Ordinary Grace

The Fourth of July approaches. Nathan Drum despises the holiday because the sounds of fireworks bring bad memories from his time as a soldier. Frank wants to get fireworks with Gus. Jake tells him not to go, saying he has a bad feeling about it. Frank goes anyway. Officer Doyle accompanies Frank and Gus.

The trio head to the river, to set off their purchased fireworks. Gus and Doyle discuss Warren Redstone, with Doyle revealing that Redstone tried to “‘start some kind of Sioux uprising…in the valley a bunch of years ago’” (92). Doyle goes on to say that Redstone ran into trouble with the FBI and fled, and that he has a criminal record.

Frank is scared to light his M-80 in his hand and toss it so he mounds some sand, lights the fuse and watches it explode. In a moment that conveys everything one needs to know about the character of Doyle, the officer grabs a bullfrog from the river’s shallow water, shoves a lit M-80 down the animal’s throat, and flings the animal through the air, watching it explode. Frank is sickened and angry and walks toward home.