The narrator of this story is a boy who plays hockey. He comes from a middle-class family in the USA. His best friend Art plays hockey very well and he has no problem getting the letter (this is a kind of permission which allows playing hockey in the team the next year). The narrator isn't such a good player, though. One day Buff Saunders, also a hockey player, has an accident in a game. The …showed first 75 words of 233 total…

…showed last 75 words of 233 total…quarrels very often with his dad. Buff's dad drinks a lot of alcohol. Therefore, he often hits Buff. Buff doesn't say anything, though, and it seems that he doesn't mind. But he does mind. He tries to cope with this problem by drinking alcohol like his father. When the narrator realizes Buff's drinking problem and the problem with his dad, he wants to help Buff. What will happen with Buff? Will Buff accept the help?