Kew Gardens’ Kids
In my childhood I grew up with three best friends, Claudine, Roger and Glen. We were together every single day while our moms sat on an old red brick and concrete wall, called ” the moyishen” German for little wall. Our moms sat next to each other, each and every day, laughing, talking and dreaming together. There was comfort in our everyday ritual: Frankie and the Good Humor ice cream truck, our daily trek to Gussie’s old, dark candy store. Our only decision back then was whether to order a chocolate egg cream, vanilla water, or an ice cream soda; an ice cream sandwich, an eclair, or ice pops. We skateboarded down the hill, we played handball, we jumped rope, and we went rollerskating together. One particular afternoon, while we was on roller skates, I fell down hard on the pavement seriously cutting up both knees, bleeding heavily. I remember the pain of the antiseptic and rough tissues that Glen’s mother, Lotti, carried with her. She was always the most prepared of the moms. I remember the stiffness of both knees once large bandages were attached, layers and layers of white bandages. I still have those scars on my knees but I don’t mind them. They remind me of a happy childhood, an innocent childhood, where we always had someone to play with and our moms were just a hop, skip and jump away.
Hands down, Gussie made the best chocolate egg creams. Sitting on her stools at her counter anxiously waiting for her to finish making those chocolate delights was a treat. Frankie, the Good Humor man, was like everyone’s uncle.
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Are you the Larry that was in my grade?
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Have no idea. When did you graduate from PS 99. Actually, I’m not sure who you are. What your name is. Just came across the Gussie’s post and had to respond.
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LOL, I think it was another Larry. All of a sudden the article I wrote about old KG from a long time ago was published again (I’m thrilled, don’t get me wrong) so I thought you might have done it. I graduated…gee it’s been too many years to figure that out. I graduated HS in 74, that’s about all I can remember! glad to see KG is alive and thriving.
Warm wishes, Laurie https://hibernationnow.wordpress.com
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