Mr. Edel is a high school English teacher in the 1970s. Most of his students are mediocre but there is one boy, Foster, who catches his eye for being a high-achiever. Edel discusses Foster during his lunch break with his colleague, Dr. Fuqua. Fuqua agrees that Foster is something else. Fuqua also admits that he’s gotten himself into trouble recently: he was truthful on the regular personality tests that the teachers are forced to take, and now he is being called in for investigation. Edel thinks Fuqua is a fool; everyone knows that one is supposed to present themselves as the most boring, puritanical person possible on those tests. Later that day, Foster asks Edel if he could set up a private lesson with him; Edel consents because he wants the boy to improve. Edel tries going to Fuqua’s house after school, but Fuqua isn’t there. Time passes, and Edel doesn’t see Fuqua: because of his personality test results, Fuqua was mysterious relocated to another town. He writes a letter to his friend, describing how Foster seems to be the kind of person that doesn’t have to lie on the personality tests like everyone else. He puts the letter aside after writing it because of its incriminating content. Edel meets with Foster to discuss an essay, which Edel criticizes but knows is quite good. Foster offers to send Edel’s new letter to Fuqua, but he sends the old letter instead, leading the school to investigate Edel. Edel meets with Foster, who says he betrayed Edel on purpose because he needs to be ruthless to thrive. Edel goes to Foster’s father’s home; Foster’s father is a deadbeat who admits that his son is a cruel person. Edel departs the apartment complex, feeling absolutely destroyed.