Neal's father has been drinking for a month straight, ever since he got laid off because he started a fight with one of the bosses for whom he laid shingles. Neal's junior-high graduation is soon, and all the boys are supposed to wear blue serge or dark suits. Neal does not have one. He is already older than all the other kids because he has been held back from all the moving his family has done; he has only been in this specific school in Los Angeles for a few months. Neal simply wants to fit in. Neal asks his father about the suit. The father does not have any money, so they ask Neal's grandfather. Instead of money, Neal's grandfather pulls out his own blue serge suit, which he got married in and wore to his wife's funeral, and offers it to Neal. Neal does not want to accept because the suit is very old-fashioned and makes his feet look huge, but Grandpop insists. He tells Neal that he will get himself a new suit for when he is laid to rest. Neal takes the suit. He is somewhat embarrassed but feels obligated to do so. On the day of graduation, Neal stops at Grandpop's house to show him how the suit looks on him. Grandpop gives Neal his good watch, and Neal starts to feel proud. At school, kids look at Neal weirdly and one boy tells Neal he looks like Abe Lincoln. But another boy comes up and asks Neal if he wants to come over to his house after the ceremony. Neal says yes. When Neal walks across the stage for graduation, at first he hears laughter. Then, the crowd breaks out in applause. Neal has never had anyone clap for him before.