{"id":18935,"date":"2021-10-23T16:07:20","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T20:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=18935"},"modified":"2021-10-23T16:09:56","modified_gmt":"2021-10-23T20:09:56","slug":"fwd-episode-250-this-story-made-me-cryand-i-wrote-the-damn-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=18935","title":{"rendered":"Fwd: EPISODE 250 THIS STORY MADE ME CRY\u2026AND I WROTE THE DAMN THING"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<div><br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote type=\"cite\" class=\"\">\n<div class=\"\">Begin forwarded message:<\/div>\n<p><br class=\"Apple-interchange-newline\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">From: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\">ALAN SKEOCH &lt;<a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch@rogers.com\" class=\"\"><a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch@rogers.com\" >alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>&gt;<br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Subject: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Re: EPISODE 250 THIS STORY MADE ME CRY\u2026AND I WROTE THE DAMN THING<\/b><br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Date: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\">February 12, 2021 at 5:55:36 PM EST<br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">To: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\">Edward Moskal &lt;<a href=\"mailto:edmoskal@gmail.com\" class=\"\"><a href=\"mailto:edmoskal@gmail.com\" >edmoskal@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>&gt;<br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<p><br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"\"><meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" class=\"\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;\" class=\"\">I was probably gone by then\u2026retired in 1999\u2026although the unusual Micah seems to ring a &nbsp;bell.<\/p>\n<div class=\"\">Thanks for asking.<br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"\"><br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote type=\"cite\" class=\"\">\n<div class=\"\">On Feb 12, 2021, at 5:32 PM, Edward Moskal &lt;<a href=\"mailto:edmoskal@gmail.com\" class=\"\"><a href=\"mailto:edmoskal@gmail.com\" >edmoskal@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>&gt; wrote:<\/div>\n<p><br class=\"Apple-interchange-newline\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"\">\n<div dir=\"auto\" class=\"\">The mention of Parkdale CI reminds me that a grandson of mine was a student there. Do you by any chance remember a Micah Fysh?&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"\"><br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"gmail_attr\">On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 3:08 PM ALAN SKEOCH &lt;<a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch@rogers.com\" class=\"\"><a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch@rogers.com\" >alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>&gt; wrote:<br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"gmail_quote\" style=\"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex\">\n<div style=\"word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">EPISODE 250 &nbsp; &nbsp; THIS STORY MADE ME CRY\u2026AND I WROTE THE DAMN THING<\/p>\n<div class=\"\"><br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"\">alan skeoch<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">Feb 2021<\/div>\n<div class=\"\"><br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"\">NOTE: &nbsp;Brian Mallindine, ex Parkdale student found my stories and put a bunch<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">together.&nbsp; I do not want to sound vain but, truth be told, Parkdale C. I. was home<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">to me and so many of my fellow teachers. It is not vanity to write about home.&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">Sit down, the story is long&#8230;<\/div>\n<div class=\"\"><br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-bottom:72px\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;padding:3em 0px;margin-bottom:0px\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:1000px;padding-left:3em;padding-right:3em\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;clear:none;font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:800;line-height:1.25;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:rgb(255,255,255);opacity:1\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/\" rel=\"home noopener\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration:none;opacity:1\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">ALAN SKEOCH<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:1rem;opacity:0.8\" class=\"\">Alan&#8217;s Oeuvre<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(238,238,238);border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(238,238,238);font-size:0.875rem;width:1757px;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:1000px;padding:0.75em 2em\" class=\"\"><u class=\"\"><\/u><\/p>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<ul id=\"m_-6285609556320828641top-menu\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:none;background-color:transparent;border:0px\" class=\"\">\n<li id=\"m_-6285609556320828641menu-item-18\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;border:0px;display:inline-block\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;display:block;padding:1em 1.25em\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li