By this time, they had another baby born just 21 months after me. Carol Joanne was an adorable child, with a little natural curl to her golden locks. She was a happy, plump little girl always cuddly and smiling, with her thumb in her mouth She loved her big sister and we spent many happy hours playing house out in our big side yard. Dad had made us a little red cupboard and we had a child-sized red table and chairs. On the hot summer afternoon after our naps, Mom would bring those things out to the yard, and we brought out our dolls, stuffed toys and all manner of doll accessories. We would have lovely afternoons of "let's pretend," while my mother sat in the shade in a wicker rocker with her sewing. She made all of our little dresses with hand smocking on the bodices and little bloomers to match. She always starched them. And Carol would sometimes cry and say, "They stick me."
In May of l930, our brother, Jack was born. Immediately after leaving the hospital, Ralph went down to the store and added "and son" to the printing on the front window of the meat market. It then read "Simmons & Son." He was especially proud. Jack was not a well baby. He had boils on the back of his head. Staph infections were hard to to get rid of in those days and when he was just over a year old, the doctor put him in the hospital for treatment. One day when my Dad was going to the hospital, he allowed me to go with him. When I came into the hospital room, I went over to Jack's crib and said, "How ya doing, Jackie boy?" He gave me a big smile. The doctor was delighted and said to my Dad, I think that boy is going to get well." He did get well and he grew to be a fine man, and a good father to his four children.
Ralph, Jack, Rhoda, Carol, Dorothy Simmons 1932
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