A Child Called 'It'

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A Child Called 'It' is a first-person narrative of a severely abused child who has survived to tell his tale. Dave Pelzer tells his story to help others heal from the trauma of the past.

Pelzer gives a child's eye view of the adults who failed to report abuse and neglect in his childhood. To the child they seemed to agree with his own interpretation: that bad things were happening to him because he was bad. Then came the day when he was rescued:

"The secretary leads me into the teachers' lounge. After she opens the door, it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. In front of me, sitting around a table, are my homeroom teacher Mr. Ziegler, my math teacher, Miss Moss, the school nurse, Mr. Hansen, and a police officer. My feet become frozen. I don't know whether to run away or wait for the roof to cave in… I take a seat at the head of the table, explaining I didn't steal anything… today…

"The police officer explains why Mr. Hansen called him. I can feel myself shrink into the chair. The officer asks that I tell him about Mother. I shake my head no. Too many people already know the secret, and I know she'll find out… Then the nurse has me stand up and show the policeman the scar on my chest. Without hesitation, I tell them it was an accident; which it was—Mother never meant to stab me. I cry as I spill my guts, telling them Mother punishes me because I am bad. I wish they would leave me alone. I feel so slimy inside. I know after all these years there is nothing anyone can do." (pg. 9-10)

You may remember that in training we emphasize how many abused and neglected children remain so attached to their families that they want to live with them at any cost. This was not Dave Pelzer's experience. He grew to hate his mother for singling him out for systematic torture. His anger helped him survive: "I wanted to show The Bitch that she could beat me only if I died, and I was determined not to give in, even to death." (Pg. 91)

Pelzer describes his earliest years as idyllic: "My two brothers and I were blessed with the perfect parents. Our every whim was fulfilled with love and care." (pg. 17)

Perhaps the security of his early years helped Dave develop enough resilience to survive the abuse and grow up to be an emotionally healthy adult with a child of his own. As he writes: "The challenges of my past have made me immensely strong inside… I have a vast appreciation for things that others may take for granted… My blessings also mean having the opportunity to meet so many people who had a positive impact on my life. The endless sea of faces, prodding me, teaching me to make the right choices, and helping me in my quest for success." (pp. 157-158)

—Libby Colman, Ph.D.