Fun Talk Today

Growing up in a neighborhood of single-family homes in Zanesville, Ohio, this girl child tried hard to be ‘one of the boys’, because boys had more fun!

Daddy had other ideas.  His daughter would be a little lady.  Ugh!

 Johnny, Me, and Jimmy

One Saturday morning Mother and Daddy had gone downtown.  My two brothers, Johnny and Jimmy, were outside test-driving the go-cart they were building to enter in the big race.  I had been told to stay in the house, but I had a brilliant idea.

Read about it in this excerpt from my award winning memoir, Black Star Girl.        

From Chapter 10 – ‘Soap Box Derby’:

“ . . ..  Now was the time.  I could go, have fun, and be back in the house before mother and daddy came home.  .  .  .

        I yelled from the front door, begging them to let me sit behind the driver, “just once, please?” . . .. they finally said yes!

        I flew out the door, across the porch, down the steps to the street, and excitedly trudged up the hill behind Jimmy and a couple of other boys who tugged the go-cart up to the top of the street, a little bit past Rev. Holt’s house, onto the crest of the steep hill.  Jimmy was going to drive it back down the hill. They all helped secure me behind my twin brother on the wooden seat.  Wrapping my arms around his waist, I held on for the long ride down Cliffwood Avenue to Baker Street.

         With a running push from behind by the “starters”, we were on our way.  I was happy and could feel my grin stiffen by the wind heavy against my face.  We were zooming down the middle of the street.  I was having fun with the boys!” 

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I’m smiling as I re-read this. 

That day my exuberance did not last.  Read the book and you will find after this excerpt, Jimmy and I (11 year old twins) hurtle down the street going so fast I’m terrified.   I will tell you this. There was no lasting injury.  I had my troubles though.  You see, we couldn’t hide my adventure from our parents.

I invite you to get a copy of Black Star Girl.  The book is an interesting and fun read for all ages.