How do Mr Tom's parenting methods differ from Willie's mother? Illustrate with examples in Chapter 2.

Right away, we are shown that Willie is a nervous, fearful boy with a history of abuse from his mother. This abuse has clearly shaped his mannerisms, which Tom notices right away. Willie fears possible punishment so much that he often stays quiet. Because of being abused, Willie sees the world as an innately dangerous place where there is violence lurking in every corner. He easily becomes frightened of mundane things, such as the squirrel in the graveyard. Willie's religious upbringing is one focused on abstaining from the sins of the world. We see that Willie tries so hard to be a good, sinless boy that he hides himself, incapable of communicating with Tom in certain moments.

Willie's mother has intentionally asked that her son be placed with a religious person or someone near a church. To Willie's mother, safety in times of chaos is to be found in religion. Little does she know that Willie's host, Tom, does not have the same outlook on raising children that she does.

We can observe through Tom's actions—his efforts to make Willie feel safe and comfortable at home—that he is a kind-hearted person, despite his gruff exterior.