Donnie Harold Harris

I started school, kindergarten five weeks after turning five. I still recall how terrified I was that morning. I had no idea how much pain my mom was in. The school I went to was on west Morris street, just east of Belmont. We would move in and out of this neighborhood dozens of times. Rhodes Park was a block away. It would be the location of the first Race riot I would be involved in latter at eight years old or so. I was pushed by a young black boy. I told my older cousin Leon. Who went over and beat him to a pulp. About an hour later, the park was loaded with young black men. They stormed the city park and pool area. I ran up the steps. Running for my life. I went to the back and climbed out on one of the water tanks and slid off, running to safety. This park the separating area between what was known as the Valley and the Hill areas.

After several moves, I finished kindergarten and the first grade. Lon failed the first grade. I went to the second grade when we were moved to Mr. Uncle Howard and aunt Margurite’s house and their son Ronnie. My first cousin. I was pushed back one year in school, putting Lonnie and me back in the same grade. This is when I would tell my class about the death of my younger brother only to have the entire level laugh about it. I was puzzled. We also were held up to ridicule when the free milk we had been receiving in our old school was not given at this new one. I went up for mine and was told to go sit down. I had not paid for the milk. The entire dining hall laughed. Uncle Howard worked at night. He followed an exact routine. He had 10 silver dollars on his dresser to show Lonnie and me how long his dick was. All while his son would molest us every day after school.

Lonnie got into trouble for the first time for showing his dick to a young girl next store. Aunt Margarete loved to use a switch to beat us with unreserved. We finally moved back to moms Only to be handed over to the Devil Herself. Larry _ Loretta Blankenship. Our new stepmom. Dad’s unique answer to his kid’s problems. Four boys would go to live with him. Four went to live with mom. Two went to mom’s mom and dad. The two oldest. The four youngest, all boys, to dad and Larry’s apt. On Collage over a grocery store. She gets her own chapter.