At 13, Hammer found the courage to run away. He was gone for several weeks before returning. He tried to start his own business by selling baby chicks at Eastertime. At age 15, desperate to escape his home life and abusers, Hammer quit school and left the house for good. He lived on the streets, worked low-paying jobs and began taking drugs, “hustling and searching for love and acceptance.” Hammer learned to advocate for himself and became an avid reader, spending borrowed money to buy books. At 16, Hammer thought he found love and got married, though subsequently divorced. By 18, he had opened a game room and was able to sell the business for $15,000.