Even though he had an alcohol addiction, he held onto his job until retirement. He would stay away for years at a time, but when he came back, it was like he never left. After leaving his wife, Charlie went on and had five children with another woman. I am grateful that he returned to the ShoeShine kids for the last two years of his life. Again we all renewed our bond.
Introductory Margie
Margie had a complicated personality. I believe she was deeply affected by our childhood circumstances. Being the last in the orphanage really bothered her. Betty had been in the same orphanage as Margie, but ran away when she was almost sixteen, leaving Margie there, alone. A few days before Betty passed away, she asked Margie if she forgave her for leaving her. Of course Margie said yes, she adored Betty. Every single time I needed Margie, she was there for me. She was there for each and every one of the ShoeShine Kids. Always. She was a beautiful person, inside and out. She loved her husband and their three children dearly. They were her life. I loved Margie with all of my heart. When the ShoeShine kids were getting sick, one after the other, we helped each other through everything. I am lost without Margie.
Introductory Joe
Joey was the cute one. In looks and personality, everyone loved Joe. He never caused a problem. The biggest thing he ever did was skip school. Like Lyda, he had a lot of character and integrity, both as a child and an adult. His personality was quiet, but not shy. He only talked when he needed to as a child. He was hit by a truck and had to have multiple surgeries on his leg. Joe was in the hospital for months. He still suffers from leg pain, even as a adult. My father stole his money. Joe is the type of person that if you needed him, he was always there. Whenever his sisters came to visit, he had a seat right with us at the table. He was divorced and remarried with five children. He was one of the best husbands and fathers that I have ever seen. Joe's life is his family. I am so proud of the man he has become and proud to say he is my brother and my friend. I love him so much.
Introductory Mary
Mary: That is me, the youngest. Sometimes, I think I am strong and can get through anything. Other times, I feel that I am weak. In a crisis, I am strong, but it's afterwards I fall completely apart. I know each and every one of the ShoeShine Kids played so much of a role in the person that I have become as an adult. I think I am a little shy around people that I do not know, yet I have a strong personality with my family. When I believe in something, there is no changing my mind. I love completely. I want you to know when I love you. I think I am easy going in most things. I have three sons and one daughter. I have raised them to be close to each other, and so far it has worked. We do most things as a family. I hope they always stay that way. This is one thing I carried over from the ShoeShine Kids. All of my children are the most caring people I have ever known. My husband is my true soul mate, and I could not ask for more. I love my family more than anything in the world.
Foreword
I dedicate this book to you, my brothers and sisters. We made it through all the cold winter nights and hungry bellies. We had nothing, yet had everything we needed – each other. I thank God for having all of you in my life. The bond we shared could never be broken. Even through death, you are all in my soul. Forever. Joey, it’s you and me kid. You’re the only one who knows of all our adventures. We know where we came from, and how far we have traveled in our little red car. Forever, we are the ShoeShine Kids. To my husband Jerry, we have come so far, too. Our love has always remained a constant in my life. As the years have passed, I never thought I could love you any more than I already did, but I do. You were my first love, my only love. You gave me everything I craved as a child; someone to love. We made a special life together, one that not too many people ever find. We may not have had money, beautiful homes, or cars, but we still share a love so unyielding we could never do without it! To my children, Kim, Jerry, Shawn, and Eddie: every single one of you is magnificent. Kim, you are everything I have ever wanted to be. Jerry you are my smile. Shawn, you are my pride, and Eddie, you will always be my baby. Your spouses are the icing on the cake. They all ground you, and I love them all very much. David is the rock who holds my Kim together. Jen is Shawn’s soul, Maryanne is Jerry’s home, and Nancy is Eddie’s guiding light. To Rachel, Leah, Jerry, Ian, Jacob, Shawn, Grace, Luke, Anna, Jonathon and Ryann, you are my happiness.
1 The Early Years
My story begins in 1948 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I was four years old. I lived in a three story home, aptly nicknamed a Father, Son, Holy Ghost house, in North Philadelphia with my four sisters and three brothers. Back then, that is what the poor Irish Catholic people called these houses, which were actually only half a house, usually situated in the back of a court or an alley way.
The first floor of the house consisted of one room the size of a living room. Approximately 10 ft. by 12 ft. In the center of the room sat a potbelly stove on the linoleum floor. This room was our kitchen and living room. A, table, a few chairs, and a small couch were situated in this small room. The potbelly stove was used for cooking and heat. We usually had a brick sitting on top to better radiate the heat. Only in the kitchen was there a little heat from the potbelly stove. We would put wood that we found, or if desperate, steps from an abandoned house, just to keep warm.
The second floor was the kids' bedroom, which all eight of us shared. There were two big iron beds, one on each side of the room. One bed was for the girls, and the other for the boys. The floors were wood, not soft, but splintered. There were also two windows on the front wall, without curtains or shades. These were always open to help cool the house in the summer, we covered them in the winter to keep the cold out.
We had one large bureau in the room for our clothes. We kept a bucket in the bedroom since we were too afraid to use the outhouse in the back yard at night. Winters in the house were very bad, without heat or plumbing. To say it was cold would be a gross understatement. Since I was the youngest, I always seemed to be on bucket duty. I can’t count the times I spilled the contributions from the night before. I was so scared of the outhouse. First, I would open the door, and hold it open by propping something against the door. Then, I would throw a brick or something in there to scatter any critters that might be in there. This would usually take me at least an hour by the time I could summon up the courage to open that door and dump the contents of the bucket down the hole.
My sisters would say I deserved this duty coming to me, considering the mess I would make for them every night. I was a bed wetter, and when I went, everyone usually got wet. As a result, I was not very popular with them. I would wake up to the sounds of their screams. “Why don’t you get up and go in the bucket instead of on us”? They often threatened I would sleep on the floor the next night.
My parents' bedroom was on the third floor. Their room consisted of a bureau and a bed. On cold winter nights everyone would get all the clothes they had and would wrap themselves in them to stay warm. I can remember this like it was yesterday; how cold it felt. We huddled together to try to stay warm. That feeling stays with me even now.
Most nights, it seemed like when we settled down for bed, we would hear our father’s voice when he came home. Everyone would hold their breath and act as if we were fast asleep. We knew if we were awake, or worse still, if he knew I wet the bed again, there would be beatings for everyone – not just me. We would get beatings for insignificant things. It did not matter if it was just me, he would start with me, and
