not so very long after i was born- we moved to 2604 summer, but i was too young to be much help with the move–probably 1 year old–for some reason my memory fails me on that.  we lived next door to the harrisons*.  he was the fire chief and a tough looking guy while she was an attractive dark haired lady with flashing black eyes and a kindly personality to go with an attractive smile.

they had two kids-“lee p”, as we called him, and bonnie.  lee was my age and the first playmate i remember.  he was bigger than i was and always went around with the back flap on his drawers open and his rear end shining.  i can remember being embarrassed for him even at that young age.

lee p was bigger than i was and often sent me home crying from childish skirmishes.  finally mother talked to mrs h and she told m that i was going to have to fight back–which i had always been taught not to do.  so, i’m told i “cleaned his plow” one day and that wound up the skirmishes.

i remember the harrisons* had a pony and shirley rode it occasionally.  one day it ran away with her and scraped her off under a low hanging gate.  so much for “annie oakley”!

lee & i periodically partook in the childhood nutrition supplement–dirt.  the fact that it tasted bad didn’t dawn on us until our parents pointed it out.

*pseudonym

Annie Oakley photo courtesy of Roland Bonaparte (Cowan’s Auctions) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons