What makes Jack feel caught in an ugly middle position?

Jack is really caught in an ugly middle position because he is divided into two different difficult situations. He is unable to run away from the harsh realities of life rather he has to acclimatise himself in accordance with the prevailing conditions. He has to manage his family consisting of two children, a daughter Jo and her brother Bobby. Thus, Jack is entangled in two worlds. The first world belongs to Roger Fish, Roger Squirrel or Roger Chipmunk. He is telling the story of a wise owl and the Wizard with a magic wand.

The world upstairs consists of his children, Jo and Jack. Jo has raised questions that the Wizard should hit the mommy and not vice-versa. Jack is unable to satisfy her since he is much cautious about the downside world where his wife Clare is doing the work of painting. The household items are lying scattered. She is pregnant and labouring hard. He must go downstairs to help her. In this way Jack is caught in an ugly middle situation between the romantic world of tales and the real world downstairs.