A long time ago on a farm far far away

My dad made his first squawk. I wish I could tell you how old he is but even after all these years I can't say for sure.
It all started way back in the 1930's. Times were hard and everyone was trying to make a few dollars to feed the family.
Grandma was taking in washing and in the evenings she sat by the kerosene lamp, making lace to send off to Chicago dress shoppes.
Grandpa worked on the farm and if times got real bad he would help his father make moon shine. Then he would run it over to speak easy's in Terra Haute for the college kids.
Dad was a young man, just a little to young to get a job around town. Because, as we all know, in little towns, everyone knows everything about you. He decided to head to the big city, join his sister,a couple of cousins and buddies to seek his fortune.
Dad and Aunt R. were very good looking and that would work in their favor many times over those years.
Aunt R. was a sectary downtown and her boss was taking interest in her. He invited her to one of theses parties were anybody who was anybody would be. She met a man, who,was in charge of a magazine called the Sunday Travels. He was always on the look out for new faces. Aunt R talked to him about the magazine and eventually got around to telling him about dad and the other friends. An appoint was made and everyone meet. To their unbelief Aunt R, dad and a cousin were picked to be in the fall edition. The day came A.R, dad and cousin went to Chicago to meet up with the photographer. The boss, said, he had left and they were to meet him in a small town, just across the state line, up in Wisconsin. Would they please take along some photo supplies to him? The car was loaded and off they went. Just out of the city, cousin stopped the car, he and dad went to check the photo supplies, only to find it full of moon shine. Knowing the law, the moon shine was dumped. What they didn't know was that photographer had friends in Capone places.
That was the start and end of their careers. They just faded into the ebb and flow of the working class people.
Aunt R.'s boyfriend got dad a job in the steel mills. All he needed was his birth certificate. The court house had burned down. Grandpa went in to get a new one and added 2 years to dad's age.
Aunt R took her own sweet time about it and finally married boyfriend. He treated her like a queen the rest of his life.
Cousin went back home and married had lots of kids.
Dad, well he went back home long enough to find mom. Then back to the steel mill for almost 30 odd years.
But even when he tells us how old he is I can't seem to remember if we add or subtract to the number.
Only once in a while will he tell a story of the south side of Chicago.

Happy day DAD.