It was the ninth birthday of Leora (Toots) Robbs. She left home early that morning dressed in her best finery, an old silk dress that had come all the way from California. The dress had been sent by her Aunt Gladys, a seamstress who worked for the movie studios in Hollywood. Toots was oblivious to the tear on the shoulder of the dress and the fact that it showed a significant portion of her young chest.

     That morning, Toots went around to every household in Sterley to share the good news....it was her birthday. It just so happened that she brought along a large sack, just in case.

     The population of Sterley was about one hundred at that time and Toots visited every house. When she returned home after dusk, she was tired, but the visits had been fruitful. In her sack were several presents, and she had promises of more presents to come. The birthday booty consisted of jewelry, half a stick of lipstick, a dab of powder in a powder box and a china tea pot.