Rumble Fish

Rumble Fish Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

Rusty-James is sitting on the beach when he runs into Steve Hays, an old friend from back home. It has been five or six years since Rusty-James has seen Steve, who is going to college now to become a teacher. It takes a while for Rusty-James to recognize him; he says his memory is messed up. He has been bumming around on the beach with his friend Alex since he got out of the reformatory, where he spent five years.

Steve notices the scar running down Rusty-James' side and Rusty-James tells him he got it in a knife fight. Steve says he knows; he was there. For a second, Rusty-James remembers the fight, like a movie.

Steve says they should meet for dinner; he wants Rusty-James to meet his girlfriend. Rusty-James does not stop him from naming a time and place, though he does not much want to talk about the good old days. When Steve asks him if he knows who Rusty-James reminds him of, Rusty-James remembers everything. He thinks he could have been glad to see Steve, if he had not made him remember everything.