A brother's journey : surviving a childhood of abuse

Mom has no one like David around to beat on anymore. I am more afraid of her than ever ... I get in more trouble for anything I do or say. Now I find that I'm always in trouble and I don't know why. Now that David is gone, I'm afraid that she will try to kill me, like she tried to kill him. I'm afraid that she will treat me like an animal like she did him. I'm afraid that now I'm her IT. The Pelzer family's secret life of fear and abuse was first revealed in Dave Pelzer's inspiring New York Times bestseller, A Child Called "It," followed by The Lost Child and A Man Called Dave. Here, for the first time, Richard Pelzer tells the courageous and moving story of his abusive childhood. From tormenting his brother David to becoming himself the focus of his mother's wrath to his ultimate liberation-here is a horrifying glimpse at what existed behind closed doors in the Pelzer home. Equally important, Richard Pelzer's touching account is a testament to the strength of the human heart and its capacity to triumph over almost unimaginable trauma Title page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1: That Was Then . . .......Page 18 2: Good Boy......Page 24 3: Brothers......Page 46 4: No One......Page 60 5: He Never Said Good-Bye......Page 70 6: The Break......Page 86 7: An Ambulance Ride......Page 112 8: The Gun......Page 128 9: The Last Betrayal......Page 136 10: Christmas......Page 154 11: A Crack in the Ice......Page 166 12: Full Circle......Page 180 13: Saying Good-Bye to My Hero......Page 190 14: There's Life Out There......Page 204 15: Dad......Page 220 16: Calistoga......Page 232 17: Welcome Back......Page 250 18: Letting Go......Page 264 Afterword......Page 272