In the largely peer-driven world of Pine Mountain, where adults play limited roles in the lives of the students, Ryan Dean is exposed to a toxic culture that defines masculinity as repressing “weak” emotions like sadness, vulnerability, fear, or empathy. One way this emotional repression is expressed is through the act of crying—or the consequences of openly crying. Because crying expresses and displays a “weak” emotion, it is incompatible with the code of toxic masculinity, and Ryan Dean self-corrects away from crying openly. At the beginning of the story Ryan Dean is upset about his first day back on campus but allows himself only a few emotional tears about his experience before making himself stop: “I got hold of myself and stopped feeling so stupid and useless” (80). Certain characters in the story uphold the toxic masculinity code—including Casey, Nick, and Chas—while others, most notably Joey, reject some or all of its rules. Meanwhile, the lack of adult guidance and supervision maintains the masculine norms that are established by the students.

This code is upheld on the rugby team, as exemplified by Ryan Dean’s surprise over Joey’s public emotion after the stabbing attempt.