You were lucky..
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo[/youtube]
How interesting.
When Mom died I went to live with my step mothers all ways a new one every 6 months or so. All these mothers had children of their own and I had to live in the shed out back. Dad was in the Merchant Marine and home just off and on, got to the point the New Step Mom's name we both confused.
I did learn a work ethic, at 6 years old I cleaned the house after school, learned how to make a mean Drink for new mom and how to smuggle in Pot for the new Moms kids, hard stuff for her.
Not a bad life really, I got all the hand me down clothing from the kids my Dad bought for them new.. When their toys broke I got them and learned how to fix them being careful they did not know I had done that.
Food no problem, Dad had me on a breakfast and lunch program at school and I got the leftovers from the new family dinner. Summers were difficult, I had to get to the trash barrel before the garbage rotted in the sun.
Came time Dad broke his leg and was home for 6 months--a bad break--- what to my wonderment I was swept into the house and put back in my old bedroom. Brand new clothes and shoes and eating at the table like I was part of the family.
Dad recovered and went back to Sea and I went back to the shed. I was about 10 that year and one day while stealing apples from a neighbors tree a man asked me if I wanted to help him look for a lost puppy.