The winds they talk of changes coming.
One street down from me, there was a large split-level on the corner of the main road, larger than most of the two- and three-bedroom post-war abodes on the block.
The boy in the house was ‘one of those.’ He was younger and he’d ride up to the playground and hand out abuse to older kids, displaying what new obscenities or obnoxious nicknames he’d just learned, then ride far enough away so no one could catch him. If a bigger kid caught him, he’d always be innocent, saying someone else yelled those words. He’d never do a thing like that. Then, as soon as he was loose, he’d ride away, stop, and yell obscenities back at the older kid.
After two summers, he was pretty much ignored. He’d just sit there, run his mouth, and no one would acknowledge his presence. Something tells me many of you reading this knew a dickhead like this way back when.
All good or stupid shit comes to an end–an older girl grabbed him as he spewed abuse at younger girls he didn’t even know. She slapped him over and over til tears flew. When she was done, everyone who saw it applauded. Mr. asshole climbed on his bike, riding home uncomfortably with his tail between his legs.
With the large shopping mall sprouting across the street, the borough re-zoned one side of the main street as commercial, including the split-level.
To our shock, word got passed the owner was moving his house a mile down the road into a new development that erupted near our convenience store. No one comprehended what ‘moving a house’ entailed. Evidently, many grown ups were curious as well–when the day came, the road was shut, our street (and others) were jammed with parked cars. People brought lawn chairs and cameras.
Nothing like it since the day Nixon passed through town for 30 minutes.