Almost Home Blog #3

In this section of the book, I read about a girl named Muriel. Each section of the book serves as a long chapter, each one discussing an individual's life and how they turn out and escape the problems they deal with. Muriel's story is particularly tragic in that she, along with many others in this book, is simply born into an awful situation. In her case, it was fetal alcohol syndrome; and as a result of growing up in a broken home just like Paulie, she went down a very bad road and became addicted to hard drugs before the age of 13. After a short time of trying to recover, Muriel worked as an escort after following advice from her one and only role model in her life, her older sister named Nancy. However, she fell into the trap again, and after becoming addicted she was exploited into prostitution. After growing up with adoptive parents who treated her terribly, she didn't care if what she was doing was tragic, harmful, or simply wrong - she was always taught that her choices simply didn't matter. This chapter ends well in that she went to the Covenant House, and got back on her feet. At first, she was still hiding and using drugs in the facility, and eventually they suggested she either began looking hard for work or make alternate living arrangements. A realization dawned on her one day, and now Muriel not only has a steady and safe job, but also serves as a motivational speaker for young girls who were once in her position and gives advice as to how they can get out and live healthy, productive lives.