Building Paper Bridges

Tony Schmidt grieves for his dead mother along with his sister, Karen, and his older brother, Gene. His imperious father insists Tony, the "snot-nose kid," does not love her. Aunt Gertrude is now the housekeeper, but she soon returns home, disgusted with her brother's womanizing and insensitivity to Tony. Karen is then shipped off to Aunt Martha. When Tony says he would rather talk to his teddy bear, his father puts the animal in the trash. The sudden introduction of Mildred as his "mother" sends Tony into resistance. When Tony claims he was hit by a sadistic cop, his father insists cops are friends of children. At a new school, Tony responds to the principal and brings home an outstanding report card. Smugly, his father takes all the credit. On the day before Thanksgiving, Tony finds he is poor as there is a bag of groceries at the door. Mildred, fed up with her husband's affairs, finally walks out. The father compounds the loss by moving in with his girlfriend. Tony responds by winning a scholarship to prestigious St. Aloysius High School. However, it is a bitter victory because his father is not there to witness the triumph of a "snot-nose kid" turned scholar.