yep yep...that's the story. It is a bit confusing the way you read it in the first chapter because you get an idea of tom being younger and his parents being middle-aged or so, not elderly.

And thanks for posting this to make it clear for everyone..it helps. Even though i've read the book a hundred times, i always forget the exact details of the history and have to go look it up...in fact i just did a couple of days ago because a friend asked me sommin about it and i had totally forgotten!!!!