Women slaving away in the kitchen cooking while the men play cards? How in the world will a kid today be able to relate to a story from 1949? Today a kid would pull out his smartphone and use siri to find her way home or else just phone home and ask to get picked up.
Excellent point. Set your time period.
It was the brothers that were playing cards. Another clue that they were poor, cause they couldn't even afford to play video games. The men don't come around till after the kids go to bed.
It's got single moms, dads in jail, poverty. It's a tale for the modern age.
One Vike, you should probably play up the above listed angles. People like Kirkwood can't read between the lines so I don't think kids will either.
Just some notes.
The time is actually 1962, so you are right no cell phones.
As for the girls helping mom, they enjoyed helping mom cook.