Changes

Vonnegut was one of three children, his brother Bernard growing up to become an esteemed atmospheric physicist.  Like so many in America when the Great Depression hit, his family suffered from financial insecurity, and when his father brought over a businessman offering a suspicious investment that gave his father hope of regaining that security, the precocious younger Vonnegut questioned the issuer, much to the consternation of his father, but the businessman later ended up cheating many in Indianapolis out of their wealth when his scheme turned out to be fraudulent.

Vonnegut was one of three children, his brother Bernard growing up to become an esteemed atmospheric physicist.  Like so many in America when the Great Depression hit, his family suffered from financial insecurity, and when his father brought over a businessman offering a suspicious investment that gave his father hope of regaining that security, the precocious younger Vonnegut questioned the issuer, much to the consternation of his father, but the businessman later ended up cheating many in Indianapolis out of their wealth when his scheme turned out to be fraudulent.

Vonnegut admitted later in life that, possibly in part due to stress from motherhood and the ordeals involved in Great Depression that his mother would lapse into intense fits of rage and that she eventually committed suicide, her cause of death being publicly covered up.  Vonnegut would struggle with depression himself throughout his life.

Vonnegut admitted later in life that, possibly in part due to stress from motherhood and the ordeals involved in the Great Depression that his mother, daughter of a millionaire playboy, would lapse into intense fits of rage and that she eventually committed suicide<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 36.</ref>, her cause of death being publicly covered up.  Vonnegut would struggle with depression himself throughout his life.

Vonnegut recounted growing up in Indianapolis with a fondness for reading Mark Twain and the kind of pranks often found in his works.  This grew into a talent for writing, and when Vonnegut attended [[Cornell University]] he became editor of the ''Cornell Daily Sun''.  He failed to receive a Master's degree, however, when his master's thesis was rejected shortly before he was conscripted into the Army during World War II.  Vonnegut pulled a prank during his battalion recruitment muster, however, ensuring he would remain a private for most of the war.

Vonnegut recounted growing up in Indianapolis with a fondness for reading Mark Twain and the kind of pranks often found in his works.  This grew into a talent for writing, and when Vonnegut attended [[Cornell University]] he became editor of the ''Cornell Daily Sun''.  He failed to receive a Master's degree, however, when his master's thesis was rejected shortly before he was conscripted into the Army during World War II.  Vonnegut pulled a prank during his battalion recruitment muster, however, ensuring he would remain a private for most of the war.