An unnamed, 16-year-old protagonist lives in a leafy Midwestern town, attends Catholic school, and loafs around at the drugstore with his five buddies in the afternoon. Each invents tales of gripping sexual encounters, but none quite believe each other and all long for the real thing. In the week between football and track season, the boys lay plans to make five dollars apiece doing odd jobs so they can visit the whorehouse on Friday night.

Leaving the drugstore, the protagonist spies his dear not-quite girlfriend Marjorie Russell with her friends. He attempts to show off his entrée to her attention, but she only condescends to walk home with him, giggling to her friends in a publicly won battle. He marvels at the change in her behavior the moment they are alone, suddenly emanating the sweet, soft glow that infatuates him. Throughout that week, as he sweats over errands and garage-cleanings to come up with five dollars, a war of instincts tears at the protagonist – a dark, lustful passion for whores he will possess; a hopeful, vulnerable passion for Marjorie and the consummation of their romance.

As the evening of the event draws closer Marjorie grows suspicious of his behavior. He puts aside his worries and swaggers into Acme Rooms with the crew at seven-thirty. The girls are older than he expects, the reality of the situation plainer and harsher than he’d wished and the cold instructions from his lady unnerving. Nevertheless, he is overcome with sensation as she begins her act and blinded with passion as the encounter comes shuddering to a halt. His friends swagger on out of the house but he feels a sudden urge to go see Marjorie – he rushes to her, tells her how much he loves her, suddenly perceiving that all his passions are one and the same and they needn’t be afraid of their bodies.