"A Boy Called Joe" by Alan Dwight

[Rutabaga]

http://www.awesomedude.com/alan_dwight/a-boy-called-joe/index.htm

A moving story about Joe growing up.

R

[Merkin]

Depression and despair are a terrible burden, especially for a young boy in an era when "feelings" were suspect.  Alan's fine story gets at the true meaning of friendship.