February 10, 1930: I found out I was pregnant. I was waiting by the door for his arrival to share the exciting news with him. He, too, will be so happy. After a few hours, he walked through the door, looking very exhausted. I ran up to him, grabbed his bag and asked, “ How was work today honey?” “Same old routine” he responded with a smile. “ What’s for dinner tonight” “Oh, I made your favorite porridge for the three of us”. “Who we are we having for company tonight?” he asked. I looked down at my stomach as I patted it and said: “Perhaps a mini you, or a mini-me”. He held my face, rested his forehead on mine, “Is it true?”. I nodded with a smile and hugged him. I wanted to freeze this time, it felt so special. He kissed me and said, “I cannot wait until the moment I can hold him in my arms, and show him the world!” “How do you know its a boy?” He held me close and said “I just know sweetie” with a smile.
The next morning I go downstairs and see a letter on the table. Robert must have written it.
I opened it and start reading:
Dear Prime Minister,
I am a young married man, and a Canadian, greatly in need of help. The House of Industry, at Toronto, is supplying me with free food needs, but as you know it is not the ambition of any red-blooded human being to spend his best years living on charity. I prefer to work. I have been going to many places and either they don’t accept my identity or they treat me differently. I know that you are doing a lot for people out of work, so I am turning to you for assistance. My wife is a Maltese girl and I have been assured by her family in Malta, of getting work there, because I have a working knowledge of a few trades and some education in English. Now the problem is how to get there. I have no money or decent clothing. If you could help us to get passage to Malta we would be greatly indebted to you and appreciate it as long as we live.
Trusting you will give our case a little of your valuable attention, I remain,
Sincerely Robert Johns
This is unbelievable, not true! My parents knew about this but me. Why did he hide this from me! If I knew I could’ve kept my job. I was one of all the traditional female where if you were a single woman you could still work. Since I played a big role and involved the prime minister, he gave me the opportunity to continue my work after marriage too. At this second I didn’t feel like seeing him anymore.
Louis: The stock market being crashed really affected them and caused the Great Depression but she didn't ensure about him struggling. Ever since Bennet had become prime minister, the economy had become much better.
I immediately put my cloth and went to meet the minister. At first, they hadn’t let me go in but there was this one man that snuck me in and put a sneakily added an appointment for me. Finally, they called my name and I got to meet him. I told him about my husband's struggle and asked him if he could provide him a job here. He was telling me how many women from the women charity foundation have been requesting for this, so he had decided on a solution.
It has been 24 hours since he’s left, “ where has he gone”, plus, Mother always said it’s bad to be upset or angry during pregnancy times. I turned on the radio, good timing the prime minister R.B Bennett quotes “I will find work for all who are willing to work, or polish in the attempts. This made me feel very relieved. I kept waiting for him but he’s never returned. Suddenly I hear the doorbell ring, he finally came back. I opened the door and I see the police. “ Is this Mr. Johns house?” he asked. “Yes, I am his wife, do you need anything?” I curiously determined. “Mam, your husband has passed away” after they said passed away my ears popped, my heart stopped beating and I was feeling dizzy.
Louis: She fainted.
After an hour the officers continued “we did some investigation and it was suicide. We would like to inquire you some questions. “
Louis: Only suicides increased during the Great Depression. Suicide mortality peaked with unemployment, in the most recessionary years, 1921, 1932, and 1938. Robert was one of them.
October 18, 1930
3 am: I felt a contraction. I went to the hospital as soon as possible.
CLINGGGG…
Louis: She opens her eyes and sees a beautiful Prince Charming sleeping beside her. That beautiful Prince Charming was me, Junior Louis Johns. I was eager to see such a cruel world. I should’ve come sooner to help my mother. But all that matters is I’m here for your mother.
9 years later: Hitler, Mussolini, we’re making plans for war. Canadians weren’t paying much attention. We were still in memories of World War 1 where there were many losses that were still fresh in people’s mind. Then there’s also because of Pacifism, Isolationism, and Political Leadership. Also, it is our tenth year of depression, over million people were still on relief.
Especially for my mother, it was really hard. I barely even see her, I was always with the granny beside my house. She is a single mother with an 8 months baby and works for 12 hours a day. With some government help, she got a job at the air force. Her weekly wage was $13 and she had to buy food for including the granny and also pay rent for the house.
On Mondays, we would have rice in milk with sugar and I would have a porridge on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Tuesdays would be Deep fried chicken and I would have mashed potatoes every Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesdays would be rice and mutton. Thursdays would be bacon egg bread and Fridays would be hamburgers from Mr. Sally's restaurant. Saturdays, granny makes beans soup and Sundays we would have leftover food. For a few years, we had to eat like this. As the death rate had been increasing and my mother's wage increased by little, she could afford a bit of more. The cost of 1Ib rice would be 0.101cents, Mutton 1lb. for 0.302, Bacon 1Ib. for 0.399, Egg 1 dozen 0.457, Milk 1qt for 0.123, Butter 1Ib. for 0.368, Cheese 1Ib. 0.318, Plain white bread 1Ib. for 0.075, flour 1Ib. for 0.047, Beans 1Ib for 0.094, Apples 1Ib. for 0.206, Sugar 1Ib for 0.065, Black Tea 1Ib for 0.628, and Potatoes 1pk. for 0.355. The house rent was $28.16.