Trauma

The most significant traumatic event of Jared's life came at the hands of David, one of his mother's boyfriends. David presented himself as diplomatic and kindhearted, but when Jared came home with a bad report card and David found himself alone to discipline him, he beat him viciously, breaking Jared's ribs. Jared recounts later on that he noticed that David became sexually aroused while doing this, adding a whole other dimension of horror to what happened. Plus, when Jared's mom heard this happening, she came in and nailed David to the floor with a nail gun and made Jared stay there until he did the same. David still hangs around the town that Jared and his mom live in, and he appears to Jared early on in the novel to taunt him about his dog's death despite the fact that he should not have any contact...