Answers

Novel : Step By Wicked Step

Objective Questions

1 D 2 C 3 B 4 A 5 D
6 C 7 D

Structural Questions

1. Dumpa’s the problem. A three year old kid was the problem. He was the
combination of two families. (1)Robbo and Callie’s family, (2) Roy’s family.
Between these two families the mother was the common link. Dumpa’s the
problem because he was loved by both the families. The past and the present
family. Dumpa’s the problem because he is the present. Whereas Robbo and
Callie were part of the past. Roy could not leave Callie’s mother because he
loved Dumpa and he knows that Dumpa loves him so much. Callie’s mother
could not be partial towards Callie because she may lose Dumpa if Roy leaves
her. Although Robbo and Callie were willing to separate their mother from
Roy they knew Dumpa will be affected. Callie however thinks that Dumpa
will be able to get over his father. However that is arguable. Dumpa cannot be
equalled to Callie and Robbo. They are of different age and maturity. Callie
makes erroneous assumption comparing she and her brother’s situation with
Dumpa. Dumpa was still the problem.

Arguably, it is actually Callie who is the problem and not Dumpa. It was
Callie who was causing the problems. As Callie was being difficult, her mum
had to unjustifiably defend her from Roy. Roy found it difficult to accept it.
He felt that he was not accepted in the family. He felt that he was an outsider.
Dumpa was the only reason Roy was still around. If Callie had not been
difficult the family may not have those problems. No doubt families have
small arguments but that does not make a mountain.

In conclusion based on the interpretation that the problem mentioned in the

title is merely the “new” family problem we can conclude that Dumpa is not
the problem.

2. Step by step is usually applied in mathematical problems. The maths questions

are answered step by step, if we were to omit one step the marks for that
particular question may not be awarded. This is referred to sometimes as
logical reasoning. However this logical reasoning is also applicable in life
related problems. Whatever may be the problem if we were to think
systematically, step by step, we will be able to manage the problem as we will
be treating the problem little by little, step by step.
However, step by wicked step suggests, not a method to solve problem but to
create one. Richard, step by step took himself away from his family. The first
step was when he regarded his stepfather as an epitome of evil. The second
step was when his stepfather sent him to school, Richard thought it is because
he was wild, but the Reverand sent him to school so that he will be well
educated. The third step was when he ran away to the port yard and left the
country. The wicked step was when he returned but never approached the
family. Step by wicked step he killed all those he loved.

Claudia’s mum and dad took the first step, the wicked step if you don’t
mind, they quarreled but did not patch back. They quarreled and allowed it to
get bigger and bigger until the inevitable happened. The divorce took another
step, again a wicked step, when Stella came into her father’s life. Claudia’s
action of not accepting Stella, was not meant to be wicked, but it did not
help her mum and it did not help Stella. The last step however was not wicked,
her action of accepting Stella in front of everyone helped Stella, but it did not
help her mum. In that perspective, isn’t Claudia’s last step and evil step, a
wicked step for her mum?

Colin’s mum, perhaps took perfect steps, perfect wicked steps, first she takes
Colin away from his biological Dad. Arguably, it is wicked unless one accepts
her view that he is a “rough” person. The second step in her life which she
chose to take was to hitch up to Colin’s stepdad, however, he was not a good
choice by her standards as he was not earning money for the family. A wrong
step. Not a wicked step. The problem is he was a perfect father in Colin’s view.
Colin loved him and his stepdad was there for him. The wicked step Colin’s
mum took was to leave him without informing or letting him know where she
was going with Colin. That literally broke Colin’s fragile heart. Colin was
never the same again. The subsequent steps Colin’s mum took were all wicked,
not allowing his stepdad to talk to him, not informing the social worker the
school sent, telling a white lie by not recognising the stepfather and lastly not
allowing by emotional blackmail for Colin to discover his Dad’s whereabouts.
Perhaps the height of wickedness was by making Colin to invariably wait as
she never absolutely said that they had left the stepfather for good.

Ralph’s Dad, did take steps to bring up his children, although it can be
regarded as an unorthodox step. By chance or planning he was able to give his
children step by step, an upbringing that had created an all round child, Ralph.
However, if one was to scrutinise carefully, one will note that the steps were
wicked, Annabel an idealist, brought the children in an idealistic way, the
wickedness, was that she was shirked. Arguably, it was she who left but then
she may have been hurt by the family’s action of not believing her beliefs.

Janet, brought some discipline into the family, a good step in bringing up
children. However, the wicked step was by both of Ralph’s parents. That
wicked step, created the next step, Flora was brought in Ralph’s life. It is here
that Ralph applies whatever he has learnt. It is noticeable that the father
created the wicked steps for the stepmothers but it is actually good steps for
the upbringing of the children.
Pixie”s, steps were quite wicked, she treated the whole family as an adversary.
she planned and tricked Hetty to make her leave her room. Wicked steps
indeed. She quarreled with Lucy. She enjoyed all the benefits of the
relationship and hoped that Lucy will meet an accident so that her father and
mother will get back together. Lucy however worked hard, she bought the
house with Pixie’s father, she agreed to give Pixie a room and took care of all
the household duties. Step by step she had build the house into a home. Pixie
however was more concerned with wickedness. Yes, step by wicked step.

Dumpa was not the problem. . Her mother protected Callie, the first step, a
wicked step against Roy and the relationship between Roy and Callie. Callie
misused the protection by escaping into the security her mother created for her
and attacked Roy verbally. The relationship between Roy and Callie’s mother
was affected as Roy began to feel that Callie’s mother was protecting Callie
unnecessarily. Callie was the one who created the wicked steps, she wanted
her mother back with her father. She was so wicked that she did not even
bother about Dumpa. However in the end her wicked steps lead to a happy
conclusion.

Thus in conclusion, we can conclude that step by step is usually associated to

logical reasoning in solving problems whereas step by wicked step depicts
actions of evil or wickedness done step by step resulting in dire consequences.