Chapter 38

It was Saturday morning, so Martha did not have school. We had awakened at the sound of our parents angry voices coming from the nursery. We stared at each other in disbelief when we heard father say, "Well, you'll just have to marry Hopf and give that child his rightful name!"

Then Martha and I knew what all the anger was about!

What we had never really been sure about was suddenly clarified for us...but where does our family go from here? Twelve year old Irv was standing out in the hall and had heard. He was crying and cried out through the door, "Why dont you all-shut-up!" Helen, back in her Bo-Peep bedroom was still sleeping. Father came out and gathered up Irv and brought him back to the master bedroom they now shared, talking to him all the way, trying to console him. Mother came out carrying Donald and went downstairs for breakfast.

A month later I looked out the window one morning and saw a large FOR SALE sign on our front lawn. I should not have been surprised. The week before Florence gave notice that she would be with us just two more weeks - after 8 1/2 years!

I was stunned and speechless. Uncle Gay came over one afternoon to say that he had found a house for Jeanette in Des Plaines that she could rent. It had two bedrooms and a sleeping porch. Des Plaines is a suburban town on the N.W. edge of Chicago, and ten minutes from our beloved Sauganash. Our lovely Tudor House sold just ten days after it was put up for sale. We had to leave it in just one month! Even though father had filed for divorce, my parents were still living together, but Ed Gregor had found just the right place for father! It was a room in a home of a friend of his in Joliet just outside Chicago. He would get all his meals and care that he required. His room was on the first floor with a private bath. The older woman who owned it was a friend of Ed's mother. She was widowed and had a 28 year-old daughter who had suffered Polio as a ten year-old and was permanently disabled on crutches - Mrs. Shufelt and her daughter Dorothy.

The day the car arrived to take Campbell to his new home, Martha and I had done his packing for him. All that he had on the curb for the large car picking him up was his typewriter, radio, a metal cashbox to hold all his personal papers, a garment bag containing his tweeds, and a suitcase holding all his underwear and shirts - also his shoes in a hanging shoebag and his white cane. All his worldly goods after an 18 year marriage all fit neatly in the back of Ed's car!

Mother was in the house when he left with Ed. His three daughters kissed him and gave him big hugs. He said to Martha and me, "Girls, the family pictures from Scotland - dont let her throw them out - remember they are YOUR family!" We all said, "We will, and we will come and see you!" I looked over at Irv standing on the curb. He didn't move in his father's direction - just stood there and said not a word with tears in his eyes.