Madge Reetz

The Felisa Street Girls: Eighty-years of Friendships Madge Reetz

This novel tells the story of the Browning Family and how they lived throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. It takes place in San Antonio, Texas, known as one of the oldest military cities in the United States. The story tells about the Browning family and the rearing of three little girls, of the strong family ties they held, of their strict adherence to Christian teachings, and of a mysterious family secret finally revealed. The story begins at the end of World War I, taking the reader through the Spanish Flu epidemic, leading to life in the 1920s and eventually the times of the Great Depression that clutched the United States in poverty for many years. It was an exciting time that saw the introduction of modern inventions such as the electric ice box and washing machine. Following were the years of World War II and how it involved and affected the United States and its people. The main theme of the story is about the friendships formed by seven girls who lived and grew up on Felisa Street; about how simple life was lived in a happy and healthy environment; how helping others was so much a part of living; how patriotism abounded and how proud people were to live in the United States of America. These friendships continue to survive and are still strong after eighty years, though good times and bad.