Tom Wade, a teenage boy, begins to question his mother's odd decisions and behaviour. He can cope with his early days at her chosen school but has more difficulty dealing with mysterious events at home. For instance, his mother's absences seem to coincide with the blossoms on a rosebush in their back garden. These blossoms, varied, multi-coloured and extra-ordinary, always begin to bloom when his mother prepares to go away. And when the last remaining bud blossoms, Tom can look forward to his mother's return. Not that Tom is neglected or left to take care of himself. A housekeeper, Mayteria, always turns up as his mother prepares to leave then disappears on her return. Also, lately, a strange little man seems to be stalking him on his bus trips to and from the new school. Even when Tom returns home on a later bus, the odd man is there, his beady eyes watching the boy's every move. On a rainy Monday morning, Tom leaves the bus and soon makes a bigger enemy of the school bully, Ronald Pecklay. In the first lesson, he is partnered with Abigail Meers for a planned debate. Abigail, not really his type, is less than friendly. Later, the PE Teacher introduces the class to the sport of fencing. When handed a foil for the first time, Tom is amazed by his immediate expertise. Cheered on by his classmates, he inflicts defeat upon the experienced fencer, Ronald Pecklay. Tom discovers life can get even weirder the day he is given a tattered old book by a man in the city. He reads aloud the words written in red. Lo bamakom hazeh Ba'arets hahi'