

The idea of child abuse naturally segues into the question of whether Chris would need to be separated from his father. Would Chris and His Father's Relationship Reach a Point Where They Need to be Separated? And situations like this rarely just "get better." If Chris' father is physically harming his son, that situation is only going to get worse, more violent, and much harder to watch.

The idea of Chris being abused is heartbreaking, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. His father clearly has impulse control issues, judging by the way he casually swears around Chris and the way he bursts into fits of rage.Īlcohol isn't the sole cause of anyone becoming violent towards loved ones, but it does give alcoholics a big push. It's made all the more plausible by Charles' rampant alcoholism that's only gotten worse since he lost his job and since Chris' mother died. This is raised as a possibility when Charles asks Chris is anyone has asked about it, his approach indicating a degree of guilt. Then there's the other far more unsettling idea that Chris' father is physically abusing him. After all, players do discover over the course of the game that Chris has been disciplined by the school for getting into a physical altercation with one of the other kids, who was mocking his father's job loss. He could have gotten it while playing, he could have had a mishap, or he might have even gotten into a scuffle with some bullies. A young boy like Chris can rack up bruises doing just about anything. Chris has a nasty bruise, with his dad noting that it still hasn't healed. When Chris goes down to breakfast, his father, Charles, makes sure to check on his arm. This is one of the more unpleasant questions, right out of the gate.
