His parents divorce when James is five and he never sees his father again. Feeling that his mother has rejected him, he turns to drugs and gangs. His mother takes him to a Curandero, a witch doctor but James gets addicted to heroin, burglarizing houses to support his habit. Violence reigns. His mother keeps him out of prison when he’s 17, but after more crimes, James goes to prison at 21. During his second term, he read the Bible to impress the parole board but discovers the love of God and is saved as the first part ends.