IF HE WASN’T FAMILY I WOULD HAVE…

There is always sibling rivalry. When you happen to be the fourth oldest of 4 boys in a family it can get out of hand.

My brother, I’ll call him Paul because that’s what my mother named him, was my next oldest brother- there was a “buffer” sister between us, and that was probably a good thing.

I’ll try to limit this post, mainly, to one incident or it could easily become a book. I won’t mention the times he beat me up, intimidated me, blamed me for things he did and more. I’m feeling charitable.

The incident I have in mind happened in the summer of 1962 or ’63. I was about 7 and had recently received my first communion, which is a very big thing in my church. My parents invited our many relatives, and I received $24.00 in 1 and 2 dollar gifts. Remember, this was a long time ago and I felt like I had won the lottery (Which didn’t exist at the time)!

Being the fifth of six kids I had only “owned” hand-me-down bikes. I wanted a bike of my own more than anything in the world. I badgered my parents to allow me to spend my newly acquired fortune rather than invest it- the option they were strongly behind.

I scoured the Sears Catalog and sales papers from the day of my First Communion Party.

I fell in love with a red 26″ J.C. Higgins coaster brake bicycle. The negotiations were horrendous since the bike listed for $25.00 and my parents mentioned, more than once, that there would be taxes and the added expense of a lock, which I would have to promise to use every time I took it out.

The fateful night finally came. Mom and Dad took me up to Sears Oak Brook- a treat in itself- and I was destined to make my first “grown up” purchase!

We got the bike home and, even though it was late, I was able to stay up and watch/monitor my dad as he assembled my shiny new bike. I was bursting at the seems! It was only because I had an ounce of common sense that I didn’t insist on taking my new ride out that night, around 10pm.

The next morning I got up early and rode to every friend’s house in the neighborhood to show off my new bike. Most of them were still asleep, but it’s the thought that counts.

I had to go out early because Saturday was the day I went with my dad to visit my Uncle Charlie at his print shop a few miles away. Dad would help Charlie set up and design menus and programs while I kept myself busy doodling on scrap paper- always a plentiful resource in a print shop- and occasionally pestering them.

We spent four or five hours there and stopped for lunch on our way home, which was another treat for me.

The fun of the day evaporated when we got home. My mom dutifully told me my bike had been stolen.

“Out of the backyard!” I exclaimed. “It was locked!” “No,” mom replied, in her best June Cleaver calm voice. “Paul took it to the movies with Rob and some other boys.” “Everyone had bikes but Chip (One of Paul’s friends) so I let Chip take yours.” I was confused, I asked how it was stolen if it was locked. Mom said Paul told her the lock chain wouldn’t fit all of the bikes so mine didn’t get locked.

I was angry for more than one reason, Paul went with my best friend Rob when he knew I would be back soon. It was my lock, and mine was the only bike that didn’t get locked, mine was the newest bike by far. Was he just trying to make me mad?

Later mom and dad agreed that Paul should buy me a new bike with his paper route money because he used my lock to secure everyone else’s bike. Paul argued that he wasn’t to blame and my dad caught me before my hands landed on his throat. Now I realized why Paul wasn’t there when mom broke the news to me.

Once I was safely subdued by my father Paul continued his complaint that he wasn’t to blame.

Later, when we were alone in the room we shared with my oldest brothers, Paul started teasing me about how good the movie was. He could always beat me up and my lunging at him without getting a strong punch in the face seemed to bother him. The moment had passed though. At the time, with the rage I felt, I might have had a chance to beat Paul for the first time in my life. Now, I had calmed down and he was ready for me. I passed.

I’m pretty much over the anger of that day. I think the 50 or 60 years that have passed have softened my heart.

Paul and I are good friends and spend a lot of time together now, but every once in a while, I think about that bike.

Today, for instance, I looked up the bike to confirm the manufacturer’s name and I saw that one J.C. Higgins bike owner is asking $999.00 for a bike similar to mine. I think I’ll call Paul.

Thanks for reading, please comment on like, dislikes, similar experiences. If the comment section is not available, please tap on the title and it should come up at the end. Sorry for the inconvenience, I am working on the problem.