Marcus is a twelve-year-old boy. He lives alone with his mother Fiona in London. They moved there from Cambridge some weeks ago. Marcus is very shy and he doesn't have any friends, because he's uncool, weird and out of touch. His mother tells him what he has so wear and which kind of music he should listen to, like Joni Mitchell and Bob Marley. She thinks that she knows what is good for her son and she doesn't allow him to make his own decisions.

Then he meets Will Freeman, a 36-years-old guy, who doesn't have a job, a family or a regular life. Fiona doesn't like him, because she is afraid of losing Marcus, but Marcus visits Will nevertheless. Will isn't happy to see him every day, but after some time he gets used to it. Marcus likes Will, because he shows him another way of life and Will helps him to be cool in school - he tells him about popular music and he buys him new shoes (Adidas trainers).

So Will is very important in his life, because he is the first person Marcus can talk with instead of his mother and he can ask him when he has a problem with school or with other pupils like Ellie, an older girl Marcus meets in school. She is famous for being in trouble and everybody is afraid of her. This is a really strange relationship, because they are very different. Will and Ellie show Marcus how to be cool and so he starts a new life.

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