Random Thoughts From Childhood Series – The Choice

June 12, 2009

Here is the first posting in our new series from my older brother Mat. In this story he recounts events just before and leading up to our separation. In future articles, please know that our childhood photo will serve as an indicator, letting you know which one of us is telling a particular story.

Childhood Memories From Mat

The Choice

Summer 1972, my brother Danny and I are frolicking in the streets of Philadelphia, PA. Maybe by mid-morning we’ll hookup with fellow neighborhood kids to play stick ball, head down to the railroad tracks to try and hop a train or wait until noon for the city to open the valve of the corner fire hydrant “a Philadelphia swimming pool” to cool us down. But first, we need to hit the corner drug store to spend the quarter we had to buy one cent candy. Thirteen pieces for him and twelve for me. We sit on the neighbor’s front steps chomping candy and feeling pretty good about our prospects for the day.

Kids are gathering by the corner hydrant waiting for the city truck to pull up and open the valve. To my surprise a truck rounds the corner and stops at the hydrant. It’s to early I think to myself, around 11am, but indeed it was there to open the valve. Let the water fun begin! After stuffing the last piece of candy in my mouth, I run down to get my fill of fun. Despite the hot day, Danny and I spent so much time in the water that we actually got cold, so both of us decided to go home. Going home was not easy to do because we never knew what man would be in the house when we got there.

A little history note: My parents where recently divorced and my Mom had four kids to care for. She had trouble getting by without “Mother’s little helper” and had a revolving door of men. One man though would put the fear of god in Danny and me. His name was John and he like to show up and say “There is going to be a royal ass kicking because I know you did something wrong today while I was not here.” The beating would begin. Danny was always first on his list and then it would be my turn. I never watched while John beat my brother, but really did not have to, as my ears could tell me what I could not see. Thankfully, he left my little sister and littler brother alone.

As we approached the house, we go into stealth mode until we are sure John was not there. Today is our lucky day, no John! We run into the house and grab dry clothes and hit the kitchen hoping there is some food to eat. No food, but plenty of butter milk in the fridge. Butter milk was a perk Mom received from one of her many men. Never really knowing his name, I dubbed him the milk man. To this day the thought of butter milk turns my stomach. Without food, I sat down and watched tv until dinner time. Meatloaf and lima beans and a cold glass of butter milk for dinner. Yum! Mom seemed to be agitated during dinner and disappeared upstairs. After sometime, I headed upstairs to check on her. As I approached the top of the stairs, she appeared at the top very disoriented and off balance. I reached out my hand to help her, but this only infuriated her. She swatted at my out reached hand and lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs slamming into the console tv. Everything after this was just a blur. Not really sure how police and paramedics where contacted, but it really did not matter.

A nice man and woman showed up and took Danny and I and placed us in a yellow VW bug. They where going to show us some places and we where to tell them what we liked. The first place shown was a church with lots of kids (later realized it was a church run orphanage) kind of nice, but no real fuzzy. The second place was called Ivy House. Lots of kids our age running and playing and it just seemed to be really nice. We where asked what place we liked the best and both Danny and me said Ivy House. Little did I know at the time, that Danny 8 years of age and me 6 years of age just picked our new home.