Summary

Chapter 17 is titled “Sheryl.” Sheryl was a secretary at a law firm. She secured Moehringer a job as a file clerk and took it as her mission to make him into a man, urging him to stand up straight, tuck in his shirt, and which newspaper he should read on the train. He did whatever she said. Moehringer loved to read the New York Times. She took Moehringer to bars where he was never asked for identification. One night, she led him into Publicans. He had been there during the day before, but never at night. Moehringer talked to a woman until Sheryl said Charlie had seen them, and they had to leave now. Sheryl picked another bar where Moehringer tried a cigarette for the first time and became sick. The next day, Charlie took one look at how sick Moehringer was and...