Three young men from very different homes, just coming into their own sexuality, bond at a time when information about homosexuality is scarce to the average teen. Their strong connection cannot survive high school and heartache, however, and their triangle collapses under the weight of prejudice and a need to escape.<br><br>Ten years later, Tucker is bitter and hurt by all the tragedy in his life since those long ago happier days. Reclusive, somewhat animalistic, and completely content to stay that way, he’s brought up short by an unexpected confrontation with the past and feelings that won't stay buried.

Fur, Feathers, and Claws

“I wonder…” Chad began. “Never mind.”


“I wonder,” Chad looked at Tucker’s blue Keds, “what queer sex is like.”


“Homosexual sex. Queer is a bad word. I think.”


“Oh. Homosexual sex. I mean, what is it? Is that dumb? Am I dumb that I don’t know?”


“No, man.” Tucker knew about ‘oral sex,’ because he’d had it, because he’d read about it, because he came up with it in his head before doing either one. He wondered if Chad had, too. He’d recently read more about the other kind of sex two men could have—sodomy—but still wasn’t sure how he felt about it.


“I mean, like, there has to be more to it than me touching your pe—your penis and, like, ya know, you touching mine,” Chad said.


“‘Pe…nis.’ That’s what you said. Like you were going to say something else.” Tucker grinned. “What, like, were you going to call it?”


Chapter 26