Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 1: We meet Aunt Pearl and Alfred. He goes to the clubroom to meet James to go to a movie but gets bullied and accidentally reveals that Epstein’s Grocery leaves their money in the register on Fridays. Major and his crew, including James, break in, unaware that there is a silent alarm. They (the bullies) run into Alfred and beat him up because he supposedly knew about the alarm and purposely didn’t warn them.

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 1: Also in this chapter, we are told in a flashback about James and Alfred’s childhood, their hideout (cave), and how they were best friends. We also learn why Alfred lives with his aunt and has dropped out of school. James, once a good student with big dreams of being an engineer, has also dropped out.

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 2: Alfred has been dragged from the alley where he lay after his beating up to his aunt’s by Henry Johnson and his dad. We learn James has gotten picked up by the cops. Alfred gets out of bed and stumbles across Donatelli’s Gym, where Henry Johnson works. Ch. 3: Donatelli checks out Alfred, finds out his folks are gone, and he’s a drop out. He tells him all the tough things about wanting to box and tells him what a contender is. He also shares the idea that it’s better never to try to box than to try and quit before knowing if you could have been a contender.

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 4: It’s a Sunday and Alfred goes with his aunt and the girls to a storefront church, passing some black nationalists who insult Alfred for going to pray to whitey’s God. After church, Aunt Pearl and the family take the long ride out to Queens to visit her sister (Dorothy) and Uncle Wilson. Wilson and Alfred talk about the changes in America and the new opportunities. They come back to Harlem and Alfred is depressed because he has to go back to work after the break-in.

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 5: Alfred goes out for his first run in the morning and gets stopped by the cops. He comes into the store and the mood is tense because the Epsteins know Alfred is friends with James, who got arrested after the break- in. He runs into Henry just as he’s thinking of quitting boxing and he decides to keep at it.

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 6: This is Alfred’s first trip to the gym. Donatelli is not there because he’s out with Willie Streeter preparing for the big fight. Alfred works out a little in his street clothes but feels a little awkward and out of place. We meet Bud Martin who has to put Red in his place when he starts trying to order the old man around. Alfred and Henry are told there are tickets for them to go see Streeter at MSG.

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 7: Alfred, Henry, and Jelly Belly watch the Streeter fight. Streeter is winning up until he gets cut and starts protecting his eye. He covers up and appears to have lost his will to fight. Donatelli throws in the towel to protect his fighter, who, according to a new character we meet (school teacher and ex-boxer Bill Witherspoon), has disgraced himself by behaving like a coward. The boys get a ride uptown with Spoon…

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 8: Alfred is confronted outside his aunt’s by the bullies who want him to silence the alarm at Epstein’s so they can try to rob the place again. Alfred, with new self-esteem and courage, says no and faces them down even though there are three of them and Major has a knife.

Review Ch. 1 through 10 Ch. 9: Alfred goes on amazing run and returns all charged up and euphoric at his aunt’s. She wonders if he’s drunk because he’s so giddy, but he says no and reveals for the first time to her that he’s in training to be a pro, which she grudgingly accepts. Ch. 10: Alfred goes through a brutal 3 weeks of high-intensity training. We find out Lighting Lou was a boxer. Aunt Pearl and her kids are out of the apt., leaving Alfred to himself. Major swings by the gym and invites Alfred to a party…