Chapter One: Locke, Bach, and K-pop

Summary

• The narrator expresses regret for not calling the police sooner when their father went missing, pondering if earlier action would've changed the outcome.
• The narrator's mother reassures them it wasn't their fault, while their twin brother John suggests there was no way to predict their father's disappearance because it was seemingly a typical morning.
• The narrator's family is unique with a boy-girl twin dynamic, biracial heritage, nontraditional parental roles, and distinct last names combined into 'Parkson' for the kids.
• Eugene, the narrator's younger brother, has autism and a rare genetic disorder called mosaic Angelman syndrome, resulting in nonverbal communication and an unusually happy demeanor, amongst other traits.
• The narrator avoids optimism to keep from being naive and is prone to getting sidetracked, which they believe can sometimes be beneficial, as demonstrated by a tangent that inspired their honors thesis on music and programming.
• When the police weren't called immediately, it was because the family was avoiding facing the reality that something had gone wrong.
• Adam Parson, the father, went missing after a morning hike with Eugene to River Falls Park. They were seen there, but just Eugene was later seen alone, running in the street, involved in a car crash incident without Adam nearby.
• The narrator was distracted by a breakup call that morning from Vic, where they were accused of not caring enough about the relationship, resulting in the narrator ending the call abruptly after Vic expressed his desire to separate.
• Eugene was seen by the narrator running with atypical coordination. The narrator rushed out to celebrate Eugene’s unusual agility only to be puzzled by Adam’s absence.
• Eugene's growing strength and size became apparent when, instead of returning a hug, he pushed the narrator to the ground, causing pain and surprise.
• Feeling both physical pain and surprise, the narrator lies on the ground contemplating Eugene's changes and Adam's lack of immediate presence.
• The narrator recollects a recent argument with their mother about secretly switching college majors and graduating early, which contributed to a strained family dynamic.
• Despite an urge to seek attention after the fall, the narrator opts to indulge in silent indignation against their family's perceived lack of concern.
• Eugene's jumping and vocalizing from an upstairs window provides a soothing backdrop to the narrator, who feels drained after the altercation with Vic and Eugene.
• The narrator drifts into sleep, discomforted by Dad's absence, focusing instead on the sensory experience around Eugene's sounds and the warmth of the sun.