Summer of Our Innocence

By Michael Fisher

Josh seemed to have the perfect childhood: a loving family and an apartment-like bedroom setting for him and his sister. There was always something to do, someone to see, or a neighborhood pick-up football game. Then one year everything changed just before Christmas. "Rob, come meet Mr. Rich and his son, Josh."

These words changed his life forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503520585

Book preview

1

The wet leaves of late autumn filled the parking lot of the old Dairy Queen, now a Chinese restaurant, as the rental car entered the parking lot. The place appeared closed this Thursday afternoon as I parked the vehicle by the front door and peeked inside. A number of scattered tables and mismatched seats made up the decor, the patio devoid of all life other than a few broken chairs, the window where we once ordered Mister Misty’s and chili dogs bricked up. I could still hear the laughter, the joking, the pestering; Wayne storming off mad yet again but meeting us back at the creek; Rob and I trying to decide if it was too hot to walk back through the woods but being talked into it by Jerry and Nancy. Our biggest decision was whether we wanted to eat here or just grab something from the local convenience store. Glancing down the street, a Quik Trip filled the lot where Mrs. Mendelbright’s store once stood, the wooded area beside it demolished to make room for a Waffle House.

All these years of visiting Karen and her family, it never occurred to me to visit the old stomping grounds, but something drew me here today for whatever reason, a sense of nostalgia I suppose or wanting to connect with my childhood. I always drove north past this area, never thinking to stop; if I was in this section of town, I never ventured the few extra miles over this way.

Exiting the car, the wind whipped vigorously and cold, drying the puddles of water after last night’s heavy rain as I zipped my fleece jacket; today would surely take the remaining leaves from the trees.

Heading on foot to the creek, things were surprisingly unchanged, the land unbuildable, being so close to the water. The one dramatic difference was seeing tall buildings in the distance, their glass a sharp contrast to the wooded area around them. I spotted the azaleas immediately even though they weren’t in bloom; they had grown considerably and towered over the underbrush that had filled in around them. The small white cross placed between them was gone, the cross that was made the day we buried Dino, our childhood dog, undoubtedly still interred amidst the azaleas.

The little waterfall still flowed, the sandy area around it filled with weeds and kudzu as I took everything in and reflected on the day Dad, Karen and I went to get our new friend.

2

Puppy dogs and bake sales

How can you not admire a man who thinks your mother hung the moon, the stars and created the universe? I think that’s part of why I love Dad so much. He’s a good and honest man and I’m proud to be his son; I’ve always thought he looks a little like William Holden. He and my mother Francesca met when he was in the Army and stationed in Italy. She’s Italian and was in a cafe with a few friends when he and two Army buddies approached them and bought a round of drinks. Dad loves to tell of how he was attracted to her beauty but it was her infectious giggle that let him know he would someday marry this woman; he claims to have known this within a few minutes of their meeting. They did indeed marry, and she and her parents now live in Atlanta.

He cherishes her and it’s evident whenever he looks at her. He loves to tease her about her cooking skills. Mom is a good, kind and wonderful woman. She loves God, her friends and family and would do anything in the world for us, but she can’t cook. I remember when she attempted to make her mother’s spaghetti sauce but it didn’t exactly turn out. Tasting more like ketchup and sausage, it was terribly bland, and when she tried to season it, things somehow got worse. I love how Mom can laugh at herself and saw the humor in the moment the sauce met its new home in the garbage disposal. We now go to Grandma’s house for spaghetti. Where her cooking talents are wanting, it is made up for in her baking abilities. She prepares luscious cakes, pies, lemon tortes and cannolis that melt in your mouth and leave you craving more. Mom can roll out a pie shell like most people make a peanut butter sandwich. My sister Karen and I were always the biggest hits at any school bake sales.

Karen is three years older than me and has always been a good older sister. Never once has she complained about me hanging around when she is with her friends and she doesn’t treat me like a kid. She has our father’s all American-looks and lighter skin but has our mother’s dark hair that she wears in a Laura Petrie curl (I’m told I’m a male version of my mother). Karen and I live in the downstairs of our drop ranch home outside of Atlanta. There are two bedrooms downstairs and a large rumpus room that Mom and Dad basically turned over to us. Dad plays pool down there when they have company but that’s about it. We are the envy of most of our friends.

What kind of dogs are they? Karen asked when we were in the car.

She, Dad and I were driving several miles to the house of a neighbor whose dog had had puppies. Mom decided this was a good father and child outing and remained home.

