He flipped through the rest of the book and found the prayers for use in school life. “An Intercession,” “For a Right Spirit,” “The School Prayer,” “For Guidance,” “In the Evening,” “When Busy,” “Examinations.”

Sports

Lord, you have said that the glory of the young is their strength; grant me the strength of mind and body to play my part on the field of sport. Give me the will to strive with all my heart, to play fair, and, in victory or defeat, to give honor where honor is due. Amen.

And then Ben came to the last section, the one Markson was working on, a code of conduct written by the third Rector of the school, William Beech.

Decision-Making

Above all else, a St. James education teaches a boy to make selfless and courageous decisions.

As he considers his actions, a boy must ask himself,

First: Does my action accord with God’s will?

Second: Is my action to the benefit of the other boys at the school?

Third: Would I be proud of my action if it were known to all?

If you can answer these questions with a peaceful and steadfast heart, you will know you have made the right choice.

Always apply these questions faithfully and you will be a man of high ethical standing. You will be an asset to your country, to the world, and to your God.

*  *  *

Ben was ready for Seated, out of the room, and almost to Woodruff before Ahmed had showered. Hutch and Evan’s room was right. The couch was covered in a purple paisley tapestry, the posters on the wall were Are You Experienced and lacrosse. Ben sat and joked, and he heard his jokes and wondered if they betrayed that his parents hadn’t paid his tuition. He had been so close to losing thoughts like this.

Crank time was the half hour before Seated Meal when you could play music as loud as you wanted to. Hutch and Evan’s second-floor windows were all swung wide open. Evan had hefted one of his big blond-wood KEF Q80 speakers, and with its back resting against his chest he was now setting its front edge facing out on the narrow windowsill. Ben was glad he already owned a decent pair of speakers.

“We’re going to fry everyone walking by,” Evan said. With one foot he slid over his CD tower and set the back edge of the speaker on its top, then very gingerly tested the balance and removed his hands.

“That’s one!” He moved back to the amp and carefully lifted the bundle of speaker wire for the other speaker out from behind the component stack.

“I wish we had some wetness,” Hutch said.

“I almost pulled some of my parents’ stuff,” said Kyle, “but like three days before school my dad told me he was watching all the levels.”