How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Enn, 15 years old, is the protagonist of the story. He narrates from 30 years in the future, looking back on the events of that night. At the beginning of the story, Enn expresses that he doesn’t feel confident with girls and “both chiefly spoke to, interacted with, and only truly understood, other boys” (Paragraph 4). In Enn’s mind, girls are unknowable. At some point, girls “have periods and breasts and makeup and God-only-knew-what-else—for I certainly didn’t” (Paragraph 19). He envies Vic, who seems comfortable and self-assured with girls. He’s even more envious when Vic claims Stella, the beautiful girl who invites them to the party.

Once at the party, Enn aims to take Vic’s advice to just talk to girls. He meets three, and with each one he learns to talk and then listen even as he finds himself confused about the house and the music. First, he meets Wain’s Wain, whose finger is disfigured, with two fingertips on one finger. He talks but doesn’t listen as she explains her travels. He answers in ways that show he isn’t hearing her words—he asks her to dance and whether she wants something to drink.