More Happy Than Not

Aaron walks to his girlfriend Genevieve’s apartment. Genevieve is an artist who incorporates fantasy elements into her work. Aaron’s birthday gift to her the year before was a tote bag, which she has covered with drawings and song lyrics and carries often. She is stressed out by her painting and glad for the distraction of a trade date, which is “when [Aaron] chooses a spot to go to that will interest her, and she does the same for [him]” (20). Genevieve chooses Aaron’s favorite comic book store, where they browse for a while. Aaron is a regular but hasn’t visited in a while. He tries to buy $2 worth of comic books, but his gift card balance is at zero. He can’t remember when he used the last of the balance and is embarrassed that his girlfriend sees this. She pays for the comics, but it makes him feel bad about himself.

They play another couple game called “Remember That Time,” in which they “‘remember’ things that have happened very recently or are going down now” (23). The topic this time is Kyle’s Leteo procedure. Genevieve points out that it’s just a rumor and that the procedure suppresses rather than erases memories. Aaron takes her to the playground where she first asked him out, and they pretend to break up and get back together as a kind of game, though Aaron’s question is meaningful as he feels guilty for putting her through his suicide attempt and wants them to have a fresh start. Genevieve says that her father will be out of town for a few days. Aaron quickly realizes that this is an invitation to come over and have sex, which he has never done before.

Aaron is anxious about having sex for the first time and doesn’t know whom to ask for advice. He would prefer to watch pornography, but he doesn’t have privacy or access. He asks his friend Brendan (whose qualifications include having oral sex at age 13), but Brendan is waiting for his client to arrive to buy drugs, so he is dismissive and unhelpful. He cautions Aaron not to be “some little boy who everyone will think is a punk or a fag if you bitch out” (27). Brendan refuses to give him any tips or support. Aaron goes to his brother Eric and asks what their late father’s sex talk was like. Eric explains that their father said to “have fun when [you are] ready,” to always wear a condom to avoid pregnancy, and that being ready to have sex would be “making him proud” (28).

Aaron buys Genevieve some Skittles as a gift and goes to her house, anxious about what’s to come. On the entry table is a brochure for an art program in New Orleans that Genevieve wants to attend but hasn’t mentioned due to her concern for Aaron’s mental well-being. Genevieve says they don’t have to have sex if Aaron isn’t ready. Aaron remembers that the last time they tried, he’d gotten food poisoning and they’d had to stop. Once they’re removing clothing, Aaron realizes that he’s never felt “more exposed and comfortable” in his life (32).

It’s Family Day at the housing project. Aaron works at Good Food’s, a grocery store, while everyone else sets up. Word about him and Genevieve having sex has spread, so his friends keep visiting him at work to hear about it. When he gets off work, the atmosphere in the community has changed; everyone is gathering around, parents are cooking and handing out food, and one mother brings all the boys their matching Family Day shirts.

Aaron’s mother is angry that he lied to her about having a sleepover at Brendan’s the night before. She tells him that he’s not allowed the same freedoms he used to have. The boys begin a game of manhunt in which one player is chosen as the hunter. The other players are given a two-minute head start to hide, after which the hunter comes to find them. If you are found, you become a member of the hunter’s team and work to capture other players. This time, Aaron and Brendan follow Me-Crazy, who they are “pretty sure [will] become a threat to society the next time he’s really bored” (35). Me-Crazy is known for being aggressive and fearless. They stop following him when they realize he’s in “Crazy Train Mode” and are afraid of him (36). While hiding, Aaron meets Thomas, who helps him hide. They get along easily, and Aaron invites him to join the game. Thomas says he might come find them later.

Genevieve arrives later in the day and is greeted by whistles from the guys. She tells Aaron that her friends know too. They sit together, and Aaron can’t stop looking at her, fueled by “post-sex hormones” (40). Genevieve gets a sad look on her face, and Aaron begins to panic that she’s breaking up with him because the sex was bad. She says that she enrolled in the out-of-state art camp and will be gone for several weeks.

Later in the evening, Thomas arrives. Aaron introduces him to the guys, who ask him some evaluating questions but then accept him. They start a game of Suicide, the name of which makes the parents at Family Day uncomfortable. While playing, Aaron hits his head on the wall and has to step out of the game. He sees his old babysitter Evangeline and hugs her. The boys ask who she is, and Aaron tells them, saying he had a crush on her when he was younger. Brendan asks why he didn’t know about this. At the end of the night, Aaron and Thomas make plans to hang out the next day.