Thirteen-year-old John Robert ONeill, better known as Robbie, is a precocious young man with an old soul. Robbie, the younger of two brothers, delights in his special relationship with his grandfather, for whom he is named. Henry, seven years older than Robbie, is completely opposite in demeanor and manner from his younger brother. The tension between Robbie and Henry is palpable when they first encounter each other in the hospital corridor, where they await news of their grandfathers stroke. Indeed, the untimely stroke and resulting loss of speech occur the night before Robbie was to come over after school to learn of a