id=\"m_-6285609556320828641menu-item-19\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;border:0px;display:inline-block\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?page_id=8\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;display:block;padding:1em 1.25em\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><u class=\"\"><\/u><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)\" class=\"\">\n<div id=\"m_-6285609556320828641content\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;padding:5.5em 0px 0px\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:1000px;padding-left:3em;padding-right:3em\" class=\"\">\n<div id=\"m_-6285609556320828641primary\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;float:left;width:524.3125px\" class=\"\"><u class=\"\"><\/u><\/p>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(118,118,118);font-size:0.6875rem;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:0.1818em;padding-bottom:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;height:1px;overflow:hidden;width:1px;word-wrap:normal!important\" class=\"\">POSTED ON<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=1051\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(118,118,118);text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">MAY 18, 2018<span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;display:inline\" class=\"\">&nbsp;BY&nbsp;<span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?author=1\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(118,118,118);text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">TERRAVIVA<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<h1 style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.625rem;margin:0px 0px 0.25em;clear:both;line-height:1.4;padding:0px;font-weight:300\" class=\"\">Fwd: PARKDALE C.I. FLASHBACK: HE\u2019S DEAD, SIR! MURDERED! SHOT TO DEATH TODAY! (FROM ALAN SKEOCH)<\/h1>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:1.125rem;font-style:italic;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem\" class=\"\">HERE are a few flashback memories\u2026most centred &nbsp;on Parkdale C.&nbsp; I. \u2026 &nbsp; Wrote tis a couple of years ago for no particular reason. &nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\">alan<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cHe\u2019s dead, sir!&nbsp; Shot!&nbsp; Murdered!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">by &nbsp;Alan Skeoch, &nbsp;Jan. 29,2014<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSir! Sir!&nbsp; Someone just shot the President!&nbsp; Someone shot Kennedy in Texas\u2026might be dead!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">A student burst into my portable classroom at Parkdale Collegiate with this horrific news.&nbsp; First year I taught.&nbsp; It may have been Conrad Blonski.&nbsp; That assassination was etched into long term storage of people across the world.&nbsp; Now, more than half a century later I can remember the moment so clearly.&nbsp; November 22, 1963. A warm, sunny, late fall afternoon. Beautiful day.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span id=\"m_-6285609556320828641more-1051\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/span><br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">My portable was about as far from the school as possible positioned on what had been a tennis court.&nbsp; Late fall and the smell of dry leaves perfumed the air. &nbsp; A huge graceful elm tree was tight to the portable door. Kids milling about\u2026happy kids.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Kennedy was shot at 12.30 p.m.&nbsp; Word reached Parkdale about an hour &nbsp;later.&nbsp; Kids coming in from lunch\u2026some ash faced\u2026other as garrulous a parrots.&nbsp; They wanted me to know and expected me to do something I think.&nbsp; I was struck dumb.&nbsp; Should school continue?&nbsp; Was the assassination a prelude to something bigger\u2026like nuclear war? My first thought.&nbsp; I just gathered the kids together and waited for guidance.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Nothing happened.&nbsp; Everyone in the school was still and mute.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">So began my career at Parkdale.&nbsp; I did not know then that Parkdale would be my only school for 31 years of my life.&nbsp; John Ricker, our prof at the Faculty of Education knew more than me. \u201cAlan, if you take that job at Parkdale you will never leave. It is a great place to be\u2026I miss it.\u201d &nbsp; He was right.&nbsp; Parkdale was his achool.&nbsp; He had been &nbsp;student there and, after returning from the air force in 1945 he became a teacher at his old school.&nbsp; Flattered me by suggesting I take the job.&nbsp; In 1963 there were more jobs than there were teachers.&nbsp; We were the lucky generation.&nbsp; Post war kids.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I had a serious handicap, however, having been a Humberside C.I. graduate.&nbsp; In other words a bit of &nbsp;snob.&nbsp; Humberside also offered me a job.&nbsp; My old high school.&nbsp; But I wanted to strike out on my own.&nbsp; Marjorie and I had just got married in August 1963 and everything we did was brand new and exciting.&nbsp; Parkdale had a real earthy feeling. A sense of need akin to those American kids my age who were joining the Peace Corps by the thousands.&nbsp; Sounds silly, I know.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Don\u2019t get me wrong.&nbsp; I did not see myself as some kind of evangelist.&nbsp; Parkdale just had a seamy side as its waves of new immigrant were being absorbed into an old Canadian milieu.