Narrator Frank "Back" Wess is new at Ullman Griswold Memorial High School (known as "UGH") and doesn't fit in with any of the established cliques of jocks, nerds, druggies, heavy metal fans or just plain dopes. Enter the Obnoxious Jerks, who ask Back to join their non-club of just regular guys, whose sole official function is to perform "jerk-outs" that prick the balloon of societal pomposity. Their schoolmates either ignore or insult the Obnoxious Jerks, until seemingly shy Leslie asks Back if she can join. Back's in a quandary: can a girl join an all-boys club, even if it doesn't have any rules?