He just said a Cocker Spaniel and terrier mix, Dad replied. I’ll let the two of you pick the one you want.

I want a female that we can call Gidget, said Karen.

How can you name a dog without seeing it? I asked her. The dog might not look like a Gidget.

It will, she replied. She will be a little gold one and we can put bows in her hair.

I don’t care as long as we have a dog, I said, knowing the bows wouldn’t last. Karen would be driving soon and it would be more my dog at that point.

We got to the house and there was only one puppy left, a black and white male. It looked like our decision had been made for us. None of us cared; we loved him immediately. Karen and I sat with him in the backseat on the way home and tried to come up with a name. Dad didn’t say a word until we got out of the car.

What about Dino? he said. You know, from the Flintstones? Plus your mother is huge Dean Martin fan.

It’s perfect for him, said Karen.

Josh? Dad looked at me.

That’s fine, I said. I didn’t care what we called him; I was just happy to have a puppy. So it was Dino!

Karen and I slept in my double bed together that night for the first time, she at the end of the bed with my feet in her face and her feet in mine and Dino in the middle of us. He was a surprisingly calm and quiet puppy in spite of the horror stories dad told us we would encounter. The next morning I let him out the sliding glass door of the rumpus room and walked outside with him. I stayed with him until he peed and pooped, although it took a long time to wait for him. Dad told us weeks ago this could be a frustrating process so I was prepared for it. I have never been one to sleep late so this duty fell on me. Today was Saturday and it would be interesting to see what happened Monday morning. Today, however, was up to me. I took Dino to the kitchen and fed him his breakfast while I ate a bowl of cereal. I watched one cartoon and took him outside and stayed with him until he peed and pooped once more. I was proud of myself for waiting him out and, even more gratified when everybody woke up and saw I had everything under control.

Monday morning was easier than I imagined. I simply opened the sliding glass door and let Dino out when I woke up. At that point in time people weren’t concerned about leash laws. Karen and I did our morning routines and went upstairs for breakfast. A few minutes later we heard a scratching at the kitchen door and knew it was Dino wanting to come inside. Mom opened the door and he ran under the kitchen table, lying on his belly in a submissive mode as if asking permission to be there and found total content when Karen and I rubbed his belly and pet him. All was well when we got home. If anything bad occurred, Mom never told us.

Dino became my favorite sidekick. He was there for impromptu football games with the neighborhood gang, weekend outings with me to the creek or just nightly walks down the street. Everybody loved him and was amazed at his behavior and adoration to Karen and me.

3

Meeting Rob

That December we went to Dad’s boss’s house for the first time. Karen and I had heard of Frank and Mona Garrison for a few years but had never met them. They lived on the other side of town, about 15 miles from us. Mom and Dad usually met them out someplace and left Karen and me at home. Hearing Mom talk on the phone with Mona, they referred to Dad and Frank as Larry and Darren from Bewitched. The difference is that they were with an accounting firm instead of an advertising firm and Dad and Frank had no devotion to where they worked and were planning to leave.

They had a beautiful but modest home and I loved Mona as soon as I met her. She had dark hair that she wore in a short bob and a voice that just hinted of a Southern accent. Frank also had dark hair that he wore in a short, almost military cut.

It was kind of a Bewitched moment in the way the drinks flowed. The first word I heard from Frank:

Rich! What can I get you? He didn’t wait for an answer but handed Dad a green-looking gimlet.

Frannie! he said to Mom. What would you like?

I heard Mom give him instructions but what she received looked quite similar to Dad’s concoction. She didn’t care and seemed happy.

Karen and I were sitting politely on the sofa while Frank poured drinks at the bar in the dining room when Mom, Mona and Frank approached us.

"Josh? Karen? This is Mr. Frank and Miss Mona. Dad and Mr. Frank work together at the office.

Hi guys. Frank shook both our hands. It’s a real pleasure. Your dad talks about you all the time.

I liked him because he talked to us on his level; he wasn’t condescending or treated us like we were cute and wanted to get rid of us after a few minutes.

I ended up staying with Dad and Frank while Karen went into the kitchen with Mom and Mona. They didn’t seem to mind that I was there listening to their adult conversations about office gossip and world events. I thought women gossiped after hearing Mom on the phone but that was nothing compared to these two guys. Maybe the difference was that I was hearing both sides of the discussion. I learned that night that Frank and Mona were going to get their Christmas tree the next day when Frank left the office after having to work yet another Sunday. He and Dad both felt overworked and underpaid and they talked again about creating their own company.

