Dave's mother claims to have seen Dave playing on the grass, which is prohibited. However, Dave never played on the grass at school. It didn't matter whether he did or not, because his mother already had a plan. She told him that she had read an article in which a mother had her son lie over a hot stove and that she wanted to try it. She grabbed his arm and placed it in the flames that burned his skin. The reward for playing on the grass was a burnt arm. Another incident happened in the summer of 1971, by now Dave knew what to do and what not to do to receive his mother's punishments. Punishments would range from not eating, to a slap in the face if he looked at someone without permission, and if caught stealing food he would be forced to vomit it and eat it or something worse. One incident of abuse that struck me was the stabbing. That day was one of the worst punishments ever for Dave. As he sat with his hands at the bottom of the stairs to the basement waiting for "the family" to eat and waiting until he was called to clear the table. This was a normal occurrence and also praying for something to satisfy his hunger. Him