraq border. He doesn't think there will be a real war. He thinks the Iraqis will hand over their weapons before anything really starts.
- Robin's dad was mad at him for joining the army instead of college, and Robin asks his uncle to put in a good word for him.
- In the same letter, Robin says he feels "jumpy" (P.3) but also that he sees this as an adventure.