The Original Incident:
* The story starts with Stanley Yelnats' great-great-grandfather, Kissin' Kate Barlow. She was a beautiful and popular woman who fell in love with a black man named Sam, a "kissin' man" who sold onions and was known for his love and generosity.
* However, their love was forbidden in the racist society of the time, and Sam was unjustly accused of stealing a valuable watch.
* The town, led by the greedy Mr. Sir, chased Sam out of Green Lake, leading to the town's downfall and the disappearance of its water.
* Kate Barlow, feeling betrayed, turned into a notorious outlaw, robbing everyone she could and becoming a legend.
The Consequences:
* Green Lake dried up, and the town was forced to leave. It became a desolate wasteland, with a small town surviving by turning it into a prison camp.
* This prison camp, run by the cruel Warden, becomes the central setting of the story. The boys are forced to dig holes, under the belief that it builds character.
* The Warden is obsessed with finding a treasure she believes Kate Barlow buried, which is connected to the original incident of Sam being falsely accused.
Stanley's Connection:
* Stanley is wrongly accused of stealing a pair of sneakers and sent to Camp Green Lake.
* He is connected to the original incident through his great-great-grandfather, who was accused of stealing a valuable watch, leading to the curse that Stanley's family has faced for generations.
The "Incident" as a Metaphor:
The "incident" in *Holes* can be interpreted as a symbol of the ongoing cycle of injustice, prejudice, and the power of stories. The original incident of Sam being falsely accused leads to a chain of events that perpetuate hardship and suffering, and the stories surrounding it continue to shape people's lives and destinies.
In Conclusion:
While there isn't one singular "incident" in *Holes*, it's the confluence of events, starting with the original act of injustice and culminating in the harsh realities of the prison camp, that forms the core of the story. It's a tale of how the past can influence the present, and how the cycle of prejudice and suffering can be broken through understanding, forgiveness, and ultimately, love.