Publisher's Note Howie the Rookie Mark O'Rowe First we meet Howie. He tells us how, one night, he gets caught up in a gang intent on beating up Rookie. He's supposed to be baby-sitting his five-year-old brother, but he goes out just the same. They beat up Rookie. Howie returns to discover a horrible accident has happened to the little boy.... Then we hear the story from Rookie's point of view.