Is this excerpt OK? Or too gross?

wow, this is very well written. vivid detail. I can't really tell what is going on as I don't know any of the background or characters, especially immediately following the young boy's beating. As an author myself, I am a firm believer that nothing is too "gross" to be put in a story. The more horrifying the better - without some sense of shock, the reader will only experience a hum-drum story that lacks the "wow factor". Just be careful to approach sensitive situations with delicacy; ie the beating of a young boy, a , etc anything like that that could come off distasteful and turn off your reader if handled in the wrong way. I think what you have is fine. Its not excessive, but is rather just enough to shock your reader into paying attention and keeping them interested in reading more. good luck!