Thursday, September 04, 2003
Harrison Avenue at 10th
This was where Maryann, David, June, and Jack lived with their mom and dad. The enclosed carport that makes a garage was once a carport and a side porch. It looks as neat and clean as it was 50 years ago. The commercial building (left) was, before supermarkets caught on, our neighborhood grocery.
In the fall after the summer after I grew from 5 foot 9 and 135 pounds to 6 foot 3 and 135 pounds I was tired all the time. I lay around the house in outgrown clothing reading fiction and drinking Cokes. Occasionally my parents would, perhaps to see if I was still conscious, send me to the store to buy a pound of something.
I was lounging in a pair of red jeans and a too small shirt when the call came to fetch a pound of coffee so I started out the back porch from the house at 8th and Harrison and (Stop put on a sweater - take this red one) crossed 9th street to the alley where the Knights lived on the corner at 10th across from the market.
Jack's dad was relaxing on his side porch but as he saw me, dressed in red, approach, he leaned forward and stared. He called out "McFall, is that you?"
"Yes Sir... how are you today?" I asked.
He leaned back in his chair and said, "I'm fine now but for a minute there, I thought there was a thermometer walking down the street".
Even though I was mortified, I had to recognize a good line when I heard it.
