What do both Willie and Mr Tom have in common? Why do you believe they get along so well?

I think that both Mr. Tom and his wife factor into this. Consider the expressive arts—whether it be drawing, theater, or singing—play a large role in the unfolding of the plot. Willie, who arrives at Mr. Tom's cottage as an unusually quiet little boy, gradually finds his voice through art. He learns that he is a natural talent for drawing and devotes much of his time to this. Tom's wife Rachel was a painter, which makes Tom resistant to entering the village art shop and buying art supplies for Willie. That Will and Rachel share a common love of art is another factor that helps Tom to begin processing his emotions related to his wife's death. Will extends himself even further when he tries his hand at acting in the school play. Acting, which is an art form that requires a fair amount of extroversion, is something that Will takes on naturally, and helps him to come out of his shell even more.