It was my birthday and today I would be 16 years old. The day of passage from a child to a young woman was happening. I was so excited even though I missed my dad who had passed away earlier in the year. His passing had created financial problems for our family so I quit school and went to work in a local cigar factory to help make ends meet. Mom was taking in ironing and my other sisters and one brother all found work to help out at home.
