David Schearl

The entire work is comprised of two years of David's young life, from the ages of six to eight. David arrived in America as a toddler, the son of Genya and Albert. He is settled into a New York City slum and becomes wholly dependent upon his mother for his safety, security and love. By age six, David is attending school and is allowed, indeed, encouraged, to venture out into the neighborhood and play with other children, also from immigrant families. It is during this period that David confronts the reality of poverty and slum life, as well as the rough and often vulgar existence of his peers and other adults. A sensitive and previously protected child, David is clearly traumatized by what he experiences. These experiences include a verbally and occasionally physically abusive father; an attempted molestation by a neighbor girl; the crass and crude activities...