Quote: First published in the early 1950s, the story centres on teenage Gaylord Le Claire, handsome (or pretty), with a good slim body, but bit of a sissy, who lives in Cotton, Texas with his wealthy, loving parents . While he endures more than his share of bullying and name calling he is liked by the girls, and even the most handsome Robert Blake, the popular school football star, is pleasant to him. Gaylord secretly loves Bob Blake, but he is sure that friendly as Bob is, he would not want to associate with a boy who used to play with dolls and now wears face powder. That is until the day Bob interrupts a group of boys bullying Gaylord in the boys’ changing rooms; Bob intervenes and sends the bullies packing. Following that Bob takes an interest in Gay, but when Bob takes Gay for a drive and they end up in a secluded lane where Bob seduces him, Gay fears that will be the end of it.

The 1950s, an unenlightened and comparatively innocent time, and Gay thinks he is unique, he surely is the only one who likes other boys in the way he does. Bob however continues to seek out Gay who happily declares his love for the handsome jock (how he would love to hear Bob repeat those three important little words). Then Gay goes for a weekend in New Orleans with his parents, goes out alone for the night and wanders into the queer district, is picked up by Paul, an understanding a protective young man who introduces the naive, innocent Gay to the secret world of queer men. His eyes are opened as he meets men in drag, queens, and learns what faggots means along with the then arcane gay.

Gay returns to Cotton with a new confidence and the hope that he and Bob might make a life together perhaps in New Orleans. However Bob’s jealousy over Gay’s friendship with new boy Glenn Rogers threatens to ruin their relationship.

There is much more to this story besides, for instance after Gay’s weekend in New Orleans we do not neglect those he met, but return to see the impact Gay has had and what transpires particularly for Paul. The whole is a well rounded out and positive tale despite the repressive time it was written.

I was surprised at how good this novel is, initially it felt that it would develop into the typical M/M romance of today, but is it far from that. While heavily weighted at times towards the narrative this is yet well written. It has no need for explicit sex (metaphors suffice). This is a most engaging read with appealing characters which evokes a time now lost, for good or bad.