Chapter 4 Summary

The summer before Paul leaves for Yale, he continues his job at Nick's and befriends Nick's flamboyantly gay son, Alex. To his father's dismay, Alex is gay and proud, almost like a drag queen without the dress. Paul envies Alex for his ability to be himself. The two boys go to the mall together for school clothes. Paul has little money and makes an impulse decision to steal a package of underwear. Then, he decides he will continue stealing only the little things he needs so he can afford a nice jacket. In the next store, however, he is apprehended by mall security as he tries to steal a pair of pajamas. From that day on, he never wears pajamas again.

Both stores press charges and Paul is asked to appear at the Salem courthouse the following day. His father warns him that...