"His mother told him about the scar and crumpled ear once when she had finished drinking all of her whiskey from her last bottle on the shelf and was angry because there wasn't anymore. It was when her whiskey was gone that Rennie Burgess hated her child most."
Chap. 1, p. 5

"He began to feel sick. The beating would be bad enough, but Steve would either destroy the prize or keep it for himself.
Chap. 1, p. 19

"She held out her hand, but he drew away and walked silently beside her to the room she had prepared for him."
Chap. 3, p. 48

"Tonight there was only one thing that really mattered: the rosebush was at last in the place that was right for it."

Chap. 4, p. 61

"It was a purple and red mass of swollen flesh, welts, and knots imposed one upon the another, some of them beginning to heal, some...