The family lived on the very margin of poverty. He grew peppers, beets, cauliflowers, cabbage, corn, and tomatoes. His cabbages were so big he was known as the “cabbage king.” Sometimes when her father went into town to sell them, Pat went with him. There he would joke with his friends, pretending that he was going to sell her to the highest bidder. To a small child already in a vulnerable situation, this was truly frightening. She was absolutely terrified that he would actually sell her.
