The Perkins legacy started in 1878 with a young man by the name of Nathan. He wasn't the first, but he, most definitely, will never be the last. He, and his family, originated in Goldsboro, North Carolina and worked as tobacco farmers. Not much is known about him, but he is the beginning, and without him, this story wouldn't have been possible. Yes, it's true. You're reading the true story of actual people. True, most of those mentioned have passed, but please believe me when I tell you that everything that will be mentioned is true. Yes, I know most of the stories will be somewhat short because I have limited knowledge of the people I'm writing about. No, you can't possibly help me with the information because I know, for a fact, that none of you have ever heard of any of these people. They aren't famous, and probably never will be, so just bear with me as you read through it. I must mention one last thing before I release you to read it. Please be considerate about what you say if you comment. These people are my relatives. Thanks!
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Arnold Perkins was the first of Nathan and his wife, Nancy's, children. He had a nose like that of a pig. He was born in 1909. The month is not specified and neither is the date. I know nothing of his childhood, so let's just skip to his adult life. He lived in a dilapidated shack on some property that his younger sister, Rachel, had given to him. He was reclusive and frugal. His only companions were his girlfriend, who had a pig nose too, and his many pet pigs. The pigs lived in his house with him and slept with him. As you might have guessed, he wasn't a very clean man. Actually, now don't think I'm making this up, he forgot to feed his pigs for a while, and they gnawed a few of his girlfriend's toes off while she was sleeping. I bet you can guess who got dumped! Anyway, he died in the early 2000's. Again, I don't know any specifics. He was in his nineties. It's amazing how he lived so long after living in complete filth.
Rachel was born in 1912, and like Arnold, I don't know the specifics. When she was in her twenties, Nancy passed away, and she took the role as the mother figure in the family. She basically raised the younger children. She went to school and was well-kept. She wasn't abnormal and dirty like her older brother. Her story is quite short due to the fact that not much is known about her. She passed away sometime around the time Arnold did. I couldn't find out the year.
The infamous Esther Perkins is next. She was born in 1914. Her childhood is a mystery to me, but I know a bit about her adult life. She was a crotchety woman being cranky and rude to all. She wasn't well-liked. Being impatient, as she was, she wouldn't wait for anything especially food. She wouldn't wait but five to ten minutes before going back home to cook for herself. She was a short woman with blond hair bobbed off near her knees. She lived to be in her eighties. Yes, she passed away in the late 1990's.
Ruth was like Rachel. She was average. She was born in 1917. She, just like her older siblings, passed on in the late 1990's to early 2000's. I have a good explanation as to why I don't know anything about these people, but that'll show up after I finish talking about the rest of the children.
Truman was born in 1920. He is probably the least talked about next to Ruth, but it's not because he's weird. He was just plain. I mean, he was interesting and well-educated, but there really was nothing special about him that made him stick out from the others. My mother told me that I would've liked him because I'm somewhat like him. (I hope that's a good thing.) Again, he passed away around the same time as the others and lived to be in his eighties.
Okay, don't worry. There are only three children left. Emma, or better known as Inez, is next. She was born in 1923. She was an artist. I've seen many of her paintings, most of which are of their mother in her garden. Actually, I might be able to upload a picture of her painting. (It's a bit creepy because I took a picture of it at an odd angle. I'm not a photographer, so just bear with me.) I can't tell you when she passed away because she is still alive. I think she still lives in North Carolina. I'm not exactly sure. She's currently eighty-seven.
Eugene, or Gene as I knew him, was the second to youngest. He was born in 1925. He was a very sweet man. Out of all eight of them, he's one of the two I've actually met. He was bald. He wore very thick glasses and wore suspenders. He had a few children. Sadly, he passed away in December last year at the age of eighty-four.
Elmer is the youngest. His story will be a bit longer than the rest because, well, he's my grandfather. Yes, he's still alive and well. He lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia and is eighty-three years old. He was born in 1927. He grew up like a normal child. His father, Nathan, was a drunk and a bit abusive. (I'm not sure whether or not Nathan was drunk and abusive with the others, so I didn't mention it until now.) When he was just twelve years old, his mother passed away, and Rachel sort of took him under her wing. He lived through the Great Depression and is very frugal. Also, he's diabetic and takes pills and injections every day. When he was old enough, he left to fight in the second world war, but he was sent out very late in the war, so he saw very little combat. In the forties, he married Dorothy Bradford, and just a few years later, they had their first daughter, Cheryl. Then came Valerie, and about seventeen years later, Scott and Nancy were born. Nancy was the youngest and was named after his mother. In the seventies, He, Dorothy, Scott, and Nancy were involved in a bad car wreck causing Dorothy to be permanently paralyzed from the waist down. The insides of her legs were completely artificial. She passed away on December 11, 2009 around the same time Gene died. It really broke Elmer's heart to have two such close people pass away around the same time. All of his children are still living with the oldest, Cheryl, being sixty years of age. Nancy, his youngest, is actually my mother.
Okay, so I know that there was very little information in these paragraphs, but you must know that my only sources are my mother and grandfather. My mother doesn't know much anyway because she never even met some of them, and her father didn't like to talk about them because he drank and was moody. My grandfather, being eighty-three, can't remember a lot of things, and he's cranky a lot and isn't social. So, thanks for taking the time to read it.
