The Boy Act

One of the ways Edisto skewers reader expectations, I think, is not just by affording an impossibly adult sophistication in such a young man, but by making Simons aware of his precociousness and able to switch it on and off with varying levels of success. Early on, page 17, he decides that "The Boy Act is the best thing when in doubt," and in subsequent encounters, he relies on it when he:

• sizes somebody up,
• gains more information on a situation,
• helps Taurus out.

But does it work? The Boy Act doesn't seem to fool anyone, really. Most of the adults just seem to appreciate the efforts Simons is putting into making them feel more in the company of a child than of a man-boy with perception beyond his years, but his efforts at The Boy Act seem to buttress awkward situations just enough.

So we juxtapose this way. Anybody notice any other such stark differences?