Paul O'Rourke

Paul is a dentist with a thriving practice on the East Side. He is proud of his practice and what he can do for his patients, but he is dissatisfied with almost every other aspect of his life, including his own views on religion.

When he was young, Paul's father, Conrad, committed suicide. His dad was manic-depressive, and life was chaotic because of it. Paul learned his commitment to the Boston Red Sox by watching Conrad. However, every other aspect of his father's life was confusing and often frightening. As an adult, Paul comes to realize that his home life was not typical. That leads him to envy the home lives of other people. He falls in love several times, even at a very young age, and the girls' families are a major draw for him. He is enthralled by the family lives he sees, and he...