&nbsp; The demarcation line where new and old Canadians rubbed shoulders set off sparks at times\u2026sometimes fireworks.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I knew the good and the bad of that dynamic from my Humberside C.I. days.&nbsp; We played floor hockey against the Parkdale boys\u2026Mike Kondracki for instance. Cheerleaders encouraged confrontation.&nbsp; School colours drew the line. Garnet, Grey and White against Yellow, Black and Gold. &nbsp;\u201cFight! Fight!&nbsp; Fight!\u201d was the end of every cheer. The Parkdale gym has an elevated running track where the audience can cheer or jeer.&nbsp; In one of &nbsp;those floor hockey games I &nbsp;got in a bit of scuffle.&nbsp; Push came to shove. Like two bull moose locking horns\u2026rolling round on the floor to the glee or boredom of the crowd. No blows ever landed really but it may have looked like mayhem.&nbsp; I have never been a fighter really so this was unusual.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cOK, you two\u2026yes you!&nbsp; Get out of here.&nbsp; Down to the locker room now.&nbsp; Your both out of the game.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I looked at Mike.&nbsp; He looked at me.&nbsp; And out we went to the locker room. Alone.&nbsp; Together. That scared me for I imagined getting the tar beaten out of me on some locker room floor with no referee to break us up.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Instead, Mike looked at me and said: \u201cDo you think the girls saw us? Hope so!\u201d &nbsp; And we laughed.&nbsp; I now reslize that those girls did not give a sweet goddamn about us.&nbsp; Saw us as immature males. But that laughter we shared in the Parkdale locker room won me over even then.&nbsp; Mike had his head screwed on correctly. I even had a Parkdale guy arrange our honeymoon hotel when Marjorie and I got married..&nbsp; So Parkdale seemed destined to be my home for my life as teacher.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">A whole bunch of young teachers came to PCI in 1963\u2026 the wave preceding the baby boom. Schools were starting to burst at the seams.&nbsp; Many senior teachers were retiring at the same time.&nbsp; Which meant a lot of us were at new the game and would therefore make mistakes.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Take our first night dance as an illustration.&nbsp; Now dances always have been tense as the fires of youth burned brighter with post pubescent glee. &nbsp; There were a bunch of tough kids in PCI that night.&nbsp; Smoking in the hall.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHey, you guys.&nbsp; No smoking in the School . Get outside. Are you even<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">students here?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cFuck off!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cGet out now!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWe\u2019ll get out but bet you haven\u2019t got the guts to come outside the school\u2026.smart ass teacher.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Stupidly I took up their challenge and found myself alone in the dark with three or four of these guys circling me.&nbsp; The &nbsp;cop we hired was inside the school.&nbsp; Bravado did not cut it.&nbsp; I had no idea who these guys were and they knee that.&nbsp; The age gap was not very great.&nbsp; They were abut 19 or so and I was 23.&nbsp; Peers in a way.&nbsp; What was I to do?<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Certainly not take a swing at anyone.&nbsp; Let them hit me and take a dive to the ground \u2026 maybe roll over like our dog did when confronted by a bigger force.&nbsp; Total humiliation.&nbsp; Maybe better to get back in the school. Slowly.&nbsp; But they were about to cut off my retreat when a wonderful thing happened.&nbsp; A voice from the dark.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHaving any trouble, Mr. Skeoch?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">There was Ted Spencer emerging from the dark along with a couple more Parkdale boys.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cYou guys looking for trouble?&nbsp; You came to the right place!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And the other boys just melted into the gloom.&nbsp; Ted must have been watching me.&nbsp; He knew I had made a mistake when I walked out the door. Ted and the others were on our senior football team.&nbsp; I was coaching the bantams but had Ted in my Grade 12 course.&nbsp; Parkdale was like that.&nbsp; Team effort. &nbsp; Family.&nbsp; That was one reason I never left Parkdale.&nbsp; No interest in promotions because the comfort level was so good.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Alison Petrie had a similar experience at that dance.&nbsp; Both Alison and my wife Marjorie were supervising the dance floor when some boy asked Alison a question while another boy came up behind her and slowly unzipped her dress.&nbsp; Alison was short and very young at the game.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Scared of course.&nbsp; Same guys that lured me out onto Jameson Avenue. After those experiences we never let strangers into our school dances.&nbsp; I sort of blamed the older senior teachers for allowing us to be dance supervisors.&nbsp; We hadn\u2019t yet gained enough respect.&nbsp; Except from Ted Spencer and his buddies.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">My brother, Eric Skeoch, joins us:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Sounds like nepotism when I say that Eric was also hired as a Parkdale teacher.