Saturday, June 15, 2019

From Where I Used to Be


When I was younger, about thirteen, it was a
glorious thing to be sitting high in a neighbor-
hood tree smoking cigarettes with my friend,
Ronnie. It was cool being a Cardinal fan back

then cheering on Stan the Man when he hit a
home run in the ninth inning to win the game.
I could imagine being Huckleberry Finn floating
down the Mississippi with old black Jim. Not a

care in the world. Forget about crappy school.
The hell with mom and dad’s fighting all the
time. I was where I wanted to be in a place of
my own pretending for a time that nothing in

the world could bother me. A tall tree, a fresh
pack of Lucky Strikes, and a good friend out
on a limb, safe and secure above it all was 
okay by me. Looks like the Cardinals may win

the pennant this year. I’m going to catch the
Manchester 56 down to Busch Stadium this
Sunday, Ronnie. You want to come along? A
transfer to the Grand Bus is only a nickle more.

Hell, cash in a few soda bottles and we’ll have it
made. There’s usually a bunch of them along the
railroad tracks. Let’s go find some. Huckleberry
Finn and Jim, they got nothin’ on you and me.

Chris Hanch 6-15-19

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