Reader's Praise

“...a delight to the heart...
I (was) laughing out loud.”
– Don H.

“...a charming memoir...
a masterful job!”
– Judy L.

“I was mesmerized.”
– Tom S.

“Well crafted and entertaining.”
– David E.

“Inspiring!”
– Mikala W.

Introduction: Memories . . . and Mischief  and The 1950s.

PART ONE: Life in the Projects

1.     The Projects: This chapter describes our lives and our “world.” We lived for excitement, every single day. Even our skate keys allowed daring adventures then, and unlock special memories today.

2.     The Alderwood Court Gang: An introduction to all of the “mischief makers” who lived on our Court (street) in the projects—seven boys and one girl.

3.     Mystery in the Woods: The gang unexpectedly encounters a “mystery” object in our woods. We escape with our lives—just barely!

4.     The Last Straw: My bicycle—my number one possession—is stolen! By whom? I’m crushed, but our sacrifice creates a reward, and a surprising discovery of the thief.

5.     A Magical Afternoon: No girl—ugh!—could ever play baseball with us boys, ‘cause they couldn’t and ‘cause we wouldn’t let ‘em. But desperation in an important game changes all of that. Jenny enters our lives, and becomes special to me in ways that I do not fully understand at the time. Her presence and our acceptance of her, leads to one of life’s truly great lessons for all of us.

6.     The Drive-in Movie: We see the movies in our own car! And we experience an unexpected adventure in the car alongside of us.

7.     Cub Scouts: My uniform is provided under the “Needy Plan.” I learn many arts and crafts, and how to make the “magical” Whirly-gig.

PART TWO: Mischief at School

8.     School Days: This chapter describes the “arena” for grammar school escapades, classroom behavior, oaken desks with ink wells … and supremely patient teachers.

9.     “Big Band” Brothers: “Swing is king!”—even if we are not!

10.     “Shots” Day: Seattle Public Health decides that inoculations come to school . . . oh my!

11.     Graduation: The saga of an infamous “get-even.”

PART THREE: We’re Entertained

12.     Nightly Radio: Imagination is great, but “The Inner Sanctum” disturbs my sleep.

13.     Television Comes To Our Home: The magical tube finally arrives. Early (black-and-white) television, and what a wonder it was to us.

14.     After School Television: “Westerns” compete with baseball. The “Man of Steel” appears. Then the Cisco Kid rides into our hearts.

15.     Saturday Afternoons at the Movies: Serials, heroes, candy, popcorn, and mayhem—all in the darkened confines of our local movie theater. And some of it was on the screen!

PART FOUR: Special Heroes

16.     Tarzan: The mythical ape-man and his “family”—Umgowa buwana! A man of heroic skills, and he lived in the “jungle.” What more could we ask?

17.     Flash Gordon: Our greatest spaceman hero. His mission is to save planet Earth!!! And, he does, in thirteen glorious episodes, all summarized in this chapter.

18.     “Hi-Yo Silver Away”: The fabled Masked Man and his most trusted companion capture our worship. The most famous line, “Who was that Masked Man . . . ?” And every kid from the 1950s remembers the Lone Ranger’s song . . . do (William) Tell.

19.     Roy Rogers and Dale Evans: Our most beloved Western heroes of them all—they were real—Roy, Dale, and their side-kicks. And Dale, a woman, was also a capable hero—what a concept! Let us also not forget their wonderful pets, Trigger and Bullet.

20.     Another Magical Afternoon: Some Heroes Are Real: I go to my first “pro” baseball game. I literally catch a dream, and then meet a real life hero.

PART FIVE: Coming of Age

21.     Slippin’ and Slidin’: The importance of “good cardboard” comes into play on our sliding hill.

22.     The Voyage of the “Flying Cloud”: We all enjoy the maiden flight of our carefully crafted spaceship, built with team effort and enthusiasm.

23.     Halloween 1952: The Caper: You mean “trick or treat” at the haunted house? You mean go there at night . . . on Halloween . . . and ring the doorbell???

24.     Halloween 1952: The Adventure: Yes! . . . and again we escape with our lives. But we learn far more important lessons that last a lifetime.

PART SIX: Enjoying Pre-Adolescence

25.     Hit the Silk: Passions run freely for airplanes and . . . did you say parachuting? . . . with no safety net?

26.     Sticks and Stones: Boys versus girls, and their emotions—yes, there is a difference! The great neighborhood rock fight.

27.     Free to Play Another Day: The “ultimate” adventure—also involves throwing rocks! This time the danger is “up close and personal,” and the results are harrowing.

28.     The Clamorama: The Cub Scout’s annual “big show,” and a “man’s” discussion.

29.     The Big Event: A “unique take” on the cowboys, Indians, and settlers, and “How the West Was Won.”

30.     Changes Afoot: Our friendships are shattered. Our family moves out of the projects. Reality forces its way into our lives.

31.     Slo-Mo-Shun: Seattle’s hopes and dreams for glory are dashed in an instant in a horrible hydroplane crash. We are there, and it pushes us closer to adolescence.

PART SEVEN: Seattle . . . Revisited

32.     Seattle—Fifty Years Later: My brother and I return to the “scene,” 54 years later, to revisit our neighborhoods and our dreams. We discover that the little boys we once were, still live—they are in our hearts every day.

CLOSING THOUGHT

“‘Makers of Mischief’ is entertaining and whimsical. Plus, it promotes the enjoyment of dreams, and memories. But Chief Seattle said it best, ‘Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.’ For me, the footprints disappear quickly, but the memories remain forever.”

-Jack Osborne