Mark Sway

Mark is a street smart and mature eleven-year-old boy, who likes to smoke, but is determined to stay away from beer and pot, because he has seen how they can bring people down. Mark's Dad was an alcoholic, who tormented his family with physical and emotional abuse for years before Diane, Mark's mother, found the courage to divorce him. Mark is a father figure to his younger brother, Ricky, who looks up to Mark and goes to Mark for information about the real world. Mark teaches Ricky to ride a bike, protects him from bullies, and informs him about all he needs to know about sex and drugs. To his mother, Mark is a friend and caretaker. Diane relies on Mark to protect her from her abusive husband and constantly relies on Mark's maturity and responsibility.

Mark is pulled between his terror of the mafia and his...