lloyd suffers with sickle-cell anaemia and because of this his entire family tend to 'wrap him up in cotton-wool', which often leaves him feeling smothered. his father's strict rules only seek to alienate him further so he spends most of his time on the square attempting to rebel against them. his condition means that he becomes easily tired so he is forbidden from getting a job as his parents fear that he would over-exert himself. lloyd ignores his family's wishes and secretly gets a job as a paper boy. he regrets his defiance however, as he collapses in the playground with sickle cell crisis, and is rushed to hospital frightening his family with a near death experience. the incident underlines the seriousness of his condition and only increases his parents overbearing concern.