Comment from Treischel

Excellent

My gosh Shirly. I've heard similar stories from the depression era when no one had anything and life was cruel, but not in the sixties. It is good to share it for understanding. It's a wonder you came through so well. Compelling and well written. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 03-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Feb-2015

Thank you.
I appreciate your review stars and comments.
A toxic mix of circumstances encircled my family and bad things grew.
I think maybe I should write a chapter to explain as best I can how this all came about.
I survived because I knew no different. I was isolated, ostracised, brainwashed and scared of so many things.
Now I am finally dealing with in a final literary walk to emotional freedom.
Thanks for walking with me.
:-) Shirley

Comment from GracieAnn

Excellent

Shirley, thank you for being willing to be so transparent with how you were brought up. The cruelty did teach you have to survive and formed you into a person ready for the love of the Heavenly Father to fill every void in you soul. Well written and moving account. :0 GracieAnn

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Feb-2015

Thank you.
I need to be able to acknowledge my journey, accept it happened, and then release.
Thanks for walking with me.
-:) Shirley

Comment from l.raven

Excellent

OH Shirley, tears...I hate to hear any child has to live like that...and wonder where God is when it is going on...I am so sorry...and you may forgive...but not to be forgotten...sigh...your story is very well told...and you have a beautiful smile...very well written...Luff Linda xxoo

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Feb-2015

Thank you Linda.
Your kind review and support are appreciated.
:-) Shirley

reply by l.raven on 03-Feb-2015

you are so welcome Shirley....xxoo

Comment from Tomes Johnston

Exceptional

This is yet another heartbreaking post that the author has created with this piece of work. This is terrible once again, but it also tells us all about the healing qualities of writing. It is so good T get it off your chest. That is why I started writing. I tried writing reality, but I find fiction easier. I put a bit if reality into it though. Well done yet again.

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Feb-2015

Thank you Tomes.
A six star review means so much to me.
I appreciate your compassionate and caring review.
Reality can sometimes be very confronting, but also very healing, to write.
:-) Shirley

reply by Tomes Johnston on 03-Feb-2015

I totally agree.

Comment from nancy_e_davis

Excellent

I wrote a long review and it went to error and disappeared. Here I go again. How could your mother allow that to go on. No shoes in winter? It's a wonder you all didn't die of exposure or pneumonia. How come you didn't come down with tetanus from the barbwire scratches? Had to eat chicken legs? Not the drumstick's. I didn't know they were edible. What kind of people treat children this way? I hope God can forgive them I'm afraid I couldn't. Sorry you went through that my friend. Hugs.:<) Nancy

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Feb-2015

Thank you Nancy.
Your caring comments touch my heart.
To explain the hows and whys would takd too long in this reply.
I'm thinking I should write a background chapter to give insight into the character and circumstances
which contributed to the abuse. Would that help?
It has taken me until beginning to write on this site to begin to heal, and to forgive. I will never forget.
:-) Shirley

Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin

Excellent

Hi, Shirley,

Did your neighbors suspect anything or try to help you an your brothers?

I never realized while growing up how easy/wonderful my brother and I had it. Then, when I read stories such as yours, it just breaks my heart you didn't have what my brother and I were blessed with.

However, I would suspect, for all you've been through that you are an exceptional mom by giving to your girls what you never had. That has to be so gratifying.

~~ You need a space after this line. ~~
treated with respect, or ignored by classmates.

Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'.... Jax (*:*)

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 02-Feb-2015

Thanks Jax.
During those years we only had one neighbour close by. A house full of boys with a snobbish mum.
I seldom saw her and she never spoke to my family.
They lived about eight hundred metres away and kept to themselves.
The emotional and verbal abuse was largely hidden within the home and
outdoors on the eight acres of bananas we worked in.
The physical welts and bruises were usually on the thighs where no-one could see them.
No-one knew, no-one saw, I was isolated, brainwashed and just too scared to tell.
It was all I knew, and believe it or not, I was dependent-petrified of being alone.
Thanks for the glitch alert.
:-) Shirley