B4 DQ
At first, there is a bud. Then slowly develops a flower displaying its stunning colors and sweet fragrance. So too were David’s teen years starting out just as a bud waiting to bloom. His blooming was having his own friends. Hanging around his younger brother, Richard brought his friends throughout David’s childhood. David knew he had no friends of his own. In fact, he did not name them as his friends. It dawn on him one day when he was bringing together two people: “This is Pauly, Richard’s friend.” David’s past was filled with countless times he did that type of introduction.
When David was nine years old, his family moved in a neighborhood that was behind St. Francis Hospital; this area around the hospital was primarily a Catholic community. It was so Catholic that David’s family, and a black family that lived half way down the block, were the only Protestants. There was a Jewish family across the street. Those three non-Catholic families lived in a sea of pope-followers. Being non-Catholics, the children of these three families went to public city schools. The Catholic families’ children went to parochial school. On that point, Richard, as well as all the kids in these surroundings, had two sets of friends; one group in school; and the other where they reside. These two groups very rarely mixed.
Aside from attending two different schools, Pauly Eichenlaub was Richard’s best friend. Pauly, and his older brother Raymond, lived down the alleyway on the other block. Pauly and his brother, Raymond, attended the private parochial school. Pauly was a bulky kid with a round face. Many times his thick brown hair had a bowl cut. He loved sports more than Richard. Both of them would be captains of their team when playing with the neighbor kids. They both would dare each other stupid challenges from eating cat food to throwing metal items on the electric third rail of the el-train.
When David was nine years old, his family moved in a neighborhood that was behind St. Francis Hospital; this area around the hospital was primarily a Catholic community. It was so Catholic that David’s family, and a black family that lived half way down the block, were the only Protestants. There was a Jewish family across the street. Those three non-Catholic families lived in a sea of pope-followers. Being non-Catholics, the children of these three families went to public city schools. The Catholic families’ children went to parochial school. On that point, Richard, as well as all the kids in these surroundings, had two sets of friends; one group in school; and the other where they reside. These two groups very rarely mixed.
Aside from attending two different schools, Pauly Eichenlaub was Richard’s best friend. Pauly, and his older brother Raymond, lived down the alleyway on the other block. Pauly and his brother, Raymond, attended the private parochial school. Pauly was a bulky kid with a round face. Many times his thick brown hair had a bowl cut. He loved sports more than Richard. Both of them would be captains of their team when playing with the neighbor kids. They both would dare each other stupid challenges from eating cat food to throwing metal items on the electric third rail of the el-train.
Elk’s Field was cover with cottonwood seeds. The cottonwood tree is one of the largest trees in the Midwest states, up to 100 feet high with a massive trunk over 5 feet in diameter. Every spring the cottonwood trees release their fluffy white seeds. At times, so much that it looks like it is snowing. The seed get everywhere and are highly flammable.
Pauly and Richard dare to lite the seeds on the field. Who won the dare, only the two friends know. As quickly as the seeds flash, they extinguish just as fast since the field was just green grass and dirt.If there was any paper on the field, there was not enough time or heat to burn anything – just the fluffy cotton surrounding the seed burnt.A low blue hue with faint rising white smoke track along the field. When the fire department arrived, they just watched the disappearing snow-like cover.One fire fighter was overheard saying, “At least it got rid of those damn seeds.”
Pauly’s older brother, Raymond, was the same age as David.
Contrasting his younger brother, Raymond was built like David, a tall thin boy. His brown hair was lighter than Pauly’s. It displayed dirty-blond sun streaks in his wavy hair. Unlike Richard and his tag-along-brother-David, Pauly and Raymond had their own age equivalent friends and hardly were together. David had met Raymond on rare occasions, such as following Richard when he passed by Pauly’s home; Or on even more rare occasion, when Raymond and his school friends would play baseball against Pauly and Richard’s friends.
Only one time did David and Raymond have an unaccompanied conversation. Tag-along-David followed his brother to Pauly’s backdoor.In an uncommon seemingly bond, Raymond trailed along with his brother and Richard. David followed the three.
Richard call back to David, “Come on, David. Get up here and walk with us.”
