Boycotted, and Other Stories

In Short

This vibrant anthology brings together fifteen lighthearted short stories exploring the mishaps, rivalries, and wild imaginations of British schoolboys. Through tales of wrongful ostracism, accidental kidnappings, historical parodies, and comedic dreams, the collection captures the energetic spirit of late Victorian youth culture. Readers encounter everything from tragic miscommunications on the sports field to ridiculous attempts at collaborative novel-writing and parodic plays about ancient Rome. The book endures because its humor remains remarkably fresh, transforming the quiet anxieties and grand ambitions of adolescence into clever, timeless comedy.

The Story

The collection opens with the title entry, where a schoolboy named Smither finds himself inexplicably shunned by his entire house at Draven’s. The sudden expulsion of his best friend, Browne, leaves the school in mourning, but when rumors falsely accuse Smither of betraying Browne to the headmaster, his peers organize a strict, total boycott against him. Smither suffers in silent agony, unable to defend himself, until a desperate letter from Browne arrives to clear his name and expose the real miscommunication. Overwhelmed by the emotional relief and a sudden physical collapse, Smither awakens from a fortnight of fever to find his repentant schoolmates refusing to go home for Christmas until he recovers.

Subsequent tales venture into varied comedic territory. In one story, a student traveling home by train finds himself reluctantly put in charge of a chatterbox toddler who knows only the story of the three bears and cannot name his father or destination. Left stranded at Waterloo Station with the child, the narrator navigates the absurdities of managing an unhelpful toddler in London. Another tale follows two young, aspirational schoolboys who determine to write a great sensational novel together over their midsummer holiday. Their literary partnership crumbles almost immediately over petty arguments regarding who should serve as the hero, leading to a physical brawl that leaves both boys bruised and their grand manuscript abandoned.

Other entries shift into playful genre parodies and dreamlike fantasies. In a theatrical skit, the legendary founding of Rome is reimagined as a chaotic verse comedy, complete with a villainous stepmother-wolf who eats Remus before being stabbed from behind by Romulus, followed by a raucous musical chorus. Another story takes a tired student on a tour of Madame Tussauds, where he falls asleep and dreams of being placed on trial by historical monarchs, with Henry VIII deciding to carry out the execution before the jury even returns a verdict. In a grander heroic narrative, a young prince named Sigurd fights off packs of starving wolves in a desolate northern forest, only to return home in disguise to save an innocent prisoner and reclaim his rightful kingdom. Finally, two boys disgruntled by failing their classical examinations hike up Snowdon, fall asleep, and dream of encountering Cupid and the squabbling Greek gods atop Mount Olympus, only to wake up to the cry of sea gulls and a race to catch the last train home.

How It Unfolds

The silent treatment After his closest friend is unexpectedly expelled from Draven's, Smither suddenly finds his entire class refusing to speak to or look at him. He endures weeks of bitter isolation, completely unaware that his peers suspect him of betraying his friend to the headmaster.

A letter clears the air A furious note arrives from the expelled chum, revealing that the true culprit was someone else entirely and threatening to return to school to set the record straight. Overcome by the sudden clearing of his reputation, Smither collapses with a severe fever, waking weeks later to find his former tormentors nursing him back to health over Christmas.

Midnight panics and false alarms A group of terrified boarders creeps down into the dark quadrangle to confront a restless apparition that has been haunting their night. After a panicked retreat up the staircase, morning light reveals that the terrifying ghost is merely a stray five-foot balloon bouncing along the grass.

Lost in London with a toddler A student taking the train home is saddled with an overly talkative child who demands the story of Goldilocks sixty-five times in a row. Upon arriving at the station, no parent appears to claim the boy, leaving the teenager stranded in the city with a kid who thinks every passing porter is his father.

Literary ambitions end in blows Two enthusiastic schoolmates decide to write a bestseller together during their summer vacation, but their joint venture quickly dissolves into chaos. Unable to agree on whose likeness should inspire the main character, their creative debate devolves into a fistfight that leaves both with black eyes.

A classic test on the mountainside Having both failed a devastating exam on Greek mythology, two boys hike up Mount Snowdon to blow off steam. They fall asleep under the hot sun and dream of climbing straight up to Mount Olympus to hang out with a mischievous Cupid and argue with the gods.

The People

• Smither wants nothing more than to regain his standing among his peers and understand why he has been cast out. Isolated by an unmerited boycott, he suffers in silence until the truth frees him from suspicion.
• Browne wants to take responsibility for his own misdeeds without allowing his best friend to take the blame. Disgraced and sent home, his fierce loyalty drives him to clear Smither's name.
• Fraser wants to prove his courage to the rest of the dormitory by investigating a night apparition. Though he leads the charge down the dark stairs, his bravado instantly vanishes the moment the mysterious creature lurches toward him.
• Tommy wants endless repetitions of "The Three Bears" and shows total indifference to the fact that he is lost in a vast train terminal. His sweet, single-minded focus completely bewilders his teenage travel companion.
• Hullock and Sproutels both want to achieve literary fame by co-authoring a thrilling commercial novel over their summer break. Their competing egos stand in the way, ending their artistic partnership before the first chapter is completed.
• Sigurd wants to protect his kingdom and rescue an innocent man from execution. Facing hungry wolf packs and treacherous courtiers, his brave heart and decisive actions restore justice to his land.

In Its Own Voice

"I said the world was mad, the world said I was mad; the world was bigger than I was, so it shut me up here!"

Smither reflects on the utter confusion and helplessness he feels when his entire school abruptly turns against him without explanation.

"Alack, I die, my banquet, half untasted! To think of so much dainty dinner wasted!"

The wolf laments its tragic fate in a lighthearted, rhyming theatrical performance of the founding of Rome after being stabbed from behind.

"A small half-exhausted balloon, about five feet high, lay on the grass below, with enough gas in it still to toss about restlessly in the breeze..."

The terrified boys look out their dormitory window in the morning to discover the mundane reality behind their terrifying midnight ghost.

What It's Really About

At its core, the collection examines the fragile mechanics of youth culture—how quickly rumors spread, how intensely peer pressure operates, and how deeply boys value loyalty. The title story dissects the cruelty of mob mentality within closed institutions, showing how easily good intentions can turn into unjust persecution. Throughout the lighter tales, the author explores the gap between grand adolescent ambitions and reality. Whether attempting to write a masterpiece, bravado-filled ghost hunting, or mastering classical mythologies, the young protagonists consistently discover that their grandest plans are easily derailed by petty rivalries, physical exhaustion, or plain absurdity. The book ultimately celebrates the resilience, humor, and underlying decency that help young people navigate these early trials.

Why Read It Today

This collection offers an exceptionally entertaining window into Victorian youth culture, stripped of the preachy moralizing common to the era. Readers who enjoy classic boarding school fiction, British humor, or clever literary parodies will find plenty to charm them here. The prose is swift, confident, and genuinely funny, relying on sharp timing and relatable human foolishness rather than outdated tropes.

While modern readers should be prepared for period settings, localized slang, and occasional archaic structural framing, the emotional core of these stories remains completely accessible. The anxiety of being left out, the absurdity of babysitting, and the hilarious disaster of group projects are experiences that have not changed in over a century. It reads smoothly and quickly, serving as a refreshing, lighthearted reminder that the comedy of growing up is truly timeless.