&nbsp; Not so.&nbsp; The teaching supply in the early 1960\u2019s did not exceed the teacher demand.&nbsp; Graduates of the various Faculties of Education could not keep up with the demand.&nbsp; Summer cram courses were put in place and a great many young university students jumped at the chance to get salaried fast.&nbsp; Baby boomers were exploding school populations.&nbsp; Portable classrooms were popping up like mushrooms around high schools.&nbsp; Parkdale which was designed for around 500 to 600 students\u2026even less in the pre war years\u2026suddenly had 1400 students.&nbsp; The same was true all across the country.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Eric could have taken a job at Loon Lake or Malcolm\u2019s Elbow or pretty well any school.&nbsp; He chose Parkdale and I was glad he did.&nbsp; We had always been close friends more than competitors.&nbsp; Played football together through high school and university.&nbsp; Drove our mother mad at times with things we thought were funny.&nbsp; Like the time Russ Vanstone backed his car over Eric\u2019s football helmet when we played for Humberside.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHow was the football game, Alan?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cEric got a bit hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And I rolled the remains of the helmet cross the living room floor.&nbsp; Seemed like a good joke at the time.&nbsp; Turned out not to be. Mom screamed.&nbsp; Eric hustled up the stairs fast.&nbsp; Mom was used to this kind of thing thankfullly.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">The point I am trying to make is that our sibling rivalry was never very active, especially once I discovered he could beat me up.&nbsp; And I am the eldest so that should not happen.&nbsp; The discovery was itself amusing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;Cake with real icing was a delicacy at our house.&nbsp; Something to be savoured.&nbsp; Eric always ate the bottom first and held the icing to the last.&nbsp; Like a crow I waited and watched then grabbed the icing and ran to the door which led down the back stairs.&nbsp; These stairs were jerry built and only two feet wide.&nbsp; He could not get me.&nbsp; I had planned the escape.&nbsp; Had done it before for that matter.&nbsp; Not this time.&nbsp; The final time.&nbsp; Eric had set a trap.&nbsp; He had locked the stairway door BEFORE he got to his piece of cake.&nbsp; I ran stuffing the icing in my mouth. But the door did not open.&nbsp; And he was on me like a blow fly on cow pie. \u201cWhump! Whump!\u201d I got several messages that day.&nbsp; Also noticed that mom and dad were in on the trap.&nbsp; Eric was quite pleased with himself. But he did not get the icing.&nbsp; I carry that guilt. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Most of the time we were good friends.&nbsp; Still are.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">So we taught together at Parkdale for a few years. And we had a great time doing so.&nbsp; Jointly coached football along with the Killer, Sam Markou. (Called the killer because all the females love him so\u2026lady killer in other words.&nbsp; A term of affection.)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">We had adjoining rooms.&nbsp; I had 218. He had 219.&nbsp; On one occasion we decided to do a little promotion game.&nbsp; I forget exactly how it worked\u2026either he got the Gr. 9 kid or I did but here is the gist of it.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDavid, you are too smart for this class.&nbsp; Eric and I think you should be in Grade 13.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Now this boy was gullible. Nice kid.&nbsp; Good natured. With a very high regard for teachers.&nbsp; We figured he could take it.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSo next period you will be taking history with my brother Eric in Room 219.&nbsp; You will be in Grade 13.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And so it went for a couple of periods.&nbsp; It did not last long.&nbsp; The Grade 13 kids began to object because David actually did his homework and could answer most questions.&nbsp; He was better than the Gr. 13 kids. They wanted him out and back in my class.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSorry about that David.&nbsp; But glad you\u2019re back with us.\u201d &nbsp;Everybody enjoyed this trick\u2026even David.&nbsp; Nobody was hurt except maybe the egos of the Grade 13 kids.&nbsp; A lot of people were in on the trick\u2026teachers and students alike.&nbsp; That was the nature of Parkdale. Family. Piece of cake with lots of icing.<br style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Our warnings at the Faculty of Education were different. The implication was that adolescent fantasy could cost a teacher his (or I suppose her) job.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">FEAR IN THE CLASSROOM<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">(or GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">(Consider these three questions when reading the three cases, all true, below. &nbsp;1) Suppose Estella hugged me.&nbsp; What then?<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2) Suppose Mrs. P\u2014- screamed rspe. What then?<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3) Suppose Larry said I cuffed him.&nbsp; What then?)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNever get alone in your room with a female student.&nbsp; That can lead to big trouble.