Galloway, Janice. "Someone Had To"

Summary

- a desperate account of the uncle Frank in the role of a father to the problematic child Kimberley and probably a partner to her mother Linda

- the child gets out of control, ceases communicating and gets on Frank's nerves

- he abuses her and eventually ends up intent on bathing her in boiling water as "someone had to"

Analysis

- concentrates on atmosphere rather than on action

- presents a shocking fact of child abuse versus the equally discomforting despair of the tyrannous parent

- the fatal results of failure of communication between human beings