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   "Now what does that do for you?" Lizzy asked.
   "I can get up that step."
   "Then what? How are you going to get where you want to go?"
   "I'll pull my chair up the step," Edie replied.
   "Okay, let me see you."
   The doorway had a cabinet beside it and there was not enough room for Edie to pull the chair through the doorway. Now what? This is where she taught herself to hop on her knuckles to lift her body to move across the floor. And that's how she got around where the wheelchair wouldn't. Up and down steps, pinning hems for women's clothing, cleaning floors, even moving furniture. Oh, and gardening. She did a lot from sitting on the floor. Nothing stopped her. 
   Edie and Susan made up the bed/couch and they slept in the bedroom that night and from then on.
   After a couple of weeks Lizzy went back home. Her leave from work was over. Edie and Susan knew what they had to do and they were introduced to some neighbors and the neighbors next door, you could bang on the wall to let them know you needed them. If they could hear you over their fighting. 

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   "Okay, what's the surprise?" Lizzy finally asked.
   "Show her, mommy," Susan said. "Please."
   Edie went to the step and started to do her act and Lizzy jumped off her chair and screamed and went to pick up Edie. Edie fell on her side and hurt herself but after a couple minutes she was fine.
   "What are you trying to do, kill yourself? Lord, girl, do you want to go to the hospital again?"
   "I will if you don't let me alone. I'm trying to show you something I taught myself. Now leave me alone."
   Edie got up in the chair by herself and started again. She went down to the floor and back to the chair. It was clumsy but she did it. And her mother was in awe. 

CANAL STREET, DEEPWATER, NJ (7)

This when she learned how to get out of her chair to the floor.  The first time she tried, she fell and banged her head on the floor and Susan screamed in horror.  But, Edie said she was okay and struggled to get back into her chair.   She figured out how to put her hand down on the floor, sit straight up and pull herself up into the chair and she made it!

"That's how I will get up that step!" she thought to herself.

Susan applauded in happiness just as Lizzie walked in.

"What's going on in here?" Lizzie asked, surprised to see Susan laughing and jumping up and down.

"Oh, Nana, do we have a surprise for you!" Susan exclaimed.

"Yea, well, the dishes aren't done.  Not even off the table.  Susan, help me bring in the groceries."

CANAL STREET, DEEPWATER NJ (6)

   Edie cooked breakfast with Lizzy's help. Eggs, bacon and toast. And coffee. Wasn't too bad. This is when Edie started to drink instant coffee--a neighbor introduced it to her. Edie didn't have a coffee pot  but she had a pot to boil water. So she had her coffee.
    Lizzy went shopping for groceries and everything that Edie would need, like towels, soap, etc.
   Edie and Susan stayed home to check out the place. Edie couldn't get into the next room because of the step and she would have to figure a way to do it because she couldn't sleep on the booth seat every night. That vinyl was cold and besides there was a couch in the other room that opened out to a bed.

CANAL STREET, DEEPWATER NJ (5)

   The stove had gone out during the night and it was freezing cold. The one blanket that Susan had on was just not enough. She grabbed her coat and put it on. She went in to wake her nana but she was not in the bed. Where was she? Susan heard noise outside that sounded like chopping. Sure enough, it was her nana chopping wood. Susan walked quietly past Edie not to wake her but she was awake with her face half buried under the blanket. Susan kissed her good morning like she always did. Edie told her that her nose was too cold and then she pinched it. Susan being playful tickled Edie and the two of them started tickling one another just when the door sprung wide open and nana was standing there with an armful of wood up to her chin with a not too happy look on her face. 
   "I could use some help, Susan," she said sternly.
   "Yes, nana. We were just playing." And Susan walked outside to get more wood.
   "You know, you're going to need her to help you, not play with," said Lizzy to Edie.
   Edie said, "I need her to play with because I never played as a child."

Canal Street Deepwater, NJ

   Lizzy showed Edie how to use the stove. She would have to cook on it and it was the only means of heat. Lizzy cooked supper. She cooked pork chops, carrots and potatoes and she showed Edie. She browned the chops, put in some water, then the potatoes and carrots. It was a good meal. Tomorrow night Edie will cook.
   It started to get cold so Lizzy  showed Edie how much wood to put on the fire. Lizzy hung a blanket up in the doorway between the kitchen and bedroom to keep the heat in the kitchen. 
    After they ate, Lizzy went down the street to get some more water. Susan went with her. Lizzy got the water from what used to be a turkey house. The guy who had it raised about fifty turkeys and gave up and left it*. Lizzy carried two buckets of water and Susan carried the flashlight. 
    That night Edie and Susan slept on the seats to the booth and table. Susan's feet hung over but it worked and Lizzy slept in the cold bedroom. Edie laughed and said, "I'm glad I'm small."


*I probably know the reason why because I know about turkeys, being a farmer, but that's in my next book.

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   Lizzy got groceries and ice for the ice box and showed Edie how to use the ice card. When you need ice, turn the card to how much you need. Like if you need twenty-five cents, turn the arrow so the card is pointing at twenty-five cents or if you need ten cents point the arrow at ten cents and so one. Ten cents is the smallest piece and fifty cents is the largest. Most of the time Edie could only afford a ten cent piece. Also the card had to be put in the window for the ice man to see how much to deliver.  The kids in the neighborhood loved to follow the ice truck. The ice man would give the kids ice to chew on. He always gave Susan a big piece so she would take it home because he knew the ten cent piece her mother would get would last long. He always gave Edie the biggest ten cent piece, too