Jay never fit in. He didn't resemble anyone in his family. His clothes never fit. 

Everyone in high school was concerned about fashion, or sports. These subjects bored Jay. He liked to read. Especially philosophy. 

After finishing the Western philosophers, he looked to the East. He discovered Buddhism while learning Sanskrit. Then he traced its lineage to Nagarjuna. 

On Prom night, he read: 

"Have all of them reached enlightenment; 
they have become compassionate, and, 
by rousing many Bodhisattvas, 
have saved kotis of creatures. 
Those who offered flowers and perfumes 
to the relics of the Tathagatas... 
Who caused musical instruments, drums, 
conch trumpets, and noisy great drums to be played, 
and raised the rattle of tymbals at such places 
in order to celebrate the highest enlightenment; 
Who caused sweet lutes, cymbals, tabors, 
small drums, reed-pipes, ... all of them have 
reached enlightenment." 
— Saddharma-Pundarika, p. 51 

He learned Chinese and read Kumarajiva's Lotus Sutra in the original. The stories of Devadatta and the Dragon King's Daughter reaching enlightenment filled him with hope. He discovered Chih-i [T'ien-t'ai] while searching for some one who understood the importance of this sutra. He was surprised to learn in the Maka Shikan that the entirety of the Lotus Sutra was held in its title. 

Shortly after this discovery, a stranger asked if he had ever heard of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and invited him to a Buddhist discussion meeting. Without hesitation he said "Yes!!!" His quick answer surprised the stranger. 

All during the meeting Jay looked at the scroll in the box, seemingly ignoring the people who were trying to explain Buddhism. When the Q&A portion of the meeting was announced, his was the only hand that went up. He asked: "I have two questions. Could I say a few things about the word 'Nam'? and Where can I get one of those?" He asked, pointing to the Gohonzon. 

Someone explained how he could receive the Gohonzon and then said "Sure, what do you know about Nam?" Jay talked for 20 minutes just about the word "Nam". He explained things no one had ever heard before at NSA meetings. 

Afterward a brass band member asked "Would you like to come to a practice session?" Jay said "Yes," even though he was thinking only of the Chinese characters written on the scroll in the box. 

The next day the band member brought Jay to practice. He introduced Jay to the band chief. While the chief was asking questions and giving instructions, Jay disappeared. The band member ran to the nearby 7-11 to see if he could find Jay, but he was nowhere to be found. The brass band member was worried. 

Then as he approached the band, he saw Jay clanging cymbals together, leading the brass band. Jay's smile glowed. For the first time in his life he fit in.