Peadar is born into a struggling Waterford family, where they keep an outdoor toilet and wash in a galvanised tub beside the fire. Because of this, Peadar develops an obsession with the privacy afforded by a personal bathroom. Then, when the family moves up in the world and gains an upgraded home, he tries to commandeer the indoor facilities for himself. And, when he becomes a homeowner, marries and has children, he adds on a space of his own. There, in the peace and quiet, he can read, draw and bathe, free of regular family disturbances. Crystal Clear is a lighthearted story from Robert E. Kearns which examines how the relative poverty of childhood can shape the personality traits of an adult.