SURVIVAL

It is 1963, and after eleven years of severe physical abuse, a miracle happens. Twenty-seven-year-old Karen has a very slim chance to escape.Scared to death because she knows getting caught means the worst beating or worse, of her life. Luckily, Karen and her five young sons do manage to escape with the help of her sister and husband. Driving for three days and nights in a station wagon, the three adultswith eight children all under the age of tenarrive in California. Karen has no work experience and no drivers license, but she needs a job, and fast.She walks to save the bus money. She finds stores in out-of-the-way places that sell food cheap. Every evening after dinner, she cooks for the next day, even after she has already spent a full day on her feet. The food is not fancy, but the children never go hungry.Life for Karen was difficult but she didnt mind. Compared to the life she had left behind, her life now was wonderful. Every day was better than the day before. Now they could all rest peacefully at night secure in the knowledge that they would not be attacked while they slept.