Railroad Treasures and Childhood Days by the River

Distant shrill piercing whistle growing louder. Monstrous rumbling black locomotive makes me shake. Engineer in a red neckerchief waves down as I wave up. Train’s “all gone” yet whistles still, but sadly now.

Walking along the railroad tracks beside the warm foundry wall, Grampa holds my hand all the way to kindergarten At McKinley School way up on a grassless dusty hill. He comes back again to walk me home.

We gather coal fallen from overloaded railroad cars, And put it in a flour sack with pretty flowers on it That Grandpa keeps folded in his pocket. We take the coal home to Mommy for her cook stove.

Pretty wild roses between the long straight railroad tracks With bright pink and yellow centers on sparse stems Growing against the crunchy, cold, gray gravel Between sweet-smelling creosoted railroad ties.

On lucky days, we find little shiny six-pointed iron stars In the looming wet piles of cooling foundry sand. Soon safe with all my treasures in my oatmeal box That Grampa says has a picture of his grandpa on it.

Twirling in the warm dewy grass by the picket fence. My fifth birthday party in my red Superman sweat shirt Giggling, dizzy, drunken with happiness Until we all fall down.

First grade learning, learning, learning, learning! First prize for me in the alphabet-printing contest. The teacher told us her mom was the judge. Mommy is happy because she taught me how to write.

Learning the whole Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Of the United States of America And a prayer to God. We get one Victory Stamp for one dime.

The teacher locks the door on Arnold Because he is late to school, again. “Be quiet when he knocks on the door,” she whispers, But he starts to cry, so we let him in.

We all live together in a big white house. Bathroom way up the steps on the back porch. Daddy teaches me to pee behind the garage. Mommy says that’s wrong, so I try to forget about it, (but I can’t.)

Little red, white, and blue flags on gold-tipped sticks. Sparklers sizzling! Daddy in a new straw boater and clean white undershirt Carries me and Bobby around to see the neighbors.

We tiptoe into the Mommy’s bedroom to see our new sister. Sweet smelling, swaddled, Christmas Baby Carol. Sleeping like a tiny doll in an oval laundry basket, But Grandpa is upset because Mommy’s sick.

After school, Iris is playing Tea Party on the porch, again. Bobby and I take turns on the tricycle Peddling endless circles around the big iron cook stove. Grandpa feeds Baby Carol apple he scrapes with a teaspoon.

Mommy is ironing an apron. Newspapers cover the just-scrubbed linoleum. Mommy goes away and comes home with Baby Delores. And Daddy comes home with ice cream.

New high-top shoes from a little store Where they sell “Guess What’s?” for a penny. Two peanut butter taffies wrapped in wax paper and a PRIZE. Tiny black and white Scotties that can kiss.

A rainy day inside the big tavern across from Riverside Park. Noisy talking, everyone laughing, strong smells. Daddy lets me sit on my own stool, And gives me salty, greasy peanuts from his hand.

Iris shows me a chicken head on a tree stump. Then I throw up. Mommy says, “Well, don’t look at it, then.” But I look again, and I throw up again.

Iris helps me to make May baskets out of purple paper And fill them with sweet Lilies of the Valley That grow by the outdoor faucet. We hang them on the neighbor’s doorknob, then run fast.

A sparkling round rhinestone pin in a trash barrel Down our narrow dirt alley. A treasure to squeeze in my hand forever. But I lost it, and can’t find it.

Every day Bobby and I play in the front yard. We look and look and look at the big river at the end of our road. But Mommy says we must never, never, never go there. But maybe we will, tomorrow.