WHEN I WAS ENTERING MY TWELFTH YEAR OF EXISTANCE, I WANTED TO ATTEND A CHURCH 4 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THE CONGREGATION WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE SERVICES I HAD ALWAYS ATTENDED AT A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT PROVE TO BE ENTERTAINING. I DIDN'T THINK MY MOTHER WOULD PERMIT IT BECAUSE THE SERVICE WAS IN THE EVENING, BUT SHE GAVE HER PERMISSION IF I WENT WITH A BEST FRIEND, MARION.

      WE COULD HARDLY BELIEVE OUR GOOD LUCK, AND STARTED OUT IN A HURRY BEFORE SHE WAS ALLOWED TO CHANGE HER MIND.

      AFTER STAYING AT THE CHURCH THROUGH SEVERAL HYMNS, WE BECAME RESTLESS AND DECIDED ( MUST HAVE BEEN MARION DECIDING THIS, I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT ) WE WOULD GO FOR A WALK. WE HEADED FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHERE ALL THE STORES WERE. THIS WAS OF COURSE BEFORE SHOPPING MALLS WERE BUILT AT THE EDGE OF TOWN.

      IN 10 MINUTES OR SO WE WERE AT LAUERMANS STORE, A HUGE 3 STORY BUILDING, COVERING AN ENTIRE BLOCK. THE BASEMENT CONTAINED A GROCERY STORE AND LOTS OF TOOLS. FIRST FLOOR HAD JEWELRY AND SOME CLOTHES. THE SECOND FLOOR HELD MORE CLOTHES AND THE TOP FLOOR, FURNITURE.

      THE 2 SIDES THAT FACED THE STREETS HAD GLASSED IN SHOW WINDOWS IN WHICH WERE DISPLAYS OF CLOTHES, FURNITURE OR WHATEVER THEY CHOSE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC.

      MARION AND I HAD JUST VIEWED SOME OF THE WINDOW DISPLAYS AND WERE ABOUT READY TO HEAD FOR HOME.

      NOW WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT MY MOTHER WOULD ALSO DECIDE TO GO DOWNTOWN? WHEN I SAW HER COMING IN OUR DIRECTION IT WAS TOO LATE TO FIND A PLACE TO HIDE, AND IF SHE HAD BEEN A SWEARING MOTHER I'M SURE THE AIR WOULD HAVE BEEN BLUE. WHEN SHE SPOTTED ME I KNEW I WAS IN HUGE TROUBLE, AND SURE ENOUGH, I WAS. SHE TOLD ME IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT I WAS TO GO DIRECTLY AND SWIFTLY BACK HOME.

      WHEN I GOT THERE, MY DAD WAS IN A ROCKING CHAIR ON THE FRONT PORCH, AND THE BEST I COULD DO WAS CRAWL ONTO HIS LAP AND CRY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME MY MOTHER GOT HOME, BUT I'M SURE I WAS SAFELY IN BED WHEN SHE FINALLY GOT THERE.

      IT WAS A LONG TIME BEFORE I ASKED TO GO ANYPLACE ELSE, AND I THINK A LONGER TIME BEFORE MY MOTHER HAD ANYTHING TO SAY TO ME.