Backside of Nowhere

The mid-1950's were both a simple and a confusing time. But then, it could be, those were just circumstances peculiar to a small town -- buried deep in the middle of nowhere -- called Cedar Grove. They had a saying there -- 'If you think you've got it bad, there's always somebody down the road a bit who's got it badder.' Small town opinion...salted with dubious grammar ...always seemed to hold particular sway. Especially, when people got to nattering on about other folk's misfortunes. And, to hear some of them talk, there was one small family that lived on the edge of town -- that put 'bad' in a whole new category.

As the story goes, hardship was drawn to their door step like metal to a magnet. But, the fact of the matter was, they never had much to begin with, and from the looks of it...they never would.

1) Uncommon Beginnings

In the dead of night, riding the back of an ill wind -- trouble once again blew itself into town. Unhinged and on a rampage, it swirled fiercely and menacingly about in the midst of heavy and darkened thunder clouds as a violent storm whipped through the small Texas town of Cedar Grove. Old street lights dimmed as the small town hall quaked in the storm's fury. The clock on the top of the building read 2:35 a.m.

On the opposite side of town, a relentless rain pelted heavily against the window of a small, dilapidated house. A sudden gust of wind raked a tree limb across a window pane as a huge crack of lightning lighted up the blackened sky. A small gasp could be heard as a tiny figure bolted up in bed and stared fearfully through the tattered curtains that hung in the window. As another bolt of lightening seared across the heavens, the tiny figure quickly ducked under an old patch-work quilt for safety.

Inside the small bedroom, the frightened child huddled under the old quilt as the storm raged, sending streaks of light across her small bed. Suddenly, a loud shattering crash caused her to sit up. This time, it was not the thunder. It was the sound of glass crashing against the exterior of her bedroom wall. Frantically, as she wiped her tears, the young girl listened intently to the sounds of...