Chapter 4, Wishful Thinking Summary and Analysis

As Pelzer travels back to California, he stresses about seeing his birth mother. In the same way a young child does, Pelzer hopes whatever dire situation his father lies in, his parents will get back together. He dreams that his mother will realize that his father needs a caring spouse.

At the Kaiser Hospital, Pelzer sees only a shadow of the father he remembers. The senior Pelzer lies helpless in bed, unable to speak, due to the strong pain medication he is on. From a hospital aide, Dave Pelzer learns that his father has terminal cancer. He has been sick for four months. What's more, the medicine prevents Pelzer's father from being in his right mind enough to recognize his son. Only Pelzer's older brother, now in the army, has been to visit.

Pelzer stays by his...