Page 72 - Firehouse Pond

LEAVING CHARLESTON

LIFE GETS INTERESTING

Life continued as expected until my mother had enough and found the
courage to pack up and leave. My sister and her new husband came to get us.

I was almost nine, but I understood that our life was changing for the better
and that no matter what was ahead of us it had to be better than what we were
enduring.

Finally, we were back together as a family.

Iowa would prove to be a great place to live. At first, my mother and I lived

in a small one-bedroom trailer. A man named Charlie lived in a tear-drop
trailer next to us. Mom and Charlie would eventually marry.

After a short time, my brother moved into a little rental house with mom and

me. My sister and her new husband lived directly across the street.

I felt safe. We were safe. My sister’s husband was a big man and a former

soldier. He promised me that my father would never physically hurt my
mother or me. He kept that promise and several times stood between my
father and me to stop my father’s hateful intent.