Poke lives with Scratch, Google, Knock, and Nacho, a group of boys all working for their pimp, Rod. In the evenings, the boys find clients on the streets of Houston, having sex primarily with other men. Rod assumes a gruff yet fatherly role with the boys, looking out for them and maintaining strict rules about drug use, STDs, and maintaining anonymity. If anyone isn’t clean, they’ll be immediately kicked out. Rod and Poke are uniquely close. One night, Rod and Poke eat alone at a deli before Poke hits the streets. Rod shares that he’s contracted HIV but hasn’t told anyone else. That night, Poke sleeps with Emil, an emotionally deep immigrant man in his forties. They become unusually intimate. Another night, they don’t even have sex. One morning, Poke tries to convince Rod to find treatment at a free HIV clinic, tell the others, and figure out how he got it. Rod punches Poke. Three months go by and Rod still doesn’t mention his diagnoses but becomes more reserved and still goes out. Later, Google tells Poke there’s a rumor going around that Rod is taking less calls. Google asks Poke if he knows anything about this since he and Rod are close, but Poke says nothing. The next afternoon, the boys guess Rod has HIV. They want to kick Rod out for being hypocritical and because he’s ruining their reputation, but Poke defends him. They all agree Poke should tell Rod he’s been kicked out. Poke immediately leaves the apartment and moves in with Emil. After a month, he asks Emil if Rod can crash with them for a few days. Emil gives him permission. Poke searches the city for Rod and eventually finds him standing in line at a soup kitchen. Poke tries to convince Rod to come stay with him and Emil, but Rod refuses. Rod tells him the boys wanted to overthrow him but he left on his own accord after they stole all his things. He’s angry Poke never stood up for him. Poke spits between Rod’s eyes and leaves. Months later, there’s an accident on a bridge that Rod usually hung around. Poke looks everywhere for Rod and cannot find him.