I Was Five

The never ending saga of me

When we left Augusta I don’t remember the street where we moved to next. I do remember a park across the street that would play a pivotal role in my life and a girl named Kim.

The park was one of those old time-y parks you see in the movies with the all metal slides that blistered any kid dumb enough to wear shorts on a sunny California day. There was also a rocket ship. One of those big monstrosities that parents these days would protest because their kid would be too stupid to be trusted on it.

Kim was a little girl my age with strawberry blonde hair, a mean bowl cut, and freckles. I was going to marry her. In the interest of full disclosure I should let you all know she was my second choice for a bride. I was crushed to discover that the people on TV were not the age they appeared and was forced to relinquish my dream of one day calling Shirley Temple the future Mrs. Martinez.

Kim would have to do.

I once got stung by a bee while I was digging in the sand at the park. I ran home cr…