Paul first takes notice of Robert when he stands up to Miss Devron. She has a habit of asking her students what they ate for breakfast, and soon, the class becomes accustomed to telling her what she wants to hear. Only Robert, freshly arrived from New York, tells her about ‘coffee, cigarettes, and snails,’ and refuses to back down. The humiliated teacher never asks the question again. Awed by his bravery and honesty, Paul soon befriends Robert, and finds himself comparing his friend’s life to his own. Paul’s parents are reserved and strictly Mormon, whereas Robert’s mother is young, beautiful, and openly affectionate. His father owns a Chinese sword that Paul secretly covets. He goes over to their house as often as possible to take in the family life that he can never have for himself. On Christmas morning, he takes his expensive presents to Robert’s house because he knows his family will appreciate his enthusiasm much more than his own parents will. Robert’s father praises the firetruck toy that Paul received, and Paul hopes desperately that he will agree to switch the toy for the Chinese sword. But the sword has already been gifted; much to Paul’s dismay, Robert is the new owner of the sword. He tries to cover up his disappointment by asking what Robert received from Santa Claus – since the sword was obviously given by his parents – but Robert laughs, and with his characteristic honesty, informs Paul that Santa Claus is a myth. Paul is enraged at Robert for showing him this reality, but he lets it go after a few days. While the boys spend time together at Robert’s house, Paul comments that his parents spend a lot of time ‘napping.’ Robert informs him that this is because they are trying to ‘find’ him a little sibling. Paul knows nothing about sex, and he is enraged at his own ignorance and Robert’s second robbery of his childhood naïveté. He warns Robert never to say another word to him, and the two boys are no longer friends.