They talked briefly about Vietnam and I heard Frank comment that we need to shit or get off the pot or else we would be in for a long haul. Talk went to sports and then back to the office and I learned which secretaries were useless, which ones had big tits and which ones wore clothes too young for their age.

A few of us went to lunch last week, Dad said. I wanted to take Joan shopping afterwards. I’m no expert on women’s fashion but I knew that skirt went out of style 10 years ago.

This got a huge laugh out of Frank although it didn’t seem that funny to me. I didn’t know what was in that green liquid they kept consuming but everything got funnier to them when they drank more of it. Frank made a second pitcher and Dad yelled toward the kitchen:

Fran, you’re driving home! This also got a huge belly laugh from both of them.

I found out later from Karen that Mom didn’t think it was nearly as humorous as Dad and Frank.

Around that time the front door opened and a guy around my age came in. The kid was unmistakably their son because he looked like an even mixture of Mona and Frank, with dark hair that was worn like Davy from the Monkees and mesmerizing green eyes, what I always called cat eyes. He walked over near the bar where Dad and Frank were yakking it up and I was keeping a short but respectable distance on the sofa.

Rob, said Frank. Come meet Mr. Rich and his son, Josh.

Hi Rob. I’m Rich Cooper. Dad extended his hand and Rob accepted it. He seemed nice enough.

Where have you been all day? Frank asked him, taking one hand and mussing Rob’s hair.

Playing down by the creek with the Donaldson kids Rob replied.

Oh Lord. Any drama today?

Rob laughed. No. Just another day building canals in the creek and playing war when a big enough gang showed up.

It’s getting cold outside. Where’s your jacket?

I didn’t bring it this afternoon when it was warmer. We came in when it started cooling off.

He likes to play by the creek, I thought. We had one thing in common.

Go in the kitchen and meet Fran and Karen and then get cleaned up. We’re going to be eating soon.

Okay. Come with me, Josh. You can listen to records while I take a shower.

Sure, I said. I was getting tired of hanging around adults.

After Rob met Mom and Karen and got a grilling from Mona about his afternoon, we went upstairs to Rob’s room.

What an interrogation about playing by the creek, Rob moaned when we were in his room.

I know. What was that about? I asked. Mona wasn’t mad but questioned him about what he and the Donaldson kids did all day.

Well, Rob said. I think it had to do with what happened last week. He laughed. See, there are three Donaldson kids. There’s Jerry, who’s my age, and his sister, Nancy who is only about a year older. I like her but she’s kind of scary. She wears Army fatigues and once beat up some guy that was picking on Jerry. I just want to stay on her good side. Then there’s their younger sister Mary who is the exact opposite of Nancy. She’s this little priss ass that comes down to the creek in her little frilly dresses and her curly hair and gets upset if she gets dirty. She also tells her mother everything that goes on down there. Thanks to her the tree house we built had to be torn down.

But anyway, last week Nancy decided to play beauty parlor with Mary. She and Jerry put these little pine cones in her hair and pretended they were curlers. But they didn’t take them out, they just left them there. So it’s getting to be dinner time and everybody starts leaving. At this point it’s just the Donaldson’s and me. We start walking across a fallen tree that we use as a bridge and Nancy just flat out pushes Mary in the creek. I saw it clear as day. So little prissy Mary is in the creek in about a foot of water crying and yelling with wet red clay all over her little yellow dress and pine cones in her curly hair. ‘She fell,’ Nancy said. Jerry and I were shocked and trying not to laugh as Mary walked to the side of the creek and the three of them walked home.

So, what happened when they got home? I asked. Did they tell you?

Oh yes. Mary’s mother had to cut the pine cones out of her hair and the dress was ruined. She called here and asked my mother if I was involved or saw anything because Mary told her she was pushed in the creek.

Oh no. What did you say?

I told her she fell in the creek. That was the story all three of us told. I don’t know what happened to the two of them over the pine cones and I haven’t asked.

They didn’t bring it up today?

No, Rob said, and neither did I. Mary wasn’t there today, just Nancy and Jerry.

We talked more and found out we were only a month apart in age. Rob was going to be 13 in February and I was going to be 13 in March. We talked about school and teachers and music but had to stop when Mona yelled up the stairs that dinner was almost ready.

