It has been an interesting week. I placed my books on the counter (I have a sewing shop) and listened for remarks. My adoption book brought the most comments when nobody else was in here. Mostly, about family members or friends that are adopted.
One woman in her late-70s said she lived on a farm when she was growing up and was raped by 3 men while they were working on the farm during harvest season. She was embarrassed and didn’t tell anyone until her mother finally noticed her bulge. The next morning, her dad drove her and one suitcase and put her on a Trailways bus with a one-way ticket to a city with a home for unwed mothers. Her dad never uttered a word the whole way, she had to grab her suitcase before he drove away. There was a motherly woman who met her at the bus station and she was treated very well at the home.
She never saw her baby but thinks she had a girl. She doesn’t think she singed any papers and she was still underage anyway. After that, she went to work for a farm couple helping care for the kids. Though she was treated well, she wondered where her baby was. Three years later, she married a young farm boy from a couple farms over. They took a Trailways bus to the nearest city and started working in a factory.
They never had any children and her husband died 30 years ago from pneumonia. She never remarried and she never went home.
Customers came in and she left without telling me her name. I hope she comes back.
There is still a sadness about her.
Until next time,
Alice
The Adoption Triad Asks: Who am I really?
