Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

The thing that kept me on a level balance was that in 1933 I ran into a fellow named Charlie Arnold at the schoolyard of Daniel Webster School.  [ed: Dad would have been 14 years old]

In the Fall I went to the Marginal St. Center of which he was the recreational director. He was at this Center for a year when he was transferred to Central Square Center. I enjoyed the activities, games dances, dramatics.

I would rush through my homework and make sure that I was fed to get to the Central Square Center. I enjoyed this place, especially on school vacation.

I took part in a Christmas drama. The name of the drama escapes me but it had to do with "Heart" the second word. It was about the Three Wise Men on their way to find the newborn child that would be a Savior.

I was given the part of the strong king and had a beautiful dialogue to give. In the play, when I came upon a man on the ground and covered him with my cloak. The play went well. It was well received. Afterward, we went to the Center's Directors House for a party after the play.

I received a number of compliments and one woman said I did not think you had it in you to carry that part which was difficult and she was surprised that I was able to project strength that the part required. She said I projected the part to be regal and strong. Considering my reputation as a little ruffian.

While this part of my life was interesting, the other was getting worse for me. [ed: school]

It was getting hard to come up with the carfare which was a dime roundtrip. I could not participate in the extracurricular activities as it cost money. I was lucky to be able to get a uniform for the military drills we had. And in the Spring the Boston schools would hold their annual parade. 17,000+ schoolboys. Bands and march. The drills were run by the U.S. Army officers. We had a major and a captain drilling us.