Summary

In the chapter “Now Away We Go,” the first-person narrator Paul and his friends Joni and Tony go to watch a mutual friend’s musical performance at a local bookstore. Paul is openly homosexual, and while his friend Tony is as well, they have a platonic relationship, with Paul investing significant time in helping Tony navigate matters with his religious and homophobic family, all while going to a neighboring high school. At the bookstore, Paul sees another boy, Noah, who he begins to nervously flirt with, learning that Noah is new to their school and the town. Paul leaves the show privately obsessed with Noah. In the parking lot, the friends briefly talk to Joni’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Ted.

The chapter “Paul Is Gay” describes Paul’s largely positive and drama-free childhood. Paul had been told...