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It is a warm, spring afternoon, after school has let out for the day, and it is almost rush hour. The story is set entirely on a highway overpass. The bridge is old and made of granite, with heavy stone abutments supporting both ends. Because the bridge is made of stone, it is not very long; the abutments are closer to the road than they would be in newer, longer, steel bridges. This placement emphasizes the possibility of danger to the cars passing under the bridge when Adam pretends to throw a rock off it, as well as when he flicks his cigarette butt toward the cars below.
The location provides plenty of opportunities for Adam to demonstrate his cool masculinity. He can wave at girls, make passing semi-trucks blast their airhorns, and frighten drivers with a sense of total freedom. However, the bridge is also easily accessible via a nearby highway exit, a fact that communicates the potential threat to the boys when the black car circles around to confront them. The setting offers no place for escape when the car reaches them, confining them with the angry bullies.