Oh shit. I have to shower, he said. He started taking his clothes off until he was down to his underwear and then ran to the bathroom just outside his room.

I’ll just be a second, he yelled from behind the bathroom door.

He returned in a few minutes wearing only a towel.

I think we’re doing steaks tonight, he said. Do you like steak?

Yeah, sure, I said.

They’re okay, just not my favorite.

He took off his towel and was standing there completely naked. I was surprised at his development and was trying not to gawk at him. I had never had anybody be this much at ease around me.

If my dad does them they’ll be good but Mom will burn them.

Opening the dresser drawer to retrieve a pair of underwear, he put them on and then walked to the closet and pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.

Shall we go to the dining room for the evening meal? he said in a phony British accent.

Dinner with the Garrisons was very nice. Dad and Frank did the steaks on the grill outside and then we all ate in their dining room. I liked them because they didn’t throw us kids in the kitchen. Cocktails were finished by dinner time but then the wine flowed. Mom stopped drinking but the other three continued. Frank assured Dad that Dad didn’t need to go the office the next day and we went home around 11:00; Mom drove. Rob and I said our farewells but I had no idea when or if I would see him again.

4

I Say a Little Prayer For You

The next morning Mom was up early fixing breakfast. As she would do occasionally, she turned on the radio to whatever happened to be playing and would sing along. I think she was doing it that morning to be extra cheerful because she figured Dad was a little hungover. Karen and I were at the kitchen table as Mom loudly sang along to Neil Diamond.

Oh girl, you’ll be a woman soon. Soon you’ll need a man. Oh girl…

Dad was either feeling okay or didn’t want her to know she was irritating him because he was there in his pajamas by the time the next song was playing.

Mom was belting it out again while she made toast and eggs.

Each day when I wake up. Before I put on my makeup. I say a little prayer for you!

Dad didn’t miss a beat and finished for her.

While combing my hair now. I wonder what dress to wear now. I say a little prayer for you. Dad belted this out and pretended he was holding a microphone.

Then they sang in unison. Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart. And I will love you forever, and ever, we never will part.

Then Dad grabbed Karen and twirled her around and they started dancing.

I took hold of Mom and we began dancing. Dino started barking at the chaos while eggs burned and the toast got cold. Just a typical Sunday morning at the Cooper house before church. Dad didn’t make it to church that day. I don’t think he was feeling too well.

It was unusually warm that day so after church I took Dino to a small lake about a mile from our house, carrying him part of the way because he was still a puppy and his little legs got tired. I just sat there with him by the lake and looked out on the water, thinking about last night with Rob. Why did I keep thinking about him? Why was I reliving the moment when he was naked in his room? To him he was just changing clothes in front of another guy his age and didn’t think a thing about it. But I couldn’t forget it. Was something wrong with me? Why did I keep repeating those few seconds in my head? I clutched Dino and just sat in the grass gazing at the water.

I watched the ducks come and go and rubbed Dino on the belly while he rolled in the grass, fascinated by everything. Thinking he might be thirsty, I took him to the water. He was skeptical and tried to get a drink without getting his paws wet. Then something shifted and he fell in front paws first. I was scared because he didn’t immediately come up.

Am I going to have to jump in? I thought to myself.

Then suddenly he came to the surface and started dog paddling. I felt like a proud father. Dino was swimming. Not too well but he was staying afloat, lasting about a minute and swimming to shore where I lifted him out of the water, anxious to return home and tell everybody about the swimming episode.

Dino got his first bath that night because he was filthy when we got home. Karen and I bathed him in our downstairs bathroom and then wrapped him in an old towel to dry him off. She then carried him upstairs and held him on the floor by the Christmas tree. It had cooled off quickly once the sun went down and I could see him shivering as Karen cradled him. He just sat there and let her hold him, taking pleasure in the attention. Although he was snuggled next to her, his eyes were on me. He just seemed to look at me with those soulful eyes as if to say I understand you and I’m your friend.

He slept at the foot of my bed that night as he typically did and we started another week the next day. I let him out the sliding glass door in the morning and he ran around to the upstairs to be let back in. This was the last week of school before Christmas break.

5

Blowing Smoke Rings

That Friday afternoon Mom was on the phone with Mona making plans for the weekend. From what I could understand, Frank and Mona were coming over here tomorrow and the four of them were going to try a new restaurant Mom had been talking about. I was only half paying attention but heard Mom say hold on and I’ll ask him.

She covered the receiver.