&nbsp; It goes without saying that touching students, male or female, is even worse.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">This was a little surprising to me for it wasn\u2019t that msny years since I was a student and had been almost lifted off the ground by my ear for a minor misdemeanor.&nbsp; And the \u201clifter\u201d was my English teacher who was a female.&nbsp; She touched me and it was me that apologized.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSorry!&nbsp; I thought serving a detention in the girls gym, watching them play volleyball, was a good way to spend the time.&nbsp; Won\u2019t do it again. Owww!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Worse things happened.&nbsp; We had a teacher who was colour blind.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat colour is this chalk, Terry?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhite, sir!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Of course the chalk was green or blue or red.&nbsp; And we got a good laugh out of the situation.&nbsp; Until all hell broke loose.&nbsp; Mr. N\u2014- blew his top and grabbed Terry Sealy by the scruff of the neck and slammed him in between the window radiators.&nbsp; The he proceeded to pummel Terry for the rest of the period.&nbsp; Real heavy blows.&nbsp; Cuff on the back of the head. Then a good one in the gut.&nbsp; I don\u2019t remember any blood being spilled however.&nbsp; No matter.&nbsp; The rest of us were flabbergasted.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And silent.&nbsp; Dead silent.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cYou trying to make a fool of me, Sealy!&nbsp; You think it\u2019s funny!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhap! Whap!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">When the bell went we funnelled quietly out of the class.&nbsp; Mr. N\u2014- then shook Sealy\u2019s hand of all things.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSorry about that Sealy, but don\u2019t do it again.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">We did nothing.&nbsp; No report.&nbsp; Treated Mr. N\u2014- carefully from that point on. &nbsp;\u201cYes, sir, that is white chalk.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">One of our profs, which I will keep nameless, even spoke to one large group of teachers confessing he had hauled a Parkdale kid out in the hall and slammed him up against the lockers.&nbsp; Being smashed against lockers sounds really bad but does little damage.&nbsp; Like the Noise of a body hitting a huge metal drum.The kid had told the teacher to Fuck Off. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cI must admit, I did that!&nbsp; Guilty. The locker smash was a message for the other kids.&nbsp; Sounded a lot worse than it really was.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cBut I know better now.&nbsp; Do not ever touch a student. Never Never Never!\u2026.Unless he tells you to fuck off.\u201d &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Now that was a great joke.&nbsp; Everybody laughed but we all got that message about touching.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I know this seams like a long prelude.&nbsp; Touching worried me.&nbsp; Being alone with a student could be bad news even without touching.&nbsp; In 31 years at Parkdale I only have three such incidents.&nbsp; One was amusing\u2026even cute.&nbsp; And the other two were not funny at all.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">1) THE GIRL WITH A CRUSH ON ME (Suppose she gave me a hug?)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;Ramona (not her real name) liked me.&nbsp; She was anice little girl in one of my first Grade 9 classes.&nbsp; She liked me too much.&nbsp; Followed me around so much that I began to notice her.&nbsp; So I got scared.&nbsp; At the time we were living at 120 Westminster Avenue in the Parkdale district so I was able to walk to and from school.&nbsp; Ramona lived near our apartment.&nbsp; A couple of times she caught up to me and we walked together.&nbsp; Nice little girl\u2026full of enthusiasm in a quiet sort of way.&nbsp; In other words dangerous.&nbsp; So I began to take different routes home.&nbsp; One trip I can remember so well.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Walking along Queen towards Roncesvales.&nbsp; Cautiously checking if I was being followed.&nbsp; All clear for a while.&nbsp; But not so.&nbsp; Ramona was on the other side of the street.&nbsp; I used the reflection from store windows as any good detective would have done. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cMaybe, if I stop here, Ramona will get ahead of me and I can use a side street.&nbsp; I see her in the reflection.&nbsp; I\u2019ll try and pretend I\u2019m interested in the stuff the store sells.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">At that point I looked at the store display.&nbsp; Women\u2019s under garments\u2026brassieres, night wear, etc.!!&nbsp; I could hardly tarry there<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">so came up with another idea.&nbsp; I would walk at regular pace and then run and jump on the Roncesvales street car. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNow, run and jump!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Ramona did as well so we were both in the car with the crowd.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">The weirdest thing then happened.&nbsp; You will not believe me.&nbsp; You will say I am just trying to make the story better.&nbsp; But it is the truth.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Ramona\u2019s mom was standing just inside the door.