Last Domino

 We lost our home.

My mom got sick an could not work.
The taxes where not paid and we lost our home.
Dad sold it for a fraction of what it was worth; before they stole it for a couple of thousand.
Of all the properties on the list, only ours was actually going to be taken.
They refused to let us make payments.
They refused our cash to pay any part of it.
We went to Florida.
I had to use my college loan to get us there.
My family assured my mom and dad that I could finish college there.
They would even help because I had to use my college money to move us there.
Brevard collage was just down the road!
It may as well have been on the moon for all the help I got.
And our “house” was just a few blocks from the beach!
That is if you didn’t count the five miles and two highways between us.
And the neighbors are really friendly!
Yes, with Brevard corrections facility a hundred yards up the road.
They lied.
They thought that mom would get her disability from international salt for the rest of her life!
They didn’t know her pension would kick in and that it would be only $160.00 a month; Fifteen years and only $160.00 a month.
Now I know where I get my luck from.
With dad’s money and the household money that was a whopping $642 a month!
Yet we didn’t qualify for welfare!
You will never guess why! I know because I still have a hard time to believe it!
However, it is a fact and my mother was standing right next to me when the Brevard Social Services Director told me and I quote, “Only black families are eligible for welfare in the state of Florida.”, “Florida is a right to work state and white people can get a job without any help from us.” And then we were shown out of the building by security.
So why did we talk to the director?
Because the woman at the desk refused to take our application and so I asked to talk to her boss.
Soohoo……
I used my collage money to move us, and mom used the last of it to pay my brother and sisters gas bills.
I couldn’t go to college.
With my minimum wage jobs, we survived on rice and milk.

Sometimes with sugar and or cinnamon.
My father had no problem eating my brother’s groceries, he simply allowed my mother and I to be blamed for “Stealing” their food.
It’s funny how he was the only fat person in the house and no-one figured it out.
It’s a whole other story to tell about our time in that hell.
So, I will leave it for another time when I feel I can write more.
We finally made it home.
And I kissed the ground when we crossed the state line.
I had survived on my memories of Cathy.
Yes, I’m mucking it up by trying to protect them; Even if they do hate me now.
In my mind I prayed to that God that hates me, that she would wait.
I had sent letters and cards through my cousin but never received anything back.
Why did I trust Peggy this time?
So, I could only pray!
When I saw him, with his arm around you, I couldn’t handle it.
I was never with anyone else as I waited to get back to you.
I was a fool to think she felt the same for me.

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