'Step by Wicked Step"

         Based on the novel 'Step by Wicked Step' by Anne Fine, Richard Clayton Harwick's character had faced many problems starting at a young age prominently after the demise of his beloved father. Along the way, he was forced to make many decisions to solve his problems based on what he deemed right at the moment. Richard became desolate when his helpless mother marries the wicked Reverend Coldstone whom he called "the black bat". It did not help that her sister, Charlotte was fond of him. His stepfather treated him cruelly often chastising him harshly and even decided to send him to boarding school. Being convinced that he had had enough. he ran away from home, far away from his family who could not relate to his predicament. He worked as a laborer in the seas for many years, working his way up. At that point of time, Richard believed that it was the best resort as he was emancipated from his agony. One day, he chanced upon an advertisement seeking him. Charlotte who possibly died during childbirth revealed the true state of misery of their family in a letter. He was remorseful that his poor mother had died of heartbreak, ignorant of the many years she tried to locate him. He wondered, had all these events occurred because of his wrong decision? He was not any happier than that moment he decided to leave thinking he was doing the right thing. Richard wrote in his journal that the trials and tribulations of his life, expressing his inner thoughts kept too long to change anything to whoever that would find it, read it and pity him.