Reading Changed My Life - Townsend Press

Reading Changed My Life! Three True StoriesMaria was ten, she went with her mother to a fleamarket. Someone there was selling plants. Somehowshe begged enough change from her motherto buy just one of the seedlings. Planted tenderly inan empty soup can, the flower was the only thingthat Maria owned. Even the clothes on her backwere shared among several sisters, but the marigoldwas hers.She carried it during the long car trips andwatered it faithfully. As the family reached each newcamp, she placed it in a sunny spot. The little planttraveled with her for an entire season, from Floridato Tennessee and on to Ohio. She treasured it untilone night when her father and his friends weredrunk and somebody kicked it to pieces.That was typical of her father. Maria was sad, butshe knew better than to complain. Depending onhis mood, he would have either laughed at her orbeaten her. When Maria had first arrived in theUnited States, her father seemed concerned for his6