In a first-person account dated March 8, 1975, Vincent sat at his desk pretending to do homework while grounded, though he wanted to be at a bonfire with his siblings, Danny and Poppy, and his girlfriend, Lydia. He thought about Lydia’s beauty and recent decision to date him, but also heard Danny’s mocking voice claiming Lydia only chose Vincent because Danny had rejected her. The household noise of television and his father’s complaints underscored Vincent’s restless walk to the kitchen and back, his mind fixed on the moment earlier when Lydia accepted Danny’s invitation to the bonfire after Vincent said he could not go.

Earlier, Danny had dismissed the bonfire as pointless but reversed himself when Vincent was grounded, offering Lydia a ride with him and Poppy. Vincent saw Danny’s provocation, while Poppy celebrated the plan and their mother shouted for quiet. Vincent hoped Lydia would stay behind with him, but when Lydia asked, “Do you mind?” everyone watched him, anticipating an outburst. Poppy paused with her new Super 8 camera, and Danny waited for Vincent to explode, but the narrative jumps to the present with Vincent stewing in humiliation.

Vincent’s father entered the kitchen, chastising him for leaving the refrigerator open and for moping, then left. Vincent imagined the party and worried that it was at Mr. Stewart’s house, a popular young teacher and coach who gave Lydia extra running sessions and enjoyed a fanlike following among students. Vincent’s disgust extended to Danny’s past enthusiasm for Mr. Stewart’s survival class and to his father’s suggestion Vincent should take it too; Danny mocked Vincent, and Vincent nearly lunged at him.

Vincent’s mother suggested he do something productive, like a book report. He looked out toward the neighboring yard that would soon belong to Mr. Stewart, noting the bonfire also marked the teacher’s move to the house next door. Poppy was excited about having him as a neighbor, but Vincent dreaded living beside a teacher. He returned to his room, put on Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady,” and tried to drown out his thoughts with loud music.

Before they left, Vincent had asked Poppy to keep an eye on Lydia. Poppy teased him about spying and filming Lydia with the Super 8, which stung because that was exactly what Vincent wanted: public proof that Lydia was his. Danny drove, Lydia took the front seat, and Poppy, from the back seat, raised her camera toward Vincent on the porch. Vincent turned away, unwilling to be filmed as the grounded “loser.”

Alone with the music, Vincent confronted his feelings—jealousy, fury, and rage—at being left behind, at Danny’s manipulation, and at Lydia choosing to go without him. The chapter ended with Vincent fixated on possessiveness and humiliation as Hendrix sang about a woman belonging only to him.