Things I Remember with a Smile
Walking Home
You remind me of...a walk home from the movies. We walked in a group, eight or nine kids from the neighborhood. It was a long walk and there were no streetlights after you crossed the tracks. But the stars were out and the moon always made a showing. Walking slowly until we were free of the sidewalks and traffic signals and suspicious eyes. Moving quietly like we were taught. Not drawing attention to ourselves. Taking that shortcut that our parents warned us not to take, down behind the clubs on Clifton Street. Listening to the thumping bass of the jukeboxes as the low-down-dirty blues plays loud and even LOUDER when a customer swings open the door to go in or maybe out. Wishing we were old enough to go inside. Sighing and breaking into a trot to pass the places safely. Accelerating the trot, and suddenly it all becomes a race to see who's the fastest and ends when we are all winded and laughing and poking fun at Kenny who always comes in last because he never understands the signal to start running. Great times. You were never there. But strange I feel you should have been. I can see you laughing with us when someone remembers a scene and we all pause in our journey just long enough to act it out. Exhilarated, wrestling, singing snatches of songs from the radio or from the club we just passed.
Safe in the neighborhood, we'd walk each other home. The group slowly being filed away by who lived the closest. Not really wanting the night to end as we walked each other part of the way home and then back again. Silly ritual. Why do I feel you were there? You could not have been, and yet my heart now places you there. There with all my memories of what it was like to walk the night with friends, our minds filled with laughter and Hollywood dreams."
The Great Turtle Race
It was after the big rain. Water was still standing in pools all over the backyard. Charles said that the river was trying to take the land back. It was because of the waters and being so close to the river that I guess, they came. The turtles. There were two of them. They had taken up refuge in our garage and of course Charles was the first to spot them. What do kids DO with two turtles? Correction. What do two DERANGED kids do with two turtles? First, Charles flipped them over on their backs. The turtles were not amused. Having a portable, ready-made bomb shelter at their disposal, they used it. Smart animals. If I had a shell, I would have hid from Charles too, but I was just like most of the kids on the block, adoring of him and would do just about any crazy thing he said. Charles studied them for a while. He spun them like tops for a few minutes with a stick. He then flipped them back over to see if they would emerge drunk or woozie. They stayed put. He studied them some more. Finally, he decided that we would play racecar. And just guess what the brake and gas pedal would be? So it was back on their backs for a ripping game of 'give-it-some-gas-and-brake for the curves.' Charles was a bit of a nut as I have later determined. (smile) Just the same, he never was one for harming the creatures. He made sure we only lightly tapped their bellies when we were gassing and braking. After a few hours of spinning and rocking, the turtles must have done a serious re-evaluation of their present sanctuary from the rising waters. They finally did emerge and made, in turtle-fashion, quickly for the exit. We watched them crawl away, confused and shaken but still, on the whole, great entertainment for a rainy afternoon in the garage.
Summertime
Following a trail through a vacant lot. A shortcut to the neighborhood store. Weed stalks tickling our legs as we pass through. The heat of the ground radianting beneath our bare feet. Remembering the house in the middle of the block has a bad dog. Careful. They never chain him. Money wrapped in a note with the list of items to buy. The streets sticky with melting tar. Bounding across the hot surfaces to the coolness of the grass. The soft tinkle of bells as we enter the store. Eyes drawn immediatedly to the candies and cookies. Feeling for the note and money again. Knowing there is more than enough for that. Unwrapping the money. All business now. Checking and
rechecking the list. Is this the price she wants to pay for this? Is this other one a better buy? Sure that everything is in order, taking them all to the counter. Proud that I no longer have to hand over the list. Watching the tally carefully. That's about right. Counting out the money. Receiving the change like I'm handling eggs. Counting it twice. Smiling as I extract my reward for services due. Giving Janice and Charles their cut. Removing the parcels from the counter and moving aside. Dividing their weight among us for the trip home. A little haggling, but soon we all agree. Stuffing the change deep into my pocket enfolded in the note and the receipt. Business over. Now, what shall we buy? Perusing our selections as if we're investing in stocks. A ice cold soda? That's a given. A package of Now&Later, they last. Yeah. Wine Kisses, A Slo Poke, Straws and a candy necklace just for fun. Dill pickles, Moon cookies, Jaw Breakers, miniature Tootsie Rolls, peppermint sticks? Can't have a pickle without some of those. Selections made, then back into the sun for the journey home. Crossing the hot pavement again. RRRRUUUUUUNNNN!!!! Forgot all about that dog.