Photo: Scan via Twitter

The fight over Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation began as an argument about what kind of Supreme Court justice he would be. But in recent days, it has morphed into a debate over what kind of teenage boy he once was.

Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and a few of Kavanaugh’s former classmates say that the young Brett was a hard-partying frat boy, one capable of becoming violent and sexually abusive in his inebriation. But Kavanaugh, and others who knew him in his youth, paint a very different picture.

On Monday night, the Supreme Court nominee told Fox News that “the vast majority of the time I spent in high school was studying or focused on sports and being a good friend to the boys and the girls that I was friends with.” He went on to say that he spent his adolescence “focused on academics and athletics, going to church every Sunday … working on my service projects and friendship — friendship with my fellow classmates and friendship with girls from the local all-girls Catholic schools.” Kavanaugh insists that he has “always treated women with dignity and respect” — a claim endorsed by 65 women who say that they knew Kavanaugh well during his high-school years.

Kavanaugh admits that he did attend some parties in his day, and that “the drinking age was 18, and [so] yes, the seniors were legal and had beer there.” But the Supreme Court nominee has not confessed to underage drinking, or drinking to the point of blacking out (let alone to committing sexual assault). He further maintains that he was a virgin in high school and for many years after. His allies insist that, if some young man did attempt to rape Christine Blasey at a party in the summer of 1982, he must have been a Kavanaugh look-alike.

But Kavanaugh’s senior yearbook at Georgetown Prep appears to undermine some parts of his narrative. That document brands Kavanaugh as King of “the Beach Week Ralph Club,” Treasurer of the “Keg City Club — 100 Kegs or Bust,” and a “Renate Alumnus” — an apparent insinuation that Kavanaugh was one of many Georgetown Prep graduates to have sexual relations with Renate Schroeder Dolphin, then a girl at a nearby Catholic school.

Still, Kavanaugh says that these inscriptions are misleading. For example, his lawyer claims that the “Renate Alumnus” bit is no misogynistic boast about an act of fornication, but merely a reference to the fact that “Judge Kavanaugh and Ms. Dolphin attended one high school event together and shared a brief kiss good night following that event.” (Dolphin claims she has never kissed Brett Kavanaugh.)

To substantiate his account of his high-school years, Kavanaugh has released a personal calendar from the summer of 1982 (when Ford alleges that he assaulted her). The calendar shows that Kavanaugh went on beach vacations with his family, and to “basketball games, movie outings, football workouts and college interviews” — but contains not a single marked entry for an underage drinking party.

Now, in hopes of setting the record straight, Kavanaugh’s attorneys have provided New York with another primary source document: excerpts from a diary Kavanaugh kept that very same summer. Rather than substitute our commentary for hard evidence, we’ve chosen to simply publish the excerpts in full:

May 5th

Woke early. Said morning prayers. Studied for the SATs for three hours, then spent the afternoon reading to the blind. In the evening, shot some baskets with my fellow adolescent males.

The competition was vigorous, but sportsmanlike. Afterwards, the boys debated which of the girls at National Cathedral was “the hottest.” I refused to engage in their sordid discussion. “Certainly, many of the young women at that school are physically attractive,” I told my schoolyard chums. “Still, I believe that the highest form of Eros is not the love of bodies, but rather the love of wisdom.”

“Ah, if you love wisdom so much, why don’t you marry the Constitution?” Mark asked.

Would that I could Mark — would that I could!

May 26th

Attended a movie outing, as scheduled. “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Two out of five stars: Mirthful in moments, but utterly unrealistic and unrelatable in its depiction of high-school life.

After the film, I came home and put the finishing touches on my final project for sculpture class — a photo-realistic mask of my own face. The verisimilitude is eerie in its perfection.

June 13th

Had lunch with my 65 close, female friends. We discussed the school year’s end, love, life, and volume two of Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex. Told Moira that she doesn’t “owe” it to Jeff to go to second base — and if he keeps pressing the issue, she should look for a new suitor who respects her boundaries. Assured Stephanie that she was gorgeous, inside and out, and that Hollywood’s conception of feminine beauty was oppressively narrow. Encouraged Cassandra to ignore her father’s gender-normative hang-ups and try out for her public school’s wrestling team in the fall (glass ceilings are made to be broken!). Mostly though, I just listened.

