This Boy's Life Part 3, Chapter 1 Summary

  • Dwight drives Jack up to Chinook to live with him while mom stays in Seattle. Along the way, Dwight runs over a beaver, while claiming he was trying to avoid it.
  • He orders Jack to pick the beaver carcass and put it in the car. Jack refuses and Dwight accuses him of being chicken.
  • Dwight picks up the beaver himself, then freaks out when blood drips on his shoes.
  • They stop at a tavern in town. Dwight buys him a hamburger and fries, and tells him to sit tight in the car. With the beaver carcass.
  • Hours pass. Dwight finally returns, dead drunk, and gets behind the wheel. (Kids, please don't try this at home. Dwight will helpfully demonstrate why.)
  • Dwight skids across the road, going way too fast for comfort. He seems to be doing it specifically to scare the pants off of Jack.
  • Dwight calls Jack a "hotshot," and says that Jack used to make fun of him. (Marian, it seems is a bit of a stool pigeon.)
  • He orders Jack to repeat his impersonation of him. Jack refuses. Dwight warns him that it's going to be "a whole 'nother ball game." (10.44) Jack begins mental preparations.