Verda

On a typical school night, my brother Jimmy, my sister Verda, and I would be playing down in the finished basement, which was set up like a family room, with couches and a television.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

She would gather Jimmy and Verda and me together in the living room and give us each a copy of the script.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

From left to right: my dad, my sister Verda, and me, hamming it up for the camera.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

I do remember this one time, though, when my mom was trying to work with Verda on the script for a show she had booked.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

I think my sister, Verda, was the first person to figure out that I was using drugs.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

About a week later, I was sitting on the couch watching TV with Jimmy and Verda when my mom came into the living room and told us that Ronald was coming over.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

Among Jimmy and Verda and me, and all of our friends, there were always plenty of kids around for all different kinds of games, and we had such a good time playing together.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

From left to right: my sister Verda, my mom Betty, me, and my brother Jimmy.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

This family reunion includes left to right: my sister Verda, my cousin Vickie Pryor, my grandmother Catherine Lawrence, my great grandmother Alice Pounds, my brother Jimmy, my mom Betty, and, of course, me.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010

This book is dedicated to my mom Betty Bridges for giving birth to me when no one else could, to my brother Jimmy Bridges and my sister Verda Bridges Prpich, for being my best friends, and to all three of them for standing by me when no one else would.

KILLING WILLIS TODD BRIDGES 2010