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Birthday
David Pelzer was born on Decencember 29th, 1960. -
During the good Years
the most memorable trip to the Russian river. Each day was a new adventure. David and his brothers spent the day climbing and swimming at Johnsons beach, which ended up being a whole days event. -
From disipline to Punishment
Davids relationship with his mom drastically changed from disipline to punishment. He had the unfortunate luck of getting caught at mischief. Even though his brothers most of the time committed the same crime he did.David was put in the corner of his bederoom and wasnt aloud out till his mother said he could. -
"im a bad boy"
David was forced by his mother to stand staring into the mirror, and was ordered to say over and over again. "Im a bad boy! Im a bad boy!" -
The Burn
David was ordered to strip off his clothes, because his mother claimed that she had seen him playing on the grass at recess, which was absolutely forbidden by her rules.After telling her the truth of not playing on the grass his reward was a bunch in the face. And he was put on the stove top, where she turned on the gas burners. -
Back to First Grade
Davids mother insisted that he be held back from first grade because he was a bad boy,and that he was banned from watching TV forever, go without dinner and do whatever chore his mother could dream of. -
On Christmas Morning
On Christmas moring Davids mother explained to him that "santa only brings toys to good boys and girls." He had to watch how his brothers opened their presents. while he had nothing. -
Fight for food
Davids mother would forget to feed him any dinner. And On a good day at breakfast he was allowed leftover cereal portions from his brothers, but thats only if he did his chores before school.The fught for food became a cycle. His father was his only hope, he did all he could to sneak scraps of food for him. When David got really hungary from school he would run to the store and steal food. He also would steal food from other kids lunch boxes. -
"Pelzer Smellzer"
At school David was a total outcast. None had anything to do with him. They made up songs about him and how he smells and steals lunches. He was often bullied and called names. -
When Mother was gone
when Davids younger brother was born, and his mother wasnt home, his father let him play with his brothers.He got to eat all he wanted and even play with the neighbours from across the street. -
The Accident
Davids mother told him he has 20 minutes to finish cleaning up. " if you dont finish intime, im going to kill you." she threatened while holding up a knife. She was drunk at the time and had lost her balance,when all David saw was a blurred object fly out of her hand at the corner of his eye. That was when he felt the sharp pain erupt in his stomach. -
while Father was away
His father was his protector.when he was home his mother only did half the things she did when he was gone. One time when Davids father was gone his mother starved him for 10 consecutive days. No matter how hard he tried to meet her limts, the consequence was always not food. -
Mothers Games
Davids mother would fill the bathtub with cold water and make him sit in it with his head under water till she told him he could get out. If she was in a really good mood she would fix up the gas mixture for him in the bathroom. Or if she got tired of having him around the house, she would send hime out to look for mowing jobs, but not before whipping him with the dogs chain, was he allowed to go out. -
Loss of hope
David began to believe that his life would never change, thinking he would be his mothers slave for the rest of his life.With every passing day his willpower became weaker. -
Hatred
David began to hate everthing. He hated his father because he felt that his father lost faith in him. And instead of feeling sorry for his father he hated him even more. The boy that lived upstairs were no longer his brothers. They each took turns him and appeared to enjoy throwing their weight around. It was obvious they felt superior to the family "slave" -
The Lords Prayer
By the time he was in fifth grade he came to believe their was no God. No just God would leave him the way he was. He no longer dreamed at night, or let his imagination work during the day. Inside his soul became so cold he hated everthing. He even despised the sun for he knew he would never be able to play in its warm presence. -
My happiness was short lived
Its been a long time since David has been told something positive. When David wins in a schoolwide electionfor the best name for the newspaper. His teacher gives him a letter to take home assuring him he wasnt introuble. After reading the letter Davids mother tells him," Get one thing straight, their is nothing you can do to impress me! You are a Nobody! An it! You are Non exsistent! I hate you and i wish you were dead. -
The Rescue
Ut was a familiar routine for David to go to the school nurse when he arrived to school, but this was the last time he would do so. At 12 years old with bruises,cuts, malnutrition and a stab wound. The nurses at the school have had enough, of the lies that David was brainwashed to say by his mother. He was to not return home ever again. David was taken to the San Mateo Juvenile department.
