Summary

In ‘April 30, 1984, 2:40 am,’ Horace sits in the parking lot of South York County High School in the Buick with no memory of how he had gotten there Horace’s high school is “the pride of the county” with its competitive sports teams (141). He cannot see the demon but hears flapping wings and chases after the sound. Horace follows the noise to his old biology classroom. Himself and Gideon had done a biology project together on pea plants which Horace chose out of admiration for Gregor Mendel. Horace “would be lying to himself if he said he had not been attracted to Gideon, now more so. But admitting this resulted in such overwhelming guilt, he might as well have crucified himself” (146).

Working on their project in Gideon’s room, Horace’s “thoughts strayed. Colorful. Forbidden. Thrilling” (151). After several hours of productive working, Gideon thanked...