'Jonathan swallowed, but the lump in his throat remained. You're twelve, he told himself. Not some snivelling child. That's what his stepdad called him, on a good day. He tried to ignore the sensation of snakes swimming in his stomach and glanced back along the path barely visible through overgrown dry grass. The three older boys in the street gestured for him to go on. One flapped his arms like chicken wings.' (Introduction)