And David did. He skipped to line up next to his brother. Thus two pairs of brothers walked four across down the alley toward the Gunnell home.
Pauly drop something and stop to pick it up while the three step forward.
Richard stop, turn, and said to Pauly, “You’re slower than an old fart.”
Raymond and David advance forward having the gap between them left by Pauly and Richard. They both stop waiting for their younger brothers to join them.
Richard and Pauly join their two older brothers. They paired to Raymond’s left making Richard and David the bookends of the four boys. Tag-along-David was alone and away from his anchor Richard.
As the four shuffles down the back street, David watched his brother at the opposite end chatting with Pauly.
“How’s things?” Raymond ask David.
David was flabbergasted that Raymond was talking to him. He felt dumbfounded.Dumb being the main word.
Raymond spoke a little loud, “How’s thing with you, David?”
“Umh... All-righty.”
Alrighty was a slang term that Richard and his father used with each other.
Raymond laugh, “Yea, I’m all-righty too.”
Raymond shared his passion of baseball. Now baseball was not David forte. In fact, any sport was not kind to him, not Red Rover, kickball, Dodge Ball, tag football, and mostly of all: baseball. Raymond never witness David’s strain in sports.He listened as Raymond talked.
Whether it was David’s silence or the anxiety expressed from his face, Raymond changed the subject. “I wish we had a dog.It must be nice having a dog.”
Raymond was referring to Charlie, a miniature schnauzer dog, who came into the Gunnell family one summer from a co-worker-friend of David's mother.
“Yep, it is,” answer David.
“We just have cats.They don’t play with you like a dog does.”
“You are right about that,” added David. “Cats will not run with you.They just lay there.”
“Charlie is your dog’s name?”
“That right,” smiled David. “His full name is Samson Toth del Marlee, but we call him Charlie for short.”
Richard interrupt, “We’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Raymond asked Pauly.
“Take a chill-pill Raymond, I forgot something at home,” called Pauly as he and Richard ran back toward Pauly and Raymond’s home.
Raymond and David continue walking toward the Gunnell house while talking about their pets.
At the steps of David’s home, Raymond asked, “So you have any hobbies?”
“Umh?” answer David as he thought to himself, “Richard collected coins. My older brother makes model planes from kits. I don’t have any hobbies.” David never thought of his puppets as a hobby. They were more than puppets to him. They were parts of David yet to be discovered.
Pauly and Richard dare to lite the seeds on the field. Who won the dare, only the two friends know. As quickly as the seeds flash, they extinguish just as fast since the field was just green grass and dirt.If there was any paper on the field, there was not enough time or heat to burn anything – just the fluffy cotton surrounding the seed burnt.A low blue hue with faint rising white smoke track along the field. When the fire department arrived, they just watched the disappearing snow-like cover.One fire fighter was overheard saying, “At least it got rid of those damn seeds.”
Pauly’s older brother, Raymond, was the same age as David.
Contrasting his younger brother, Raymond was built like David, a tall thin boy. His brown hair was lighter than Pauly’s. It displayed dirty-blond sun streaks in his wavy hair. Unlike Richard and his tag-along-brother-David, Pauly and Raymond had their own age equivalent friends and hardly were together. David had met Raymond on rare occasions, such as following Richard when he passed by Pauly’s home; Or on even more rare occasion, when Raymond and his school friends would play baseball against Pauly and Richard’s friends.
Only one time did David and Raymond have an unaccompanied conversation. Tag-along-David followed his brother to Pauly’s backdoor.In an uncommon seemingly bond, Raymond trailed along with his brother and Richard. David followed the three.
Richard call back to David, “Come on, David. Get up here and walk with us.”
And David did. He skipped to line up next to his brother. Thus two pairs of brothers walked four across down the alley toward the Gunnell home.
Pauly drop something and stop to pick it up while the three step forward.
Richard stop, turn, and said to Pauly, “You’re slower than an old fart.”
Raymond and David advance forward having the gap between them left by Pauly and Richard. They both stop waiting for their younger brothers to join them.
Richard and Pauly join their two older brothers. They paired to Raymond’s left making Richard and David the bookends of the four boys. Tag-along-David was alone and away from his anchor Richard.
