Coming of Age

Many of the characters in this story are in the process of growing up, but Art Bechstein's telling of the story is primarily focused on the changes he experienced in himself during his summer after college graduation. Art has been a socially-handicapped boy, not only because of his mother's untimely death but because he holds secrets about his father and his family. He has been unsure of his sexuality, afraid of displeasing his father, and wary of women. He has not been sure where he fits in socially, since he comes from an atypical family. Completing college has helped him have the confidence to finally take the steps that he needs to figure out how people have fun and what it is that makes people friends, since he has not allowed anyone to get close to him. Even Claire, the early girlfriend whom he has left...