The year is 1977, and Adrian is nine. He lives with his gran and his
uncle Rory; his best friend is Clinton Tull. He loves to draw and he
wants a dog; he's afraid of quicksand, shopping centres and
self-combustion. Adrian watches his suburban world, but there is much he
cannot understand. He does not, for instance, know why three
neighbourhood children might set out to buy ice-cream and never come
back home...