What was Willie's life like before Mr. Tom?

When Willie arrives on the doorstep of Mr. Tom, he is a nervous, scrawny, and quiet little boy. He has been subjected to intense abuse and neglect from his extremely religious mother all of his life. This abuse has shaped Willie into someone who can barely engage in a conversation with Mr. Tom and frequently wets the bed. Everything in his new home initially terrifies Will, such as a squirrel in the yard and Sammy the dog, who he eventually comes to love.

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.