In the late 1950's, fourteen year old Philip Noland is a gay but sexually inexperienced freshman at St. Sebastian’s, a Catholic high school for boys. Alone and emotionally isolated, with the exception of two friends named O’Riley and Carlin, there are no familiar guideposts for Philip to follow, just an excess of rules and regulations that make no sense to him.<br><br>A late bloomer, Philip learns to masturbate effectively and fall in love for the first time, but his greatest challenge isn’t the regimented behavior at St. Sebastian’s -- it's surviving a bully named Molinara who has set his sights on Philip.<br><br>Can Philip navigate the minefields of St. Sebastian's and emerge victorious?

Boys Will Be Boys

“Those of you who drive,” he continued, “must obtain and pay for school lot parking permits. Always stand in class when your teacher calls on you. Never fail to stand when I, or any of the teaching staff, visit your class. If you have to use the little men’s room—snickers here—do not attempt to leave the classroom without first securing a pass from your teacher. Do not wander the hallways during class time without a pass. Do not dawdle. When you are in the little men’s room, do your business quickly—several guffaws here—and then return immediately to your room. You must buy all of your own books,” He looked up, perhaps, to drive his point home. “I mean allof your books,” then he glanced back to his notes.


Chapter 3