[6] The novel tells the story of Davy Ross, a lonely boy who becomes close friends with a male classmate at his new school.

The novel was the subject of an essay by Martin Wilson in the 2010 book The Lost Library: Gay Fiction Rediscovered.

Davy's only friend is his dog Fred, until he meets Douglas Altschuler, a classmate at his new school who is also an only child living with a single mother.

Davy and Altschuler begin spending time together, and eventually kiss, sleep in the same bed with their arms around each other, and engage in other erotic acts (described in the book as "making out" and "doing it", without more details).

Davy now thinks homosexual acts might be wrong in view of his mother's reaction, and wonders if the death of his much-loved dog is punishment for his actions with Altschuler.