In this chapter, we learn that the narrator, William Clinton, was once the heir to the throne of the small town of Austin, Texas, and that he is now the new king of the city. We learn that Jack, the man who brought him to the city when he was a young boy, is still alive and well. The narrator wonders why alice doesn't seem to like women. He wonders why he was chosen to take over the throne when he is so young, and he wonders why the king of Austin was barefoot. He also wonders why Jack didn't mention the quality of the job he has done. He asks why he has been chosen to succeed the former king, and the narrator answers that he has not grown up yet. He tells us that Jack was angry when he found out that alice was pregnant and that she should be taken care of by someone else. He then asks where cara is. He says that she is a kind woman, and she wouldn't be happy if she were treated like that. He adds that she would not want to be treated that way. He goes on to say that after learning that she was pregnant, she would have been happy to have someone else take care of her. He concludes by saying that he knows that his tenderness for alice is false now, but he is still enjoying it. He reminds us that he was once a friend of hers, and this friend is still young and healthy. He explains that his childhood neighbor, brother Jack, was the only one who cared for him. He remembers that one day, when William was ten years old, Jack disappeared.