One foggy, gray morning before school, Rob walks through the woods behind the Kentucky Star Motel where he lives. To his surprise, Rob discovers a tiger in a cage. The tiger is “orange and gold and so bright it was like staring at the sun itself” (2). Rob runs home. As Rob waits for the school bus under the blue and yellow Kentucky Star sign, he thinks about the tiger. Focusing on the tiger keeps Rob from thinking about unhappy things in his life, like the red rash on his legs, the two bullies on his school bus, and his mother, who died six months ago. At her funeral, Rob cried so hard he couldn’t stop, and his father slapped him: Rob hasn’t cried since. He and his father moved away from Jacksonville to Lister, Florida. Now, Rob keeps his feelings and “not-thoughts” (4) shut up tightly inside as if they’re crammed in a locked suitcase.

Norton and Billy Threemonger begin to bully Rob the minute he gets on the school bus. They call him “Kentucky Star” (5), make fun of the rash on his legs, and shove him. Norton gives him a noogie, and Billy punches him in the arm.