Redefining what it takes to be a man

I REMEMBER begging my teachers to let me out of school early. I just needed five minutes, I’d tell them, so that I could catch the earlier bus. Just five minutes.

It was my birthday, and anyone who went to an all-boys school would probably know what that meant – if some of the children didn’t like you (or in some cases, really good friends of yours wanting a laugh), there would be eggs and flour waiting for you after school.