Through Michael’s story arc, the novel explores its main theme of The Consequences of Impulsive Actions, as Michael’s impulsive decision to shoot his brand-new rifle into the air on his birthday is what sets the novel’s events in motion. Michael’s impulsive decision has immediate consequences when it takes the life of Charlie Ward, and the fallout of this deadly decision echoes through the community, impacting everyone Michael is close to. This theme is also developed through the titular motif of swallowing stones.

When Michael first learns about the bullet that killed Charlie Ward, he first tries to find reasons it couldn’t be his, but he knows deep down that he likely fired it. Joe gives Michael a pep talk about how “there’s some things you just got to live with” (13), adding that “we got to act like nothing’s happened” (14). Joe explains Michael “can kiss off all those fancy colleges you were thinking of applying to” (12) if he were to come clean. Michael is uneasy with Joe’s suggestion, but he laments that the bullet was never supposed to go anywhere. Michael is faced with the decision between hiding his guilt or facing the consequences of his actions.