Symptoms of Being Human

Riley Cavanaugh, the 16-year-old child of Congressman Sean Cavanaugh and Sharon Cavanaugh, sits in front of their computer the morning of their first day at Park Hills High. They attempt to write a blog post that begins, “The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?” (1). Before they can write anything more, they are interrupted by their mother calling them to come down for breakfast. Riley deletes the post. At breakfast, Riley’s father disapproves of their outfit, which Riley has chosen to appear as androgynous as possible. Riley convinces him they just want to be inconspicuous before seeing how the other students dress at a public school.

As the Cavanaughs drive toward the school, Riley’s fears being immediately singled out. They convince their parents to drop them off before reaching campus and try to blend in, but overhear a group of girls making comments about whether Riley is a boy or girl, referring to Riley as “it.”

After making it to campus, Riley briefly hides out in a bathroom stall, humiliated that already their “differentness is impossible to conceal” (6). When they make it to their first class, AP English, Riley chats with a boy named Jason Solomona, who goes by Solo.