The novel opens with protagonist Louie Banks reminiscing about the start of his senior year at his high school in Trout, Idaho. Back then, he dreamed of a triumphant football season, graduation, and pursuing journalism in college. Louie plays eight-man football, and his team hasn’t lost a game in three years. He plays with his best friend, Carter Sampson, a quarterback, and the school bully, Boomer Cowans, a running back. Carter and Boomer are naturally talented at football, and Louie sees them destined for college scholarships, unlike him. Louie reflects that he feels sorry for Boomer, who pins his hopes solely on football: “If he doesn’t make it playing ball […] he’s going to be setting chokers and top-loading his old man’s logging truck for the rest of his life” (8). Despite this understanding, Louie admits to fearing Boomer. He believes Boomer hates him and fears that any slight provocation could escalate into physical violence. He recalls a past incident where Boomer’s father violently punished him on his birthday for lying.

Louie wrestles with his insecurities. He sees himself as timid, a “wussy, to put it in Boomer’s language” (11).