Todd stands self-consciously, following his parents around the chilly campus grounds like a lost puppy as they chat with other parents and some of the Welton teachers.

Weathered stone buildings and a tradition of austerity isolated Welton from the world beyond, Welton Academy isolated in the green but raw woods of Vermont.

He feels reluctant to leave his mother's side— he just hopes to blend into the background being the shy new kid amongst a million other first years. Maybe he can escape the comparisons between him and his Valedictorian older brother Jeffrey.

Following the footsteps of his older brother who also attended Welton Academy and went on to be accepted into Yale and become a lawyer; he can only pray people don't already have high expectations of him.

The campus is full of parents and their sons saying their goodbyes— the younger boys weeping and crying as their mothers hug them. Todd just keeps his head down, following his parents, kicking up rocks.