a child called it
One of the worst cases of child abuse in the state of California has been documented by the child himself in the book "A Child Called 'It.'" David Pelzer provides a detailed outline of his terrible life, growing up the son of an alcoholic mother, and a father who stood by and watched the abuse. The story takes a circular trip around the many years of abuse. It begins with what ended the torment and pain, and continues with the years prior. In this section of the book, Pelzer speaks of the unthinkable horror his mother put him through. His mother thought sleeping under the kitchen table with only newspapers to cover him was too humane and ordered him to sleep on an old Army cot in th
Several other punishments came from the middle-aged mother addicted to alcohol in her co!nstant attempt to degrade a son she treated worse than the family pets. His courage and hope shown in small segments throughout the years of torture leave the reader wondering how his survival was even possible. That is, with the one exception of "The Boy" that was continually beaten down both mentally and physically. This brings the curiosity of the reader as to! how many other average-appearing families are living such a horrible secret. Forms of torture existed for the young child which included drinking ammonia, laying across the hot stove or having his head held in a dirty diaper. He was unable to bathe and often looked upon as a disgrace by neighbors and school officials. Not only was this outcast of a son banned from the family, but also in public. Pelzer was starved for days at a time, and often punished for attempts to feed himself. Pelzer's mother made him an outcast in the family. Pelzer was granted only one change of clothing a year, which he wore daily to school. Pelzer lived in, what looked from the outside, the average American family. Pelzer lived his life to please his mother, fearing death at any moment. His story of working to stay alive brings a queasy feeling to the stomach and a pain to the heart. She treated his brothers as everyday children, but him as a slave.
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