This Boy's Life Part 2, Chapter 4 Summary

  • Awkward holiday! Jack and his mom go up to the town of Chinook to spend Thanksgiving with Dwight and his kids.
  • Dwight's daughter Pearl, hugs Jack's mom when they arrive. It's kind of creepy.
  • Jack gets an insta-crush on Dwight's older daughter Norma.
  • The next day, Dwight shows them around Chinook—a village occupied solely by employees of the Seattle Light Company. It's depressing, but Dwight tries to talk it up.
  • Dwight promised Jack when he came to Chinook that he would be able to participate in a turkey shoot. Dwight lied. As we will learn, he does that a lot.
  • Dwight uses Jack's Winchester at the turkey shoot. He sucks, and blames his bad performance on the gun.
  • Jack's mom signs up for the shoot, falsely claiming that she's an NRA member.
  • She wins the competition despite a general air of sexism to the whole thing.
  • Tough he doesn't say anything, Dwight seethes with envy at mom's skill with the rifle.
  • Dwight drives them back to Seattle. On the way, he points out a school of spawning salmon in a stream and observes that they're all going to die soon.