he boys jumped to their feet. “Mr. Perry,” Meeks, Charlie, and Knox said in unison.

“Keep your seats, boys,” Neil’s father said as he walked briskly into the room. “How’s it going?”

“Fine, sir. Thank you,” they answered.

Mr. Perry stood face to face with Neil, who shuffled uncomfortably. “Neil, I’ve decided that you’re taking too many extracurricular activities. I’ve spoken to Mr. Nolan about it, and he’s agreed to let you work on the school annual next year,” he said, and then walked toward the door.

“But, Father,” Neil cried. “I’m the assistant editor!”

“I’m sorry, Neil,” Mr. Perry replied stiffly.

“But, Father, it’s not fair. I …”

Mr. Perry’s eyes glared at Neil, who stopped midsentence. Then he opened the door and pointed to Neil to leave the room.

“Fellows, would you excuse us a minute?” he asked politely. Mr. Perry followed Neil, closing the door behind him.

His eyes raging, Mr. Perry hissed at his son. “I will not be disputed in public, do you understand me?”

“Father,” Neil said lamely, “I wasn’t disputing you. I …”

“When you’ve finished medical school and you’re on your own, you can do as you please. Until then, you will listen to ME!”

Neil looked at the floor. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”

“You know what this means to your mother, don’t you?” Mr. Perry said.

“Yes, sir.” Neil stood silent in front of his father. His resolve always crumbled under the threats of guilt and punishment. “Oh well, you know me,” Neil said, filling the pause. “Always taking on too much.”

“Good boy. Call us if you need anything.” He turned without further comment and walked off. Neil looked after his father, feeling overwhelmed with frustration and anger. Why did he always let his father get to him like that?

He opened the door to his room and walked back in. The boys tried to look as if nothing had happened, each waiting for the other to speak. Finally Charlie broke the silence.

“Why doesn’t he ever let you do what you want?” he asked.

“And why don’t you just tell him off! It couldn’t get any worse,” Knox added.

Neil wiped his eyes. “Oh, that’s rich,” he sneered. “Like you tell YOUR parents off, Mr. Future Lawyer and Mr. Future Banker!” The boys studied their shoes as Neil stormed around the room angrily. He ripped the school annual achievement pin from his blazer and hurled it furiously at his desk.

“Wait a minute,” Knox said, walking toward Neil. “I don’t let my parents walk on me.”

“Yeah,” Neil laughed. “You just do everything they say! You’ll be in daddy’s law firm as sure as I’m standing here.” He turned to Charlie who was sprawled across Neil’s bed. “And you’ll be approving loans till you croak!”

“Okay,” Charlie admitted. “So I don’t like it any more than you do. I’m just saying …”

“Then don’t tell me how to talk to my father when you’re the same way,” Neil snapped. “All right?”

“All right,” Knox sighed. “Jesus, what are you gonna do?”

“What I have to do. Chuck the annual. I have no choice.”

“I certainly wouldn’t lose any sleep over it,” Meeks said cheerfully. “It’s just a bunch of people trying to impress Nolan.”

Neil slammed his suitcase shut and slumped onto his bed. “What do I care about any of it anyhow?” He slammed his hand into his pillow, lay back silently, and stared with glazed eyes at the ceiling.

The boys sat around glumly, feeling Neil’s disappointment and sadness. “I don’t know about anyone else,” Charlie said, again breaking the silence, “but I could sure use a refresher in Latin. Eight o’clock in my room?”

“Sure,” Neil said tonelessly.

“You’re welcome to join us, Todd,” Charlie offered.

“Yeah,” Knox agreed. “Come along.”

“Thank you,” Todd said.

After the boys left, Neil got up and picked up the achievement pin he had thrown. Todd started to unpack again. He took out a framed photo of his mother and father with their arms affectionately around an older boy who appeared to be Todd’s famous brother, Jeffrey. Neil looked at the photo and noticed that Todd was slightly apart from the family group, with them but not really a part of them. Todd then unpacked an engraved leather desk set and laid it out on his desk.

Neil plopped on his bed and leaned against the headboard. “So, what do you think of my father?” he asked blankly.

“I’ll take him over mine,” Todd said softly, almost to himself.

“What?” Neil asked.

“Nothing.”

“Todd, if you’re gonna make it around here, you’ve got to speak up. The meek might inherit the earth, but they don’t get into Harvard; know what I mean?” Todd nodded, folding a white button-down oxford cloth shirt. Neil held the achievement pin in his hand as he spoke. “The bastard!” he shouted suddenly, jabbing his thumb with the metal point of the pin and drawing blood.

Todd winced, but Neil just stared at the blood intently. He pulled the pin out and hurled it against the wall.