It was a really good story! Basically, you start off being told slowly, why one character became a shut-in. All of this was due to seeing his childhood friend kidnapped, and then being told by the adults who are supposed to fix things when they go wrong, that the friend didn't exist. Basically, he is told that he made up the kidnapping story, because he didn't want to get in trouble for disappearing and causing trouble for the neighbors and his parents. So when he finds the book in the 'haunted house' and proof that the friend DID exist, he still can't prove it to anyone, because no one saw or remembers the friend. Thus establishing the fact, that people who are remembered by other people exist.
And THAT is the premise of the whole dang story. that line of reasoning. People who are remembered by other people, EXIST.
The only character that I couldn't figure out for being there, save to keep the story narrative moving forward, was the small blond friend.
Oh, and for the rest wondering, I would have to say that yes, sexual abuse WAS involved very much in both of the 'brothers' lives. I am willing to bet that the reason why the older 'brother's' claustrophobia got worse was due to this. More then likely the abuse signs were starting to manifest, and the grandfather was trying to help his grandson through them, not realizing that the older boy was also taking a brutal hit from the manifestation, so instead of himself (Ryou), being able to talk about the change in his 'little brother's' behavior, he instead felt responsible and couldn't figure out what to do to help him. Thus the claustrophobia. However, it is all speculation, and 'detective' work, for the reader.
It was a really good story! Basically, you start off being told slowly, why one character became a shut-in. All of this was due to seeing his childhood friend kidnapped, and then being told by the adults who are supposed to fix things when they go wrong, that the friend didn't exist. Basically, he is told that he made up the kidnapping story, because he didn't want to get in trouble for disappearing and causing trouble for the neighbors and his parents. So when he finds the book in the 'haunted house' and proof that the friend DID exist, he still can't prove it to anyone, because no one saw or remembers the friend. Thus establishing the fact, that people who are remembered by other people exist.
And THAT is the premise of the whole dang story. that line of reasoning. People who are remembered by other people, EXIST.
The only character that I couldn't figure out for being there, save to keep the story narrative moving forward, was the small blond friend.
Oh, and for the rest wondering, I would have to say that yes, sexual abuse WAS involved very much in both of the 'brothers' lives. I am willing to bet that the reason why the older 'brother's' claustrophobia got worse was due to this. More then likely the abuse signs were starting to manifest, and the grandfather was trying to help his grandson through them, not realizing that the older boy was also taking a brutal hit from the manifestation, so instead of himself (Ryou), being able to talk about the change in his 'little brother's' behavior, he instead felt responsible and couldn't figure out what to do to help him. Thus the claustrophobia. However, it is all speculation, and 'detective' work, for the reader.