Payston Peters' position in the nerdly lower social class seemed ordained from the time he was ridiculed by the other little waifs in nursery school when he threw up trying to force down a nasty piece of squash. Being named Payston Oscar Olin Peters by unthinking parents gave Payston a singularly bad start in life and an enduring cross to bear. The scatological acronym of his name was almost as damaging as being named "Sue" in the classic Johnny Cash song. Payston's coming of age on the High Plains of Texas is a fascinating journey, replete with highly entertaining adventures and misadventures. Payston had to survive by his wits and audacity and was frequently in trouble. He was a strong believer that every wrong or insult demanded massive retaliation. Being the shortest boy in junior high assured Payston's continued position in the lowest social caste system in school. His popular and very attractive older sister had a quick trigger for clobbering her brother in the head with her hairbrush. Our hero contends that the hairbrush assaults lowered his IQ and ruined his chances to become a member of Mensa.
Payston Peters' coming of age mirrors in many ways the rites of passage experienced by teenage boys in the 1950s. The protagonist survived bullying, dating disasters, and his adolescent sexual awakening. A great deal of the adventures and misadventures depicted really happened. Some are shocking and some are merely hilarious. Readers will often find themselves cringing or laughing aloud.