My oldest sister and I seem to recall seeing our little sister’s bed on fire. If we both have such vivid memories, I trust we are correct (versus the story given to us by our biological parents). I heard my older sister screaming loudly about a fire and for our parents to come quickly. As I stumbled to my feet from my bed, I could see the smoke rolling out of my baby sister’s room. I rounded the corner in time to see my father dousing the fire out with wetted blankets while my mother carried the baby to the bathtub filled with cold water. Quickly, I hurried to help my mother get the baby covered in oil as we rushed to a hospital by ambulance.
Things were such a mess that night; I do not know when the police arrived to take us from our parents. I remember screaming and trying to run away from them because I did not want to leave my parents and siblings. Not being able to recall the exact amount of days passing, I was separated from everyone. My baby sister remained in the hospital because her burns were bad while the rest of us children were took to the homes of strangers, being reunited for but a brief time in an orphanage before we’d grow up in different adoptive homes.
The first home I went to was a single silver haired lady with a few other children of various colors living there as well. My only memories from this home were how a tall, straggly silver haired man would come visit the lady often. While he was there, they would disappear for what seemed like eternity behind the locked door to her room. The children were never allowed in her room, nor did we know what they were doing. We just had to go without eating, bathing, using the restroom, or doing playful activities while she was in the room with that man. Many times, it was nearly daylight the next day before the both of them would come rustling out the door. Usually all of us children would be famished, filthy, diapers soiled, and nearly aching all over from neglect. At this home, it was not a long stay from what I seem to know. I went on from there to an orphanage where I would soon be with my siblings for a very short spell.
PREVIOUS PAGE
