When I was 14 she sent me to live in Atlanta with another brother, I did not know him. He beat me and I escaped with the help of a neighbor. I hid my clothes in the bushes outside the apartment, and she picked me up in the morning and drove me to the bus station.
My bus ticket was in her name. The authorities stopped the bus looking for me, but because I had changed my clothes, and my ticket was in the neighbor’s name, they didn’t find me. I went to live with my brothers. My St. Louis brothers were my support and very resourceful to me.
I have six children. My husband and I split up after I found out that he was using heroin, crack and alcohol. I heard that is why my dad stabbed my mom and was afraid the cycle would continue with me.
I used to take my kids to Crisis Nursery sometimes. I told the counselor that I hadn’t found the right GED program. She gave me a list and Women In Charge was right at the top.
Now good things are happening to me. I have a neighbor I help out a lot, and sometimes send my son over to help with yard work. One Saturday my neighbor came over and said, “I want buy you a washer because you are an independent woman. You don’t see young women taking care of children like you do.” She took me to Overland Appliance and I thought that was really nice of her. I had needed a washer because I was putting 4 loads of dirty laundry into a double stroller and rolling it a half mile to the Laundromat every Sunday.
I had been sleeping on an air mattress for a year. I told Vicki that I needed a bed. So a friend of Women In Charge had a bed and she gave me the bed, sheets and covers. That was so strange, the washer and the bed were not expected.
Finally I have found within myself what I didn’t have; peace, understanding between my children and dealing with my own feelings. I see myself completing this program. It will make my mother smile from the clouds.
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