On July 16, 1918, the Russian imperial family, the Romanovs, were executed in the basement of the Ipatiev House by the Bolshevik political party. While Robert Alexander's The Kitchen Boy follows the perspective of the family's young kitchen boy during this event, as well as an alternate ending to the story, it also follows the boy through the mistreatment inflicted on the royal family long before they were killed. During their stay in the Bolshevik-controlled Special Purpose House, the Romanov family endured physical, psychological, and spiritual mistreatment. The Bolsheviks physically abused them in several ways; however, their excuse was that it was always for their own good and protection, even if the family knew otherwise. The ridiculous conditions they were told to live in are a perfect example of this. They can't even open a single window, even though it's stuffy and smells bad. “For two weeks, the former emperor has been asking: just one window, just a little fresh air…” (Alexander 8). Not having a single window open in the middle of summer with sweaty and smelly armed guards makes the living conditions very unbearable for the family. They cannot even open a window to relieve themselves, even though no harm could have come to them. The Romanovs had no contact with the outside world. They have no idea and don't know what's happening in their country, with their friends, or even the weather. “A few weeks earlier, the Bolsheviks had also painted the thermometer with whitewash…” (63). The Bolsheviks are so cruel and demanding that the family couldn't even know what the weather was like just outside of them. They have almost nothing of their original...... middle of paper ......ch was an integral part of the family's way of life. The fact that the Tsar requested it and that it was withdrawn demonstrates this. Another way they were mistreated spiritually was that it was they, the Bolsheviks, who gave the Romanovs hope when they ultimately knew there was none. This lifted the family's spirits only for them to break down even further at the end of it all. Not only did the Romanov family have to endure a terrible death sentence, but they were ridiculed and belittled at almost every possible opportunity along the way. by the Bolsheviks. They were forced to live in horrible conditions, be tormented by vicious gossip and rumors, and find a way to keep their faith when they had no opportunity to do so. The Russian Imperial Family had to endure all of this and more, simply because of their bad luck and poor judgment..