As the four shuffles down the back street, David watched his brother at the opposite end chatting with Pauly.
“How’s things?” Raymond ask David.
David was flabbergasted that Raymond was talking to him. He felt dumbfounded.Dumb being the main word.
Raymond spoke a little loud, “How’s thing with you, David?”
“Umh... All-righty.”
Alrighty was a slang term that Richard and his father used with each other.
Raymond laugh, “Yea, I’m all-righty too.”
Raymond shared his passion of baseball. Now baseball was not David forte. In fact, any sport was not kind to him, not Red Rover, kickball, Dodge Ball, tag football, and mostly of all: baseball. Raymond never witness David’s strain in sports.He listened as Raymond talked.
Whether it was David’s silence or the anxiety expressed from his face, Raymond changed the subject. “I wish we had a dog.It must be nice having a dog.”
Raymond was referring to Charlie, a miniature schnauzer dog, who came into the Gunnell family one summer from a co-worker-friend of David's mother.
“Yep, it is,” answer David.
“We just have cats.They don’t play with you like a dog does.”
“You are right about that,” added David. “Cats will not run with you.They just lay there.”
“Charlie is your dog’s name?”
“That right,” smiled David. “His full name is Samson Toth del Marlee, but we call him Charlie for short.”
Richard interrupt, “We’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Raymond asked Pauly.
“Take a chill-pill Raymond, I forgot something at home,” called Pauly as he and Richard ran back toward Pauly and Raymond’s home.
Raymond and David continue walking toward the Gunnell house while talking about their pets.
At the steps of David’s home, Raymond asked, “So you have any hobbies?”
“Umh?” answer David as he thought to himself, “Richard collected coins. My older brother makes model planes from kits. I don’t have any hobbies.” David never thought of his puppets as a hobby. They were more than puppets to him. They were parts of David yet to be discovered.
“I like Star Trek,” said Raymond.
That smashed David. The science fiction television series Star Trek was David’s favorite. The how follows the interstellar travels in the 23rd century - not a spaceship - a starship - named Enterprise. Its crew of 430 multi-cultural and ethnic men and women travel peacefully together learning about new cultures and civilizations. Star Trek was a place that took David’s dreams to a world where he would be fully accepted.As with his world of Harvey and Irving – his puppets - it was another world he spent a lot of time.Its inspiration flowed David’s insight of utopia.
That utopia world’s comfort opens David as he shared with Raymond his knowledge of Star Trek.Surely, today David would seem as a geek, but his passion bought David alive – something rarely seen by his family, let alone outside his family.
“I have even made the Enterprise starship,” proudly said David. “I have it hanging in my room.”
“Oh, I’ve seen those kits at the Hobby Shop,” said Raymond, referring to the model shop in downtown Evanston.
David corrected Raymond, “No. This is not from a model kit like my older brother gets that is already molded, and you just have to glue it and paint it. No model kits were used.”
“Can I see it?”
That took David by surprise. It felt good that someone wants to see something of his own making other than his family. It was what Star Trek was all about.
“Sure,” reply David.
He led Raymond through the Gunnell’s front door and front room.Not showing his home to Raymond they when upstairs right to his bedroom.David was still a little social-retard when it came to outsiders. He led Raymond into his light blue walled bedroom layout with a white dresser and bunk beds that he shared with Richard.
“There it is,” pointed David to the ceiling.
There hanging was a replica of Star Trek’s Enterprise starship with its distinct saucer.Connected below the saucer’s backside was a tube shape similar to a submarine. From the lower tube shape’s back end jetted upward and parallel behind the saucer, two cylinders shapes. His hanging art caught the likeness as if it was undeniably from a box model kit.
“That’s from kit,” stated Raymond.
“No. I made it out of paper plates,” corrected David as his point to his work and identifying its parts, “and cardboard, and toilet paper rolls, scotch tape, and white oil paint.”
At closer look, Raymond saw that it was unquestionable homemade as David claimed.
“Wow.That’s great.” Raymond’s mouth hung open in disbelief. “You’re good.”
An unknown feeling went through David. A spark.
Those words were the first time David ever heard from someone of his age. He never heard good comments about himself except from his parents or teachers.
