His first memory was of his fifth birthday.

He did not remember much of what had happened early in the day, but by late afternoon he had bathed and was sitting on the stone porch outside the house, smothered in talcum powder and Brylcreem. Of this he was sure. He was wearing his new clothes—a pair of yellow shorts, made from thick embossed polyester. They were a bit too long and loose around the waist. He cannot remember the shirt that he wore.