The Masterpiece

The narrative jumps back to Bobby Ray at seven years old. Living in a dingy San Francisco apartment with his mother, Bobby Ray often has to scrounge up food for himself from wherever he can find it, and he is often at risk of violence from the men who sexually exploit his mother. She frequently leaves him on his own, sometimes for long stretches, but she always promises him that she’ll be back. Bobby Ray has a vague understanding of the substance abuse addictions that continually pull her away, and one day she simply does not return, despite her promises. He eventually goes looking for her but is unable to find her, so he keeps living in the apartment by himself and continues going to school. Mr. Talbot, a teacher, shows growing concern for Bobby Ray’s condition, but the boy doesn’t reveal the depth of his problems. One day, while Bobby Ray is at the apartment, the landlord confronts him. The landlord is just about to sell the boy to a man who is likely a pedophile or trafficker when Mr. Talbot and a police officer appear on the scene and rescue him. The police assure Bobby Ray that they’ll try to find his mother, but in the meantime, they put him into foster care.