And he liked it.
That smashed David. The science fiction television series Star Trek was David’s favorite. The how follows the interstellar travels in the 23rd century - not a spaceship - a starship - named Enterprise. Its crew of 430 multi-cultural and ethnic men and women travel peacefully together learning about new cultures and civilizations. Star Trek was a place that took David’s dreams to a world where he would be fully accepted.As with his world of Harvey and Irving – his puppets - it was another world he spent a lot of time.Its inspiration flowed David’s insight of utopia.
That utopia world’s comfort opens David as he shared with Raymond his knowledge of Star Trek.Surely, today David would seem as a geek, but his passion bought David alive – something rarely seen by his family, let alone outside his family.
“I have even made the Enterprise starship,” proudly said David. “I have it hanging in my room.”
“Oh, I’ve seen those kits at the Hobby Shop,” said Raymond, referring to the model shop in downtown Evanston.
David corrected Raymond, “No. This is not from a model kit like my older brother gets that is already molded, and you just have to glue it and paint it. No model kits were used.”
“Can I see it?”
That took David by surprise. It felt good that someone wants to see something of his own making other than his family. It was what Star Trek was all about.
“Sure,” reply David.
He led Raymond through the Gunnell’s front door and front room.Not showing his home to Raymond they when upstairs right to his bedroom.David was still a little social-retard when it came to outsiders. He led Raymond into his light blue walled bedroom layout with a white dresser and bunk beds that he shared with Richard.
“There it is,” pointed David to the ceiling.
There hanging was a replica of Star Trek’s Enterprise starship with its distinct saucer.Connected below the saucer’s backside was a tube shape similar to a submarine. From the lower tube shape’s back end jetted upward and parallel behind the saucer, two cylinders shapes. His hanging art caught the likeness as if it was undeniably from a box model kit.
“That’s from kit,” stated Raymond.
“No. I made it out of paper plates,” corrected David as his point to his work and identifying its parts, “and cardboard, and toilet paper rolls, scotch tape, and white oil paint.”
At closer look, Raymond saw that it was unquestionable homemade as David claimed.
“Wow.That’s great.” Raymond’s mouth hung open in disbelief. “You’re good.”
An unknown feeling went through David. A spark.
Those words were the first time David ever heard from someone of his age. He never heard good comments about himself except from his parents or teachers.
And he liked it.
He showed the open-mouth-Raymond his other creations around the room. Also hanging from the ceiling were five ships from the TV show Thunderbird. These five pieces werealso made by his hands since no model kits were available for these items. David articulated about Thunderbird 4 being made solely by masking tape and yellow oil paint.This way, just as the TV show’s version, his home made model of Thunderbird 4 could go into water.
David brought Raymond to the kitchen since he asked for something to drink.
They stood next to the kitchen table talking about things. Raymond opens up to David sharing things that David never had with anyone, not even his own family.
Raymond talked about wishing he had creativity and patients like David.Again, the astonished David thought to himself, “Why would anyone want to be like me? No one likes me.I don’t even like me. I am nothing. I am ugly with my big ears, freckly face, and brown hair.”
“Well, I wish I could play baseball like you and had your good looks,” blurt David.
Like babes in the woods, the two boys were candid.It was new to both of them. In David it was ingenuous. And in Raymond it was matter of fact.It is why humans open up to strangers. Children been taught not to talk to strangers, and yet, when two adult passengers sit next to each other on a jet plane, they will share more than they would with their closest friends. It is something within people – as is acts of kindness; for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
“You think I’m good looking?” question Raymond.
The now embarrassed David answer apprehensively, “Yeah.”
“Everyone has something they don’t like about themselves.”
“What do you have that you don’t like?”
Raymond looked down at the floor and said quietly, “I don’t like my nipples.”
David brought Raymond to the kitchen since he asked for something to drink.
They stood next to the kitchen table talking about things. Raymond opens up to David sharing things that David never had with anyone, not even his own family.
Raymond talked about wishing he had creativity and patients like David.Again, the astonished David thought to himself, “Why would anyone want to be like me? No one likes me.I don’t even like me. I am nothing. I am ugly with my big ears, freckly face, and brown hair.”
