INTRODUCTION
On the day of the funeral, Charlie is in the kitchen trying to keep a stiff upper lip accepting condolences from his family and friends while the children are gathered in the living room, the four older boys visibly shaken and Kathleen crying. All the guests take their turns through the swinging door to kneel and pray as they view Marie and infant child Sheila. As everyone is preparing to leave for the church service, 2+ year old Paul sits alone as 5 year old John walks across the room, climbs up on the kneeler and like everyone before him, folds his hands as if to pray... no one in the crowded room can find the strength to speak or move. The scene will replay in all the children's dreams the rest of their lives.
The Wolf at the Door!
The door bell rings at 499 Roycroft Boulevard and Agent Brown from the State of New York social services introduces hImself. Agent Brown said he is sorry to hear about Mother's death and that Social Services would like to help with Mr. Finnigan's plans as far as care for the children, especially after school and during summer vacations. Charlie says he has hired a housekeeper and explains the help that the church and friends have volunteered. Mr. Brown is unimpressed and suggests that Mr. Finnigan consider placing the children in an orphanage where they will receive good care, healthy meals and a good education.
Charlie thanks him for his kind offer but he believes he can provide adequate care and Christ the King School is teaching the children quite well. Agent Brown never asked Charlie about what he did for a living, whether he had any experience raising children or whether he had any family to help him. He snarls under his breath and leaves.
Life Without a Mother
Like his father in his teens, Jim was assigned to manage the family, do the shopping and prepare dinners. Dad also assigned Jim to "mother" John and Denny was assigned to "mother" Paul. At age 5 John responded to his mother's absence by being angry, fighting and throwing things. Jim found a way to keep John from hurting himself and others by tying him to the garage door with a cloth line until he calmed down. John was outwardly aggressive toward Paul who at age 3 got more attention from his siblings, Grandpa, Aunt Mae and other family members who visited 499.
In eight weeks, Jim would finish his freshman year at the Seminary of St. Joseph and Jerry will graduate from Christ the King Elementary School while Bob, Dennis, Kathleen and John all move up a grade. It will be two years before Paul starts school. With summer vacations coming, time is of the essence in deciding how the family will spend the summer.
The children are responsible for making their beds, bathing and cleaning their rooms, with the older boys helping the younger children. The cooking, shopping, cleaning, washing, garbage out, furnace tending, snow shoveling, grass cutting and other tasks are assigned to the older boys, rotating on a weekly basis. The younger children are assigned lesser duties and helping when they are asked.
Everyone is to come directly home from school and the older boys will deliver and pick up Paul at the Gustina's. Grandpa Jacobs often picked up the kids from school. All work assignments will be completed and ready for inspection when Dad arrives home from work. Any poor work will result in reduced play time, and work not performed could result in an encounter with Dad's leather belt.
