David goes back to school finally. But his mother makes him wear his dirty clothes to school, and it is a huge embarrassment. The bruises on his face are fully exposed, and he makes up excuses to say how they happened.

David is exiled from the family by his mother. She doesn't even call him by his name anymore, only by "the boy". He returns to school with no new clothes, and luckily recieves a lunch on most days.

From the years 1968 to about 1971, David's abuse is continued more and more frequently. He tries stealing from other childrens lunches because of his hunger, and is only punished more severly. When David's father is away, the abuse is much greater and severe. He tries to get his father to help him, but he never offers much help. David is very lost without his father, and sleeps in the basement all alone.

David's mom becomes very drunk, and while in her rage she stabs David accidentally. The wound is not taken care of properly, and it becomes infected soon. David tells his father, who just tells him to keep doing all the chores that his mother insists he should do.