Lemons To Lemonade: Growing up Poor in 1950s Atlanta

By L. K. Killian

On the south side of Atlanta during the 1950s and 60s there once lived two little sisters. You’ll be taken back to those times through the memory of a witty, reflective, and spirited little girl. Share their struggles as they are raised by parents who care mostly about themselves and their addictions. You will come to appreciate this child's ability to face life with courage and hope while wrestling with fear and poverty.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. K. Killian
• Release date: Aug 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311370921

L. K. Killian

I think a lot of us have a book in our hearts and heads that keeps us company and wants to be written.When I retired, instead of buying a new car I took a trip to Rome. While there, Emperor Hadrian’s name came up at the Pantheon. This temple to the gods had been built around the first century, and burned twice, but he had his architects rebuild it. I had previously visited Hadrian’s Wall in 2002.It was as if Roman Emperor Hadrian took over the English romance novel I had planned and made it his own. But I’m not complaining. This novel has been a joy to write. I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it.I could never have done this without the help of everyone at Writers Village University -WVU.com. I began by completing the F2K class twice, which is free. Another great help to those of us who wish to complete a draft of our novel is NANOWRIMO.COM.I would be happy to give anyone encouragement if you want to write your own novel.

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Lemons To Lemonade -- Growing up Poor in 1950s Atlanta

By L.K. Killian

Copyright L.K. Killian 2015

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Discover other titles by L.K. Killian at your favorite retailer:

Journey To Rome: Hadrian and Reisha-Book One

Hadrian’s Rome: Hadrian and Reisha II

A preview chapter of Journey To Rome is included at the end of this book.

Table of Contents

1. Driving to Florida

2. Happily Ever After

3. The Ring

4. If Only

5. Fish Head Soup

6. All Is Bright

7. Go Tell It on the Mountain

8. Invitation to the Boarding House for Dinner

9 Apples

10. School Dance

11. Poor Bedside Manners

12. Joan and Jane

Connect with me Online

Sneak Peak from Journey to Rome

I would like to thank Sherry Holt, my editor and e-publisher. Thank you also to F2K and the fine writers at Writer’s Village University.

Dedicated to my wonderful granddaughters. You are both courageous, intelligent, and funny. You are one of my BEST silver linings.

On the south side of Atlanta during the 1950’s and 60’s there once lived two little sisters. You’ll be taken back to those times through the memory of a witty, reflective, and spirited little girl. Share their struggles as they are raised by parents who care mostly about themselves and their addictions. You will come to appreciate this child's ability to face life with courage and hope while wrestling with fear and poverty.

These two little sisters may just inspire you to wish upon a star, never give up, and be kind to yourself. Hundreds if not thousands of children grew up in the different housing projects of Atlanta during the 1950’s. Before leaving for school each morning, if we had a television, we received a can do message from Captain Kangaroo. Before lunch, we prepared for nuclear war by hiding under our desks. Some of us dropped out of school, but some of us went on to the military and college. We listened to John F. Kennedy tell us to do what we could for ourselves and our country. Martin Luther King, Jr. told us to have a dream. Elvis Presley’s song told us to follow that dream. Many of us did. We became teachers and school counselors. A few even became doctors, lawyers, and captains of industry. As you follow the stories of these two little sisters, hopefully you will realize that nothing bad lasts forever and even the worst of times have their silver linings.

1. Driving to Florida

My Mama was yelling at Daddy because he brought home a big bucket full of dead fish with their heads still on. She was yelling that she couldn’t cook a fish with its head on, with its guts still inside, and to get that nasty fish out of her kitchen. Then she started yelling at whoever else was near, which was usually me.

Get out of this house! Go outside and play! Her face was all red.

I looked at Daddy, and he motioned with his head to follow him. When we were on the back porch, Daddy gave my little sister Debra and me two shiny nickels. He said go out by the street and wait for the Hunkey Man.

We loved the Hunkey man. He had a big white box on the front of his bicycle that