Gil’s parents drink, fight and practice infidelity. His aunt provides each of the five siblings with a week of respite at her home. Gil’s father, who spent five years in prison for bootlegging, punishes the children for their occasional church attendance. But Gil loves his dad more than he loves his mother; and when dad dies of liver failure, Gil chooses to go to a boys’ home. His mother visits once to tell him his younger brother has accidentally shot and killed his youngest brother. He runs away but is caught and returned. At a church service at the home, he learns to pray. Gil’s aunt brings him home after three years, but he rebels, drinking and doing drugs with school friends. The first part ends as he sees the girl he will marry.