Fat Kid Rules the World

Troy Billings, at six-foot-one, 296 pounds, is standing at the edge of a subway platform, seriously contemplating suicide, when he meets Curt MacCrae - and emaciated, semi-homeless punk guitar genius who also happens to be a dropout legend at Troy's high school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

"I saved your life, " Curt tells Troy. "You owe me lunch."

But lunch with Curt brings more than he bargained for. Suddenly, Troy finds himself recruited as Curt's drummer for his new band. "We'll be called Rage/Tectonic. Sort of a punk rock, Clash sort of thing," Curt tells him

There's only one problem. Troy can't play the drums. Oh yes, and Troy's father thinks Curt's a drug addict. And Troy's brother thinks Troy's a loser

But with Curt, anything is possible. "You'll see," says Curt. "We're going to be HUGE." Fortunately, mercurial Curt has an energy, enthusiam, and wisdom that is as irresistible as it is contagious. Before long, Troy is swept up by his desire to be everything Curt belives him to be.


From the Cassette edition.