Jack

[Trigger warning: physical and psychological abuse. Language]

Although only nine years of age and small framed, Jack was a sturdy and tough little character who appeared to possess an inexhaustible supply of energy and strength. As such, he was still of the age where this boundless get-up-and-go meant he needed regular exercise, stimulation, and distraction.

All who knew Jack in Lofthouse, a small village in Nidderdale in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, loved him. The villagers had heard rumours that Jack had come from a broken home. Despite having encountered formidable early-life challenges, he appeared to possess an abundance of faith in people. With all those he met, he was affectionate, vocal, and not prone to shyness. A sociable creature who loved life and company, he could also be clownish, as he delighted in pleasing others.