I remember exactly when I first read ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Christmas of 1958.
Dear Ole Dad’s brother, Uncle Waldo and his wife, Aunt Marvel, came to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico for Christmas that year. I think my grandmother, Gram, might have been there at that time also. Anyway…
One night a group of us kids went to the movies on base. It cost a quarter in those days. When we got in, we all sat on the front row. I don’t know why, but soon we were all tossing popcorn up on to the stage. It must not have cost as much as it does today, or we wouldn’t have been throwing it so freely. Soon the theater manager came down and told us to stop, and we did – for a while. Then we were back tossing popcorn. I suppose for a 12-year old, it was great fun.
The next time the manager came down he wasn’t in any mood for any excuses; we all got tossed out of the movie. With no where else to go, I went home. Since the ‘timing’ was off, Dear Ole Dad asked me why I was home so early. One thing you never, ever did was lie to Dear Ole Dad. So I told him I had been thrown out of the theater for throwing popcorn.
He was pissed. He made me put on a coat and tie, then he took me back to the theater. I had to go in, find the manager, then apologize for my inappropriate behavior. And I knew all along that would be only the half of it, at best. The beating wouldn’t start until we returned home…
A couple-3 nights later we were all going out to dinner. Dad was still pissed at me, and decided I did not deserve to go to dinner with the family. So, off they all went: Mom, Gram, my brother Billy, sister Debbie, Uncle Waldo and Aunt Marvel and Dear Ole Dad. And I stayed at home…
Just before leaving Mom pointed out a Christmas present under the tree. She told me she thought it was a book, and I could read it – if I was very careful to unwrap it, then wrap it as if it had not been disturbed. No worries – I think I was better at that than throwing popcorn…
The book was actually for my brother Bill, and it was “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” I did read it that night – well, most of it I suppose! And I had it back in the packaging before they all returned home later that evening.
I have that book today. The pages are a bit yellow, and there’s a unique smell to it – but it holds a great memory for me. It was a source of great comfort for me that evening… and ever since. I just may read a few pages of it here this evening before I head off to bed…