What's it about? That's Question #1 for me. What's childhood about? Play!

In Omaha (five) we used to go to the Military Theater for a Saturday matinee double feature. Our Moms gave us money for the street car to and back, a ticket, popcorn and a soda. We spent our return fare for a candy and had to walk home.

In Falls City (nine) we rode our bikes everywhere, even to Rulo and Whitrock's for ice cream or the park to play football. The Missouri Pacific railroad had a round house for steam locomotive maintenance. When we were lucky, one of the mechanics would give us used ball bearings (steelies) for our marbles bags. In the Fall we took a salt shaker to the football game, sat on the south wall to pick and eat the green apples from the other side as we watched the game (Salt prevents stomach cramps).

On to Maryville (eleven). Dad bought Herriman's Grocery, renamed it Hill's Hy-Klas Grocery. My playing days were ending. Something was different. One dilemma persisted. When Dad wanted to modify my behavior he had me sweep the store's basement which had a dirt floor. How do you know when a dirt floor is clean?

Our sixth grade teacher put a reading chart up and gave us a star for each book report we wrote. Larry and I made it a contest turning in nearly two hundred each. 

Leading to Segue 2: Puberty