Josh, would you like Rob to come over tomorrow night while we go out to eat? Karen has plans but the two of you can stay here with the sitter.

Yeah, that will be great, I said, trying not to sound too excited.

He likes the idea, she said into the phone. Really? That’s so sweet. I think Josh liked him too. Okay. We’ll see you tomorrow. Bye bye.

She hung up the phone and walked over to turn up the volume on the TV.

Rob thought it would be fun for the two of you to get together. He asked Miss Mona when he heard them talking about doing something with us. I’m thinking about asking one of the Bennett girls to sit with you. You like them don’t you?

Oh sure, I said. They are always fun but do we have to have a sitter?

Yes unless Karen is here but she has plans with a few of her friends. You can make popcorn and watch TV or even go to the mall if they feel like driving you.

I was so eager to see Rob again, especially since it was his idea. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

Saturday afternoon came and the Garrisons arrived around 4:00. Rob and I went downstairs and I introduced him to Dino, who had been sleeping on my bed.

Cool, you have a pool table, Rob said as ran his hand over the felt. You play much?

Not really, I replied. Sometimes Karen and I play around but neither of us is too good.

You have a neat place. It’s like you two have your own apartment down here.

I think that’s for Dad’s benefit as well as ours.

Where is Karen? he asked.

Off with some of her friends. What do you want to do tonight? We have a baby sitter but she’s pretty cool. We can watch TV and we have Twister or can play around at pool.

I don’t care. We can listen to records. We didn’t get to the other night.

So we went off to my room where he checked out my record collection.

You been back to the creek? I asked him.

No, it’s been kind of cold. You will have to come over when it warms up. We stay down there all day.

We talked for over an hour when Mom called down that the sitter Amy was there and they were getting ready to leave.

Amy ended up taking us to a cool drug store for hamburgers and ice cream that night. We got back and played Twister and I asked Amy to show Rob how she could blow smoke rings with a cigarette.

Okay but he has to make the same promise you made.

What’s that? Rob asked.

I had to promise that I would never try smoking, I said. Not even try puffing one.

You don’t just sit down one day and start smoking, Amy told him. I did it a few times to be cool and now I can’t stop.

I promise, Rob told her.

So we went out back and Amy showed Rob how she could make smoke rings. He, Dino and I just sat there in the cold evening air and watched her. Neither Rob nor I ever took up smoking and Amy never knew how much her talk prevented us from ever trying it.

Having so much fun that night, we started talking about Rob spending the night. It was the first thing we asked when everybody got home.

That would be fine honey but tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Grandma and Grandpa are coming over. I wouldn’t be able to get him back home, Mom replied.

We have a house full coming over too, said Mona. We’ll have to do it another time.

The Garrisons left that night and I didn’t know when I would get to see Rob again.

Christmas came and went and was rather uneventful. Grandma and Grandpa spent the night, Dad and Grandma cooked a huge feast and mom made three pies.

The day after Christmas we all drove to Sarasota to see Dad’s parents. Dino made the journey and liked the beach but wasn’t thrilled with the waves.

Arriving home New Year’s Eve Day, I journeyed down the street to my friend Brent’s house where several of us gathered to ring in 1968.

6

All is right with the world

January was mostly unmemorable until Mom got a call from Mona towards the end of the month. Rob’s birthday was in a few weeks and she wanted to know if we could meet them for dinner. Mom was saying yes and then handed the phone to me.

Rob wants to talk to you, she said.

I took the receiver from her.

Hello? Rob?

Hey, Josh. What’s going on?

Not much. How are you?

I’m fine. Hey, my birthday is the 14th.

Your birthday is Valentine’s Day. It was more a statement than a question.

Yeah but we’re going out to eat that Saturday and I was wondering if you could go with us?

I thought mom and Mona had just made these plans but I went along and said yes.

I was also wondering if you want to spend the night? My mom said she can meet your mom someplace halfway on Sunday to give you back. He laughed awkwardly.

Mom, can I spend the night with Rob for his birthday? Miss Mona said she will meet you the next day to get me back.

Sure, that will be fine, she said.

I’d like to, I said to Rob.

Well, then great. I guess we’ll see you then.

Okay, I said.

I couldn’t think of a thing to say. After wanting to talk to him all these weeks and wanting to tell him about Christmas and the beach, I couldn’t think of one thing to talk about.

Well, bye, Josh. I’ll let you know where we decide to go.

Rob decided to go to this fancy seafood place near downtown. The four of us met the