On the way home back home, I stopped in at the hospital to donate some bone marrow.

June 20th

Went to church, as I do every Sunday. Reflected on my faith in Catholicism, and belief in the sanctity of all human life, from its very earliest stages (but not, necessarily, in an anti-choice sort of way).

Later, oversaw a meeting of the “Keg City Club” — a philanthropic organization which aims to deliver barrels of potable water to cities at risk of drought. As Treasurer, I reiterated my view that we had enough funds in our coffers to arrange for the provision of at least 100 kegs by the end of the fiscal year.

June 21st

My face has been stolen. For the past two weeks, my photo-realistic mask was hanging at G-Prep, as part of the year-end art show. But when I came by to pick it up this afternoon, the wall where it had been mounted lay bare. I’ve always considered myself a pro-law teen. But this wanton act of theft has redoubled my conviction that laws are very good.

July 4th

At the beach for the week with my family. Met three charming young surfers, all named Ralph. They offered to make me an honorary member of their eponymous “club.” I couldn’t refuse. Will spend all day tomorrow volunteering at a home for children orphaned by shark attacks.

July 24th

A little groggy today. Stayed up late last night reading jurisprudence. Have said it before and will say it again: Roe v. Wade is settled law.

July 27th

Attended a party at Mark’s house last night. Upon my arrival, was perturbed to find that there were no parental guardians in the home. When I went to place my modest contribution to the potlach (a two-liter bottle of sarsaparilla) in the kitchen, was chagrined to see the center-island festooned with wine and spirits. I asked Mark if he were familiar with the drinking age in this part of the country, and/or, with the scientific literature on adolescent brain development (which demonstrates that alcoholic beverages can exacerbate the teenage mind’s predilection for rash decision-making). He said that it sounded like I could use a drink, and foisted a libation upon me. I took a sip but did not swallow, then stepped into the living room to call the police.

I saw him the moment I reentered the kitchen.

He was standing too close to a visibly inebriated sophomore. Ogling her — with my own eyes. Words cannot express the uncanny horror I felt then. “Return my visage at once, scoundrel!” I cried. The female sophomore turned to me, and then back to the thief, and then to me again. “I think I’ve had too much,” she stammered as my doppelgänger fled to the foyer. I chased him out the door and onto the benighted streets of Bethesda. He was quick — but, thanks to my years of focus on athletics, I was quicker. I took him down at the bottom of the driveway with a proper form tackle, then pinned him to the pavement by his wrists. His breath reeked of vodka. His eyes flared with malice. For a few moments I couldn’t speak, transfixed by the twisted mirror of his face.

“Who are you?” I finally said.

“Brett Kavanaugh,” he hissed.

“No, you’re not.”

“Say it all you want — when it matters most, no one will believe you,” he said, enigmatically, before dissolving into a fit of maniacal laughter.

Then came the sirens and the flash of headlights. In my moment of distraction, he bit my wrist. I fell to my side in pain as he wriggled up from under me and then disappeared into the darkness. I walked back to the house to thank the arriving officers for their timely response.

Minutes later, the authorities led Mark out the door in handcuffs. As they were putting him in the back of a squad car he turned to me and said, “I know you only did this for my own good. Thank you for always focusing on being a good friend to me.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied. “But I didn’t just do it for you, Mark – I also did it for the law.”

When I returned home, I lay awake, unable to get my doppelgänger’s face out of my head. “Was he right?” I asked myself. If he committed some vile act in my name, would anyone believe me?

But after hours of studying my ceiling fan, and reflecting on the wisdom of Christ and the founding fathers, I decided that my truth would be heard. In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.

Shortly thereafter, I descended into a beautiful dream; the Constitution was a woman, and I was giving her the most conscientious cunnilingus.