Installment #6: Life is tough

Just when this photo was taken, Claudell isn’t sure. Since the location looks to be in a small town instead of the busy city, it’s possible this photo was taken shortly after the family was reunited.

Claudell doesn't remember how long she was back with Bertha before Glenn, Lucille and Jerry came back to Galena. When they did return, the three moved into the small shack.

Five people living in the small house made things cozy but no one seemed to mind. Bertha slept on the divan and Claudell slept on the floor beside her. Lucille and Glenn slept in Betha's bed in the bedroom and Jerry slept on a cot in the room.

In addition to the five living in the house, Bertha's niece Rene and her husband Harvey Beaman lived in a very small travel trailer in front of the house.

To help feed the large family, chickens were raised in the fenced backyard. In addition to chickens, a pig was kept in a smaller fenced area. Claudell loved the pig. One day the pig was gone. She asked where the pig was but got no answer. Then, one evening the family sat down to eat a meal. On the table was a large plate of meat. Claudell was furious and wouldn't eat the any of the meat.

Claudell and Jerry sit on top of a boulder. The man sitting beside Bertha was the last boyfriend she had before she died. Next to Bertha was Lucille and the widow Rene. Lucille’s husband, Glenn, took the photo.

Rene's husband, Harvey, drove a truck for a company owned by Dom Caresio delivering Hamm's beer. Sometimes Claudell went with him. One day they were going to make a run together, but Claudell was sick. It was good that she didn't go. A doctor was driving behind Harvey's truck when he saw the truck start to swerve violently, going off the embankment and burst into flames. The doctor tried to save Harvey, but couldn't. The doctor was so traumatized, he ended up being institutionalized. No one knew what happened to cause the accident, but possibly the steering wheel broke.

Bertha's health continued to deteriorate. One day, Claudell decided to leave school during the lunch period and run home to eat with Bertha. Back then, you didn't have to get permission from the school, so she just left. The school was located on a hill about 12 blocks from Claudell's house. She sat on the floor beside Bertha who was lying on the divan in the living room. They shared Claudell's sack lunch. Afterward, Claudell ran back up the hill toward the school. When she reached the top, Glenn's brother, Gates, was waiting to take her back home. Bertha had died at the age of 42.

Claudell and Jerry had to go to Columbus, Kansas for tuberculosis exams. Claudell tested negative but Jerry tested positive for child's TB, which was not contagious.

When Bertha was alive, Claudell never felt alone. After Bertha died, Claudell not only felt alone but was all alone, even though her family lived in the same small town.