October was a beautiful month,not to hot and not too cold. Nice weather for walking,or sitting, or reading in the back yard on the swing. But the only place to do homework was in at the kitchen table. I so wanted to be outside today,since it was so nice.
Pop was working in the cellar doing whatever he was doing and Grammy was arranging the things she had canned and I could hear them talking about what else was needed for the winter. "Pop,we need salt fish and 2 buckets of herring." Pops reply was a grunt. This was Saturday, we were suppose to go to the movies. Didn't look like it today.Guess I'd find something to do.But what. I continued with my home work. I was restless!Being in school for 5 days was ok but I needed to be out "there".
My homework was done and it hit me. I could walk to Aunt Edies and Uncle Mikes! It would be a nice walk and I could stop at the "Dixie Cup" for some ice cream. Well that was settled. Off I started without telling my grandparents. Mistake one! Off I went through the back gate and started up the alley to Lehigh University. There was football practice so I watched for awhile and went on. The walk through the campus was beautiful. Some of the trees were loosing their leaves and they were fun to walk through. Of course the campus was almost always deserted on the weekends. I could hear the laughing from the dorms as I walked through. I wondered what it would be like to be in college and away from your family and staying with a bunch of strangers. My cousin Carl was in one of these dorms. If he saw me I was done. He would take me right back home..
I finally came to the side entrance to the College and stopped for traffic. Wyandott street was a bad street to cross. Sometimes trucks couldn't even stop! I waited and finally I could cross. I walked down Sioux street and right past my Aunt Mary's house. If she saw me..my adventure was done, Well she came out of the house but the retaining wall hid me nicely and on I went turned down the next street and there was the Dixie Cup and the vets. I stopped and got a soda. On my way I went . Finally Delaware avenue was in front of me. I crossed the street and on I went to My Aunt and Uncles. .
Of course I never gave it a thought that they might not be home. I did worry then but thought I'd sit on their porch rest and start back home. Nope they were home the old Nash was sitting in front of the house. I knocked on the door and thought they would be surprised and it was I who got the surprise. It seems my Aunt Mary did see me and so did a friend of my Uncles at the Dixie Cup . Phone calls were made! They awaited my arrival. I went into the kitchen got something to drink and a good talking to. It took me 1 hour to walk there . I was told never to do it again and Unc asked me why I did it. "nothing else to do" Well after a short visit he took me home. We were there in no time. .
Need I tell you what a hornets nest I walked into?
Did I have a nice walk.YES,Did I enjoy my self? Yes. Did I do it again. Yes. but I was older . I was 8 when I took my first walk over there and 12 when I took my second. My grandparents agreed that I could go no further than the football field if I got in the walking mood again . Of course they could see me there from the back yard ..
In those days I was safe walking all over Bethlehem since everyone knew me and my grandfather and uncle. The police officers on the corner would chase me home or call a cab for me. I learned a few lessons . You don't just go,you ask first. It's a shame our kids couldn't grow up in peace. Today at 8 you don't let your kid just go for a walk. It isn't safe and how many of the neighbors would know them let alone bring them home to safety?.