After Dad Abandoned Me, My Aunt's Family Spoiled Me into Harvard

After Mom died, before Dad had even finished with the funeral, he brought the other woman home.

She cradled her belly, put on a delicate little cry, and said seeing me was bad for the baby.

My father turned right around, packed me up, and put me on a rusty green train headed somewhere I didn't know.

"Three people in this house is just right. Your mom has a sister. Go find her."

By the time I got off that train, I'd already braced myself for scavenging in the streets.

My aunt had married far away to the rural Midwest when she was young, and we'd never once met.