Toby does well on his prep-school entrance exams, but he gets rejection letters from Andover, St. Paul's and Exeter and does not hear from Choate. At first, the rejection does not bother him as he is counting on Deerfield. Then, he gets a rejection from Deerfield and realizes all hope is lost.
Mr. Howard, a Hill School alumnus who lives in the Seattle area, calls Toby at school and asks to meet with him. Mr. Howard picks Toby up in a blue Thunderbird. He is a sharp dresser who looks more natural in a suit than any of Toby's teachers. He is clearly of a different class. Toby has Mr. Howard pick him up in front of a crowded drugstore, because he wants the other kids.....
