The Beast of Whixall Moss [antikvár]

THE YEAR OF THE BEAST The first was the year of darkness because Jack couldn't remember anything, not anything at all, and the second was the year of light because that was all he could remember. The third was the year of measles, lying in his cot up in the frosty bedroom under the eaves for what felt like ever, and the fourth was the year of his baby brother, Edward. The fifth was a year of Edward, too, and so was every year after it, but they were years of other things too: the fifth of school, the sixth of seeing what his home was like compared to everybody else's - how far from everywhere it was and, despite Mum's efforts to keep it nice, how small and cramped - the seventh a summer-long year of sports which his dad wanted him to play, what with his memories of his own happy days. But Jack was no good at them, just as he was no good at so many 7