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Rude Awakenings

Asked Fisher for raise

  Chapter 55: 1949 • Sonora ~ Larry’s diary (age 15) Jun 1  Cut Spanish because I was 20 minutes late. Watched some practice for pageant. Got impressions for new tooth. Windy. Jun 2  Had last big meal at R&B Jun 3  Had Spanish test,... Continue

Where was her free will?

Chapter 54: 1949 • “Bettyyyy. Claudiaaa.” Mother’s nightly yell for supper bounced across the yard until it floated down to the soft shadows of the creek where the girls fooled away their afternoons catching tadpoles. Betty paid no attention to Mom. Claudia, emptying her Mason... Continue

A higher power

Chapter 53: 1949 • Sonora ~ Our parents never argued about how to raise their children. They argued about Mother’s smoking and drinking and about her housekeeping, but not about raising the kids. Mom gave the older ones a swift kick or a snapping backhand... Continue

Dad raced a burro, placed fourth

Chapter 52: May, 1949 • Diary of my brother (age 15):   May 8  Sunday: Mother's Day, rained a little and had a rainbow. Mom went to Chico to visit Grandma. May 9  Got stamps from Jamestown bought $5.10. Jim got a '49 Jeepster, yellow.... Continue

‘Again, again, swing me again!’

Chapter 51: Apr 1949 • Diary of my brother, Larry (age 15): Apr 22  Freshman picked weeds at school. Am now reading book called Lets Make Mary. Was late for school because of oversleeping Apr 23  Florence Harold came into my room with Ima looking... Continue

My brother’s diary

Chapter 50: Sonora, California. April 1949 • Larry’s diary (age 15) Apr 1  Freshmen's return was given, but it was so bad I left it to watch the baseball game with Livingston. We won 3 -1. Apr 2  Had tooth taken out, very large molar.... Continue

Like life, it’s complicated

Chapter 49: 1948/49 • Sonora ~ Just three months after my arrival, my mother—along with losing her mind—lost her brother, Gordon Gregory Chatfield. He died in Letterman's Veteran's Hospital in San Francisco at the age of 42 from his WWII injuries (he fell off the... Continue

No wonder I wonder how I got here

Chapter 48: August 16, 1948 • Sonora ~ I was welcomed into the family two years after Mom’s first breakdown, though not by her. She didn’t want another child, she wanted out. As far as she was concerned, I was a fifth burden tacking on... Continue

1948 was not an easy year…

Chapter 47: 1948 • Sonora My brother did not keep a diary for much of 1948; between April 2 and December 31 there are only six entries. Our parents were going through difficult times and the household was in chaos. Dad was selling the store,... Continue

Bought a spider

Chapter 46: 1948 • Sonora Note: my brother did not keep a diary for much of 1948. Many entries were typical posts about Boy Scouts, band, and building bookcases, some days were missed, and some weeks and months were completely blank. 1948 • Larry’s diary... Continue