Summary of Chapter 4 for A Child Called "It"

In chapter 4 David says the reasons why he is is fighting for food.  David's mothers habits had changed she wasn't the comforting person she used to be.  His mother started to stay on the couch all day and watch television and get drunk.  Everyday David came home he was punished for the smallest things possible or for nothing at all his mother would torture and beat him for no apparent reason.  David's mother for example found out that David was stealing food or asking for food from neighbors she tried setting him on fire.  She put him on a stove and tried burning him.  Another horrible example she was so upset with him stealing food she made him throw it up and then eat it.  David wanted help he wanted everything to just stop.  The only person that he felt safe around was his father, but his father stopped helping and stopped trying.  Davids father didn't like the way his mother was treating him he would talk to her about it and tell her it is cruel but it would lead to them both becoming drunk and fighting, and just becoming more violent.  His mother didn't accept him as a part of the family anymore so his name wasn't David anymore his name was "the boy"  He did get to sleep in his bedroom anymore, he had to sleep in the freezing garage on an army cot and that is about it.  He didn't get any food so he was constantly steeling food.  Which always got him into trouble.  He is really living a horrible life.


"There's no need telling you that your going without dinner tonight, but not to worry, I have a cure for hunger."
This quote really bugged me because it shows that shes throwing food in face and saying "oh haha you can't have this! That sucks for you"


Why did David's mother threaten him with food?


David feels safest with his father.
David struggles with getting food he can't steal it because his mother found out.