Reminiscingafterhismother’sdeath,BennyKramerremembersthechaosandhardshipsofhisyouth,indeliblymarkedbyabriefturnasabootleggerFormostofhislife,BennyKramer’smotherwasaninescapablepresenceinhislife.Butonthedayofherdeath,herbodydisappearsonitswayfromhospitaltomorgue.WhilescouringNewYorkinsearchofherbody,Bennyremembersthefirstadventurehismothersenthimon,fiftyyearsbefore.