Trelawny recalls the home his parents had purchased in the southern Miami suburb of Cutler Ridge. He is sure that the land it stood on, and then the house itself, were cursed. The area had only recently been developed, and the construction boom had displaced massive numbers of millipedes, crabs, and locusts. Although many locals chose to eat the crabs, Trelawny and Delano found creative ways to kill them and the insects. In the years to come, the neighborhood would be plagued by nighthawks, sea slugs, and frogs. Eventually, the insect infestations subsided. The curse still seemed active, however, as one by one, Trelawny and Delano’s pets died: first their fighting fish and then a pair of hamsters.

Trelawny recalls their parents’ favoritism during these years. It had been obvious to both boys that Delano was the preferred son, and even as an adolescent, Delano already expected to inherit their house. Although this seems unfair to Trelawny, to Delano, it is merely the birthright of the firstborn. Trelawny longs to share the closeness that he sees in his father and brother. The only time he feels himself part of their clique is when he agrees with his father that neutering their dog Double would rob him of his manhood.