Robert Freedman

Fancypants Robert Freedman

Fancypants is part memoir, part novel. One Jewish boy's attempt at coming of age in a time period (1955-1966) when his whole generation is trying to do the same. Buddy Foreman wants answers: Why don't my parents listen to me when I talk? Why can't I draw on the walls? What's the deal with being Jewish? Buddy gives up on being a good boy, a good son, a good Jew--especially after a calamitous Bar Mitzvah. Goes off to college. Discovers others like himself--outsiders. Buddy meets a girl with a crippled leg and a guitar. Candy's a folksinger. "Do ya wanta go to New York City with me? We'll be young artists together?" she asks. Buddy drives Candy away, knowing even at the time what a fool he is. Digs his hole deeper by rebounding to a pretty college co-ed, a sorority girl, a schicksa. Buddy and Amy decide to get married. Buddy doesn't want to go to Vietnam. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, he tells himself. Something's gotta give. Doesn't it?