hool I was called names like: 'Nazi' and 'Spy.' I had very few friends there. I'm not sure if I could even call them friends. Back home practically no one spoke to me. Pretty soon I was sent to live with my grandparents, and I'm still here. My dad never did forgive me and hardly speaks to me. My sister is still sweet and loves me, no matter what. CN - In your childhood was there anyone who influenced you to do the things you do and did?PB - Yes Ruth. Ruth was our house- keeper. She always tried to make me a better person then I was. And now that I think about it she was like a mother to me.CN - In what ways was she like a mother?PB - She visited me in the reform school, when my real mother did not. She protected me from my father once. He was going to hit me. She stood in front of me and would not let him hurt me. She got fired because of this. I admired her as a person and loved her. CN - Why did you admire her?PB - I admired her because she stood with dignity. She was black, it never stopped her from being strong. She thought a person was important no matter what status they had in life. On Saturday she wore her best dress, and if I would go to the store she would ask me to wear my nice dress. She did this so I would look presentable. Ruth acted this because she believed in holding her head high. Also races and culture never bothered her, a person was a person. When she met Anton she was kind to him and did not judge him. CN - How did she find out about him?PB - One day I was sitting with a boy named Freddy, who my father hates . My father caught me and pulled me out side and started hitting me with his belt. Anton came out of his hiding spot to save me from my father. Ruth saw him come out. He went back in before any one else saw him. CN - If you could change anything in your life, would you?PB - I might have listened to my dad, instead of having him get mad at me. I would have been more lady like for my mother. I probably would not ...
