This story takes place in Tampa, Florida, where young Georgie is neglected by his mother (an alcoholic) and his mother’s abusive boyfriend, Steve. Georgie lives a tough life, and he experiences a number of problems at school because of his anger issues and learning difficulties. Because of this, he is often ridiculed by his peers.
We soon learn that Georgie does have one comfort in life, which comes in the form of flowers. When he wins a rosebush in a grocery store drawing, he is ecstatic and searches for nearly a day to find somewhere to plant it.
Unable to find a suitable location, he returns home, only to be brutally beaten—almost to death—by Steve. Steve and his mother are taken away by the cops, and Georgie is hospitalized.