Jed Cooper€s father deserted his mother and him when he was ten years old. Soon afterwards, his mother began drinking and having one man after another in their home. Jeb was left to survive on his own the best he could. He soon learned to stay out of the way of his mother€s suitors, and came home only to eat and sleep. He grew up with very little respect for authority or adults. He did know he needed an education to survive, so he attended school and learned what he could. His mother had kept him at home two years during grammar school to help out around the house and make money. The county stepped in to insist he attend school, but he was now two grades behind€"two years older than his classmates. Because of his mother he learned about sex from an early age, far too early.
During an English class visit to the library, he talks during the lecture and the young new librarian embarrasses him with her criticism. He decides he will get his revenge on the beautiful young woman. The principal punishes him for his behavior by assigning him to help the young librarian for an hour after school for two weeks.. This suits his plan just fine€¦