I think I remember Part two

When I returned from the hospital I was no longer able to attend the after school program at the housing project, so my mother sent me to stay with my aunt on the block over from where we lived in the same housing project. My aunt and uncle had a nice apartment and she did not allow anyone to sit in the parlor, as it was called then, unless they were visitors.

My aunt was sometimes a wonderful person and other times I really disliked her. When some neighbors were in her home she would grab my blouse and pull it up to show them that my mother dressed me with short sleeved boys undershirts under my blouse and especially in the winter she would be ugly about it. I was embarrassed and not sure what to do. I could feel my face getting red and hot. I had no choice but to stand there and allow her to humiliate me and talk about my mother. Now as an adult I understand my mother was doing the best she could with two young children and a husband in jail .

Sometimes my aunt would not be home and then I really hated being there. My uncle would give me a comic to read and lay me on the bed, he would put his fingers in me and touch me. I finally told my mother and she said don't be alone with him. I don't know how she expected me to do that since my aunt was often out and my cousins were out playing with their friends. I tried to get away from him, but it was not until I was 11 that I finally realized the power of "I will tell my aunt"

In later years I thought my aunt knew what was going on as I often heard her call him a dirty man. He would try to kiss her and she would pull away and hit his hand saying stay away from her.

My cousin Bernice, the only daughter in the family was older than me and I thought she was the most beautiful and smart person I knew. She was always laughing and smiling. She wore the nicest clothes and every once in a while she would let me wear a blouse she did not want anymore. What made me brave at 11 was really her. She was going into 42nd St. to the movies and dinner with her girlfriends. She and her friends dressed me in a green linen suit and a little hat with a veil, putting a touch of lipstick on my cheeks. I felt like a grown person. So proud to be seen walking with them. A boy whistled at me and they all started teasing me, I thought nothing greater could happen in my life. I was part of the group if only for a night.

We ate in a real restaurant and was asked what we wanted. We went to the movies and saw a show that was romantic and I thought mushy. I can't remember the name. I do remember I ate a hamburger with French fries and it was delicious.

Soon we had to go home and we took the subway, the enchanted night was over and I was back to reality. But after that I knew I did not have to put up with my uncle as I thought this is not how life is.