Cub Scout Uniform and First Communion Dress

That fireplace became a backdrop for several photographs. Here I am in my Cub Scout uniform, and Georgann is wearing her first communion dress.

Why do I always remember the unpleasant or embarrassing moments of my youth? Dad bought me the uniform, and we were to be sworn in at the Cafetorium at Laural Elementary School. Naturally, I wore my new uniform that night, only to be told by a friend backstage, just before we were to walk out and take the pledge, that I was NOT supposed to wear the uniform until AFTER the ceremony--I wasn't entitled to wear it until then. So, there I stood, feeling guilty during the whole pledge that everyone else there knew that I was wearing the uniform when I should not have been.

I'd been in Indian Guides before. This was the next logical step. We'd have our meetings in the neighborhood. Invariably, I would not use their restroom before I left for home. Halfway down their block, I would climb over a fence to the house next door to ours and reach our place quicker. One time, I just had to go and started to pee on the fence of the house directly behind ours. Out of nowhere, a voice reprimanded me, "Don't do that here!" I could not see where the man was standing, so I turned to climb over the fence and the voice again called out, "Don't do that!" I turned to head home the long way around, at least three more blocks of walking while having to go really, really bad.

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