ABSTRACT
Tony and Ben haunted me for years because they were classic examples of children who'd gotten the short end of life. Both came from homes where alcohol was more important than kids and where if you stepped in the way of a good time, well, you just might get the whipping of your life. Both had younger siblings they were determined to protect, even if that meant lying their rear ends off. Both came to school every day exhausted, Tony mean and Ben silently begging for a hug. Both had simply seen a little too much of the ugly side of life.
