Self-absorption
Each of the major characters (Frank, Tub, and Kenny) displays a significant lack of concern for others at some point in the story. At the beginning of the story, we read about Kenny's reckless driving and witness a small exchange of mockery among the characters. The characters travel through the woods, hunting, and after tracking a deer, arrive at a house. Upon requesting permission to hunt on the property of the house, unknown to Frank and Tub, Kenny is personally asked to shoot the landowner's dog. After he completes the task, he jokingly threatens to shoot Tub and in return is actually shot by Tub who truly believed he was in danger. Frank and Tub decide to take Kenny to the hospital. On the way to the hospital, we learn that Frank is planning on leaving his wife and children for 'true love'. After confessing this to Tub, Tub reveals his secret as well—gluttony. They stopped at a restaurant and Frank orders several orders of pancakes for Tub, allowing him to indulge in his gluttony. They get back into the truck and start driving away from the hospital.[2]