“Well, I wish I could play baseball like you and had your good looks,” blurt David.
Like babes in the woods, the two boys were candid.It was new to both of them. In David it was ingenuous. And in Raymond it was matter of fact.It is why humans open up to strangers. Children been taught not to talk to strangers, and yet, when two adult passengers sit next to each other on a jet plane, they will share more than they would with their closest friends. It is something within people – as is acts of kindness; for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
“You think I’m good looking?” question Raymond.
The now embarrassed David answer apprehensively, “Yeah.”
“Everyone has something they don’t like about themselves.”
“What do you have that you don’t like?”
Raymond looked down at the floor and said quietly, “I don’t like my nipples.”
Once again David was bewildered; never had anyone open up to him before. It also hit a chord within him. For David was very embarrassed by his nipples as well.They stuck out like pencil erasers. It was a physical feature that he and his father shared.
“Me, too,” replied David.
“Yours are innie?”
“What do you mean?”
“My nipples go inward. They don’t stick out like others.” With that, Raymond lifted up his shirt and gave evidence to his inverted nipples. Slit were in place of nipples.
“Me, too,” replied David.
“Yours are innie?”
“What do you mean?”
“My nipples go inward. They don’t stick out like others.” With that, Raymond lifted up his shirt and gave evidence to his inverted nipples. Slit were in place of nipples.
physical feature that he and his father shared.
“Me, too,” replied David.
“Yours are innie?”
“What do you mean?”
“My nipples go inward. They don’t stick out like others.” With that, Raymond lifted up his shirt and gave evidence to his inverted nipples. Slit were in place of nipples.
“Mine are too big.They stick out,” And in a show me your I’ll show you mine fashion, David lifted his shirt authenticating his point.
“I can’t get them to stay out,” said Raymond trying to squeeze his nipple out.
David shared, “Sometimes, I wear a belt across my chest trying to flatten them down.”
“Imagine yourself with no nipples at all,” related Raymond. “Now, that's weird.”
The two boys smile.
In that event, they compared sharing a room with their younger brothers and living with their parents. Raymond express it must be easier to have an older brother since his was the oldest in his family. They stood next to the kitchen table and had an enjoyable talk till David’s parents came home through the back door.Their arrival disburses the magical engagement that partake the two boys. With Raymond it was as if the fence door shut. He said his good-byes and quickly left the house.
“Who was that?” asked David’s mother.
“Raymond” answered back David. “He is Pauly’s brother. Richard’s friend”
“He’s the same age as you?” buzzed his mother.
“Yes,” confirmed David.
Now David’s father pry, “You two seen each other or played before?”
“No.This was the first time we ever talk.”
“We like that you have a friend,” approved David’s mother.
“One that is the same age as you,” added his father.
“Me, too,” replied David.
“Yours are innie?”
“What do you mean?”
“My nipples go inward. They don’t stick out like others.” With that, Raymond lifted up his shirt and gave evidence to his inverted nipples. Slit were in place of nipples.
“Mine are too big.They stick out,” And in a show me your I’ll show you mine fashion, David lifted his shirt authenticating his point.
“I can’t get them to stay out,” said Raymond trying to squeeze his nipple out.
David shared, “Sometimes, I wear a belt across my chest trying to flatten them down.”
“Imagine yourself with no nipples at all,” related Raymond. “Now, that's weird.”
The two boys smile.
In that event, they compared sharing a room with their younger brothers and living with their parents. Raymond express it must be easier to have an older brother since his was the oldest in his family. They stood next to the kitchen table and had an enjoyable talk till David’s parents came home through the back door.Their arrival disburses the magical engagement that partake the two boys. With Raymond it was as if the fence door shut. He said his good-byes and quickly left the house.
“Who was that?” asked David’s mother.
“Raymond” answered back David. “He is Pauly’s brother. Richard’s friend”
“He’s the same age as you?” buzzed his mother.
“Yes,” confirmed David.
Now David’s father pry, “You two seen each other or played before?”
“No.This was the first time we ever talk.”
“We like that you have a friend,” approved David’s mother.
“One that is the same age as you,” added his father.