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Jeannette Gets Burned
3 year-old Jeannette catches on fire while making hot dogs for herself. She has to be taken to the hospital, and gets a skin graft. -
For Christmas, the Walls Kids Claim Stars
The Walls don't have enough money for Christmas presents one year, so Rex Walls gives the kids a gift of laying claim to a star. Jeannette chooses the planet Venus. -
Maureen is Born
Lilly Ruth Maureen Walls is born in Blythe, California. The Walls family moved there to be closer to a hospital. -
Jeannette Learns to Swim
Jeannette learns to swim in a hot spring, when the family lived in Battle Mountain. Her father throws her into the water and after sinking, being saved, and being thrown again, she learns to swim away. -
The Walls Family Moves to Phoenix
Jeannette's Grandma Smith dies, so her mother inherits one of her houses and some money. The Walls family moves to Phoenix to live in the house. -
Rex Walls Gets Sober
On Jeannette's 10th birthday, the present she asks for is for her dad to stop drinking. He agrees, and goes through withdrawals, but eventually recovers. The sobriety does not last though. -
The Family Moves to Welch
Rose Mary Walls comes up with the idea to move to Rex's hometown of Welch to get help from his mother Erma. -
The Family Moves Into the Little Hobart Street House
The Walls family moves into their own house in Welch. It is run down and has no heating. Eventually, the pipes freeze so they can't get clean. It is also in this location that the family starts starving due to the lack of food and money. -
Jeannette Confronts her Parents
Jeannette confronts her parents about being irresponsible and not acting like parents. Her dad hits her with his belt. After this incident, Jeannette decides that she needs to leave her parents and move to New York City with her sister Lori. -
The Kids Move to New York
Lori moves to New York City first, and Jeannette follows before her senior year of high school. Brian also moves to New York City before his senior year, and Maureen moves there when she is 12. -
Mom and Dad are Homeless
Rex and Rose Mary Walls move to New York City. After getting kicked out of apartments and their van getting towed, the pair become homeless. They are fine with their situation. -
Rex Walls Dies
Jeannette's dad dies of a heart attack.