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MY CHILDHOOD WAS GOOD

BY EARLEEN MINGO

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My childhood memories start when I was five years old. I was very
smart. I started writing and reading early.

I was always doing something to keep me busy. I loved to jump
rope and go outside and play.

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I loved to jump rope with my sister Sheila Mingo. She was older and I would
try to follow her—she was really good at everything. She was a jumper! She
was really good. (She used to make me turn the rope all the time because she
was much faster than I was.) She was two years older but she taught me a lot.

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When she was seventeen years old, my sister Sheila Mingo was in
an accident and she was killed.

I was fifteen when I lost her.

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I really took it hard because we did everything together.

I really miss my sister. I still miss my sister Sheila today. A lot of
time has passed but I still miss her and love her.

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I deal with her death by thinking about the good times we had.

We played handball, basketball and hopscotch. We played in the
park. There’s a lot to do in New York City, where I grew up.

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We went to Coney Island a lot. There’s where you go to cool off
and ride all kinds of rides. It is so much fun. The hotdogs are really
good!

My childhood was wonderful, but her death was very hard for me.

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My mom had ten children.

I’m the last one out of 10—the baby girl. (I was the spoiled one.)

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My mom always used to make sure we all had what we needed. We
were always clean and happy. My mom was sweet and loving. She
took time with us and made sure we had what we needed and that
we were safe.

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My mother passed away last year.

She lived a long, full life. So now I’m on my own. Now I have to
take care of me and live my life. She is at peace.

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I will always love my mother and sisters and brothers.

I have a special bond with my siblings: as long as we are still breath­
ing we will always be there for each other.

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I lived in New York until I turned 13 years old and then we moved
to Charlotte. Sometimes I wish we hadn’t moved because Char­
lotte was not as fun as New York. The kids down here were always
in trouble or liked to fight each other. In New York we loved each
other. Maybe it came from their childhoods or where they grew up.

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My childhood was good. I’m thankful for that.

Right now I am in Charlotte. As an adult, I’ve lived in many places.
I do still love my home city of New York. One day I may go back.

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