From the period of her marriage, which lasted at least fifteen years, Miriam recounts a violent, irascible husband who was always ready to use his fists, which is why he couldn't keep a job, at times cruel in the family both with her and the children, in constant economic and human decline, and which reached its peak in an episode (which gives the title to this chapter), where he was seen hiding some snacks so that his children couldn't have them.
Miriam says that she soon had to completely support the family on her own, even financially, resorting to any means as long as they were honest, including eating at the local soup kitchen for the poor.
Although there are some small inconsistencies, the story told by Miriam seemed truthful to me and consequently attests to the fact that Miriam managed to live honestly and stay away from any form of drugs for about 15 years, giving birth to, raising, and managing three children, two boys and a girl.
However, some positive things must be said about her husband:
1) Miriam has an overall positive memory of married life as it was fundamental in bringing order to her life after more than 10 years of heroin addiction. In this sense, the husband's authoritarian and at times violent attitude, inconceivable in a modern couple, was experienced as "normal" in light of her conservative and Venetian upbringing.
2) There is evidence that he was present in the children's lives, at least during the most important moments, well beyond the end of the marriage. For example, he slapped partner no. 3 when, in a cocaine-induced delirium, he tried to strangle his youngest son.
3) Miriam has recently admitted that her ex-husband is one of the few "exes" with whom, even today, she occasionally has sexual relations, which is very strange if everything negative she says about him were entirely true.