She lived down by the river. Her folks had
a big wooden fence around the property and a lake. Her dad was
some kind of doctor and they had money. My dad worked at a grocery
store. Sometimes, in the summer, I’d wander down the riverbank
and sneak up to that big fence. Looking through a knothole,
I’d sometimes see Shirley swimming or playing around the
lake. As much as I loved the sight, I never looked too long.
I was afraid I was going to get caught and sent to jail or something.
Kids do some crazy things! I’m not a kid anymore. I’m
Corporal Charles Brown, US Army Airborne, and a well-trained
fighting machine. I hadn’t even thought about that fence
in years. Then, right before I shipped out, I took a walk and
it all came back in a rush. What a rush!
Story continues in the galleries below...
