MEMORIES BY ANGELINA (Episode Two)

Momma’s brother, Uncle John, worked with Papa making whiskey. Late one night the Still blew up and he (Uncle John) was burned over 80% of his body. One week later, on Christmas Eve, he died. All of Momma’s world came tumbling down. I believe that was the saddest Christmas we ever had. I know that part of Momma died with John’s passing. He was the only family she had in this country. They had a very loving relationship, very close. I remember how kind and generous he was.

By the time I was in my teens, Papa had lost almost everything he had owned. We still lived in the nice house on ‘A’ Street but his health went bad and he gave up on life. He became very ill, developed double pneumonia and almost died. For a long time he could not work. He stayed in bed for weeks as the illness lingered. Momma tried to care for him but the doctor decided to bring in a nurse. Momma had her hands full with my brothers and me. Papa slowly recovered but was never the same. He had given up bootlegging after Uncle John’s death and while he was ill, most of the property was lost. How they managed to pay for the doctor and nurse is a mystery. Somehow they did and I was glad. Papa recovered some and did odd jobs here and there. I worried about him and Momma (when I) was a very young age. Being the oldest was the pits.

To regress a bit, I started school without knowing a word of English and was so mixed up and scared that I kept going back home. I didn’t understand the teachers and it was so upsetting. I cried a lot that first year. The second year was not easy either but I became friends with other children. The teachers were nice to me and tried to help. I was afraid of my own shadow. I didn’t want to leave home but my mother soon convinced me that I had to go to school to learn to read and write. I wouldn’t have a future without an education. She and Papa could not read or write in English. That was hard on all of us. They understood the Italian language and did well in reading and writing their own language.

(My younger) brother John came along when I was 10 and I was so very disappointed. He was born at home on 12 April 1932. I thought, more work for Angie and I would like to have had a sister instead. I practically raised him and he was a handful. Responsibility began early for me. I had to help the folks; I didn’t have a choice. When they had jobs I was left in charge. I didn’t mind too bad because I knew Papa and Momma were happy earning some money and we were going to have a little extra to buy our food with. I loved to cook and liked to try different recipes on our family. They seemed to like what I cooked.

When school started, I didn’t do as much (around the house). I helped after school and did the best I could. What with school and certain chores at home, it was hard to make a choice as to what was the most important. I had no one to explain to me about homework, since my parents did not read or write English. What I learned, I learned in class. A couple of teachers tried to help me because they knew I had problems. (More to follow).