Dear log,

In the 1948 autumn we transferred to Memphis, a big city distant two hours of car at north, and promising to give us a better life. I had only thirteen years at that moment and still I haven’t taken the responsibility of carrying my family out from misery. But I know that times are harsh. In our old wrecked car, we placed all we have. We were full of hopes but at the arrival the conditions don’t get better. In the first year, we lived in Popular Avenue in a Victorian house that was divided in 16 apartments. That was not the best but that’s what we can afford.

Here, in an apartment near ours, lived a girl called Eileen Van Der Meer. I saw her very few times because she gone inside and outside with a moment to breath but she had attracted my attention. When I started the school, I didn’t get a bond with nobody, on first attempt. I was alone and my poor conditions did not improve my situation. She was the first to act, getting closer to me: she had long red hair like fire, light-blue eyes like seas and her lips that, at touch, resembled soft and delicate. Her toned physique was slender and when she walked, it seemed to see an angel.

«Hi. What’s your name? » asked me gently. Even her voice was delicate like a rose petal. She had a strange slang and I didn’t get from which country she comes from.

«Elvis Presley» I shyly answered. «Where did you come from? I am transferred here to Memphis recently, but before I lived in Tupelo and it was really difficult resume to live a normal life because I don’t know nobody, except those few relatives that are came with my parents. »

«I am from a city in Holland, in Europe. I am transferred here from there to Memphis recently too, and during spare time I like to take some photography while after school, except for Saturdays, working as a waitress to get some money. Before that I worked from a friend of my family, Andreas Van Kuijk, as a barker. He too was a barker. Time ago, instead, I followed my parent, they were too photographer, in their tour. I am transferred here because I was sick and tired of long trips. » During all the story I heard her, completely captivated by her telling. I’d really loved to see Europe. She was really lucky. I told to her my wishes, the strong love I felt for my mother and that I really liked letting her living like a queen in big castle in a way that she wouldn’t work anymore.

We see each other during the school and our bond became stronger as ever. Unfortunately, life reserved me horrible surprises: at 17 June 1950, at the age of fifteen, a social assistant, coming to us for a meeting clearly and I realized that how much we are poor. It was requested to us to transfer to Lauderdale Court and I found myself alone again.

I haven’t neither the opportunity to say goodbye to Eileen because that day was at work. So, we packed our things and moved again.
In that complex I lived for three years frequenting a school and working for sustain my family. I gone out with friends, girls and listened music of Memphis, in particular gospel genre. I participated at evening’s gospel to the Ellis Auditorium together with my parents and friends. The Blackwood Brothers was my favourite quartet.

During the summer of 1951, around the second and third year of high school, I worked in a place where produced missiles for the army. I was determined to help my parents and at the start of the last years of school I found job as furniture assembler in the worktime from 3 till 11 p.m.: going out of school, I went to work another eight hours in factory. I graduated in 3rd march 1953 and then I’ve done many jobs as truck driver for the Crown Electric.

Around January 1954 I started to engage with Dixie Locke, a girl from the first year, and we started to talk about marriage. We were very bonded and we love and care to each other, but I didn’t know that the road would let me find again Eileen.