Step by Wicked Step

This novel is really five stories within a story that are induced by a story, like a nestingpuzzle. So, we have six stories in the book. There may be a lack of a principal plot herebut it is of no consequence as the novel’s main purpose is to serve as a forum for sixvarious stories of Richard Clayton Harwick, Claudia, Colin, Ralph, Pixie and Robbo. In Step by Wicked Step , five boys and girls find themselves in an old house on astormy night. In a hidden tower room they discover an old diary, that of RichardClayton Harwick, who left behind a journal account of his wicked stepfather. “Read andWeep,’ says the spidery writing on the cover of the book.After Richard Clayton Harwick’s father passes away, he was sent to Mordanger Schoolfor four long years. He wishes to burn Mordanger to ‘ashes’ as to him, ‘there’s nomeaner place on earth’ than this boarding school. When he returns to Old HarwickHall, he could not get along with his wicked and loveless stepfather, ReverendColdstone. Being ‘robbed of all his precious tokens’ from home, Richard makes thedecision to leave and become a cabin boy when ‘a great ship strains at the tide’. Hisdecision has caused anguish in his mother and sister, who have spent a fortuneseeking his return. He did not return to see his mother or sister until he read a squareprint from Riddle & Flook which requested him to claim his ownership to Old HarwickHall. By then, Richard knows that his stepfather, mother and sister have passed on.Only then, he realises his decision to leave has changed the lives of his familymembers.Harwick's story prompts Claudia, Colin, Ralph, Pixie and Robbo to tell their own tales of stepfathers, stepmothers, and stepsiblings, who are in turn eccentric, beloved,unwelcome, and almost always misunderstood. Each vignette* is a wonderful study of human nature. As the lightning flashes, the children begin to relate their own tales of step parents, stories that are full of warmth and humour, yet with a fair share of sadness. At first it seems the children could have nothing in common. Sports-madRobbo, quick-witted Ralph, sensible Claudia, fiery Pixie and dreamy Colin seem asdifferent to each other as it is possible to be. Yet they soon find they have one thing incommon, and that they are all the products of broken homes and they once have aturbulent relationship with a ‘step-’ or ‘steps-’ Below are the five stories in ‘steps bywicked steps’ spin off from Richard Clayton Harwick’s ‘My Story. Read and Weep’. AsRalph says, “Stories don’t have to be written,’ he reminded Claudia. ‘ This is the nightfor stories. Off you go,’ he reiterated.

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