Introverted, socially awkward Jay Kirkman, known to his Grams as “Jay Bird,” is riding the ups-and-downs of youth while living with overbearing parents and dealing with the pressures of being a senior in high school. A month away from graduation, Jay hopes to flee the small upstate New York town of Milton for a life anywhere but in his dead-end hometown. He wishes for more than he has now: scholarly, eccentric parents, and watching Grams, the closest person to him, slowly dying before his eyes. His equally withdrawn but edgier best friend Rocco has a hearty appetite for drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex. When the law comes knocking, asking questions about a crime Rocco may or may not have committed, he finds himself in big trouble and turns to Jay for help. Is Jay and Rocco’s friendship strong enough to sustain life’s tough obstacles as they navigate the highs and lows of growing up together?

Jay Bird

The noise was fast, loud, and distinguished. The catcalling screams from my parents’ bedroom was unnervingly quiet. Oh God, I thought. Whatever you do, Jay, don’t make a peep.


Anna was making enough strange noises on the other end of the line with her dramatic impression of somebody climaxing. Only a small animal would understand, I thought.


I could hear her reenacting an X-rated scene from earlier in the evening with James, Jimmy, or Jim.


Inhaling deeply, I lifted my right foot from the step, closing my eyes, clenching my teeth, my clammy hand gripping my iPhone. I sloshed apple juice over the edge of the glass, across the hardwood steps, asI worked overtime trying to disregard my friend’s Oscar worthy performance.


My nerves got the best of me. Body odor, sweat and pot mingling, I got a whiff of myself and winced. ThenI heard footsteps. Coming from down the hall. A door opened. My eyes widened in shock when I saw the tallframe of my father coming out of his bedroom.


Chapter 8