I Am Not My Penis
Taking off my clothes and showering with other boys terrified me. What if I had an erection? How did you control something like that? What if it went up and wouldn’t go down again? It took all my will power to keep from looking at all the naked guys, especially below the waist; showering with classmates was completely new to me. In grammar school and even junior high, physical education was a part of my day but without all these sexy bells and whistles. Sure we’d had a period of sports, but nothing strenuous and nothing that required special clothes or taking showers. I hated it. But since I’d failed accordion—how did anyone fail accordion?—I had no other choice. Both O’Riley and Carlin had deserted me and my only friend now was Smith. When I confided my fears he shrugge
