Poverty Knoll -- Asylum for the Innocents
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"This will be my last chance to see Diana, so it’s only fair that I sit with her." After a pause, the familiar voice continued "Wouldn’t you agree?" Judge Gary, a long-time member of the Administrative Board of Trustees, had no desire of appearing to dismiss Pamela Howard, the tall, dark-haired young girl tugging on his sleeve, pertinently demanding that he pay attention to her. He was a warm and friendly old man, probably as close to being a surrogate grandfather some of the girls would ever know and his frequent cottage visits with the junior wards were always enjoyable. Although he knew Pam would be upset, the board member had come to the cottage primarily to see one pupil. This visit wasn’t for sharing with the group. He was there to bid another student a warmhearted farewell. Diana had been absentmindedly staring at her memory lessons. Distracted from her focus, she was idly wishing the whole cottage could watch television when the Judge entered the front door. She was somewhat piqued by the unexpected disruption, as the tall, gray-haired official was welcomed warmly into the dimly lit foyer by Miss Myers. His cordial visits were usually scheduled for Saturday mornings, after the girls had finished breakfast and completed assigned cottage chores, giving him a chance to spend the largest part of the day with them. Most of the time when he came, he accompanied the group of girls for a trip to the farm, or strolled with them on a leisurely walk around the grounds for a break from their daily routine. He never stopped in during the evening hours, which made this unexpected visit quite extraordinary. As his words slowly filtered into her consciousness, it was as if Diana were in outer space, hearing from far away, but not really listening. What could he possibly mean by that statement? More importantly, why was he choosing to sit by Diana, instead of Pam, his normal pick? Judge Gary had never said anything like that before. She was at a complete loss of comprehension as his declaration replayed in her brain. The young girl struggled to ascertain she had heard him correctly.
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About the Book
Poverty Knoll-Asylum for the Innocents
Her emergence from the cocoon of naïveté magnifies the adversity of her misfortune. At the tender age of four, Diana and her two older brothers are placed into ‘The Home’. Grief-stricken, her world turns unbearable and her wretched life is haunted by memories of the day she was cruelly taken from her loving mother.
After spending her childhood in the orphanage, the young girl’s release brings different chaos into her life. She lashes out in resentment, seeking answers to questions that surrounded her detention. Her mother becomes a target. Alvena, powerless to furnish acceptable answers to Diana, helplessly watches as the angry girl spirals down the drain of narcissism, without hope of liberation.
As Diana gathers enlightening answers to her pubescent suspicions, she slowly grows to realize the monumental depth of her mother’s selfless act that led to the loss of custody and trust of her beloved children.
About the Author
The author resides near Dardanelle, a small town on the Arkansas River. She finds her service as a chauffeur for a senior citizen’s activity center to be quite rewarding. Diana cherishes time spent with family and gardening. Her life is blessed with two children, Stephen and Marcie, mother to her two wonderful granddaughters. Poverty Knoll-Asylum for the Innocents, is a candid account of her unending struggle to overcome the damaging effects of a shattered childhood. Serving in the United States Air Force until being honorably discharged in 1983, she was awarded the Associate of General Studies degree from Mississippi County Community College of Blytheville, Arkansas 1984. She is pursuing the B.A. in General Studies at Arkansas Tech University, in Russellville.