Repeating the Leaving

Book excerpt: A coming-of-age memoir about life in a Sydney boarding school during the 1960s from the bestselling author of PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS. It's 1966. Sydneysiders are whipping themselves into a frenzy, determined to outdo Melbourne in their preparations for the four-hour visit of the US President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Miles of Bunting, tickertape parades - and an official slogan, 'Make Sydney Gay for LBJ'. And this time Charles, the hero of Precious Bodily Fluids, is a not-so-sweet sixteen. The hormones are pumping and he is desperately trying to join the sexual revolution from the frustrating confines of a Catholic boarding school for boys. Will Charlie exchange strap marks for love bites? Will he double up and die from lover's balls? Life is one long muck-up day for Charlie and his mates as they repeat the leaving certificate. But the Brothers haven't warned him that some of life's pleasures are gained under penalty of pain.