&nbsp; I met her at parent\u2019s night.&nbsp; Knew her well.&nbsp; Liked her. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHello, Mrs. S\u2014\u2013, just getting home?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhy, Mr. Skeoch\u2026and Ramona\u2026so nice to see you.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">It was only two stops to our streets.&nbsp; We got off together. Of course the situation did not end then.&nbsp; It just sort of drifted away.&nbsp; But not without one amusing\u2026perhaps shocking\u2026conclusion.&nbsp; Ramona knocked on our door one evening when I was coaching and asked Marjorie if she wanted some pictured of me.&nbsp; She had taken a few at Parkdale and on the street.&nbsp; Marjorie was amused for she knew the situation.&nbsp; And she did not want to hurt Ramona any more than I did.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I am sure every teacher has a story similar to this.&nbsp; The result can be devastating however.&nbsp; Teachers are treated as \u2018guilty until proven innocent\u2019.&nbsp; They are sent home on a paid leave of absence while the case is investigated. &nbsp; Guilt is often the hasty conclusion by friends and the public at large when the teacher is really just the victim of youthfull fantasy.<\/span><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp; In others, there is clear guilt.&nbsp; What is the answer?<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Never be alone with a student.&nbsp; Sometimes this is not as easy as it sounds.&nbsp; Ramona, by the way, I have heard, is happily married with three grown up children, perhaps grandchildren.&nbsp; Normal. She was such a nice little girl in Grade 9 and I did not want to hurt her feelings. Students do often like their teachers.&nbsp; Most do for that matter.&nbsp; We try to keep a little social distance. Kids know that.&nbsp; They called me \u201csir\u201d right from the start.&nbsp; None called me Al until we metas adults.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">2) THE STUDENT TEACHER (Suppose she had screamed \u201cRape!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">My nightmare case occurred about mid-career.&nbsp; My caution with Ramona served me well when dealing with Mrs. P\u2014-, a student teacher sent from the Faculty of Education to get practical teaching experience.&nbsp; She was an older woman.&nbsp; Older than I was at the time.&nbsp; This was unusual in itself.&nbsp; She was tough.&nbsp; In 1945 , Her family had fled through Eastern Europe with other German families terrified that they would fall into the hands of the Russian army.&nbsp; She was a survivor.&nbsp; As I said\u2026tough!&nbsp; I had just read \u201cDocuments of the Expulsion\u201d which described in detail the fate of German families left behind as Russian forces swept towards Berlin and the Baltic states so I had some sympathy for her at the beginning of her session with me.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">But she was not a teacher in my opinion.&nbsp; Senior boy students clenched their hands in fear when she taught sample lessons.&nbsp; I did not feel she liked young people.&nbsp; So I decided to fail her. It was going to be tense for I sensed she would not take failure well and her life experience had made her very tough.&nbsp; So I decided to inform the principal.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cI am going to fail my student teacher.&nbsp; I do not want her to work with kids. Just thought you should know, Mr. Ellis.&nbsp; She will react violently I think.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Mr. Ellis looked at me and said, \u201cShe has already been here and says you are a big problem.&nbsp; Incompetent in other words.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">So Mrs. P\u2014- knew I might fail her and had beat me to the punch. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHer report on you will go back to the faculty.&nbsp; Not from me.&nbsp; But from her.&nbsp; She seems a very dangerous woman.&nbsp; Just give her a &nbsp;bare pass and that will get her off your back.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">There are moments in life where a person has to take a stand and this was one of them.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNo, I will fail her.&nbsp; I do not want kids to have her as their teacher\u2026ever.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Mrs. P\u2014 had other schemes.&nbsp; She tried to get me to talk lessons over with her\u2026 alone\u2026just the two of us.&nbsp; That was just not going to happen.&nbsp; I had a feeling she would claim I had made a pass at her although such a thought was revolting.&nbsp; Some of my football team were always in the room\u2026I saw to that\u2026without telling them.&nbsp; So Mrs. P\u2014 could not scream rape or anything remotely like that.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">She got a failing report.&nbsp; I still have that report.&nbsp; She immediately threatened me. \u201cI will kill you!\u201d &nbsp;Imagine that.&nbsp; When I went home that night and told Marjorie we decided to stay in the house.&nbsp; This was no joke. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Some time later, I was told Mrs. P\u2014 had laid a charge of rape against the German professor and the charge went all the way to the Ontario cabinet.&nbsp; But that was hearsay. Teachers are so vulnerable when confronted by persons like Mrs. P\u2014.&nbsp; The professor was eventually exonerated according to the story.&nbsp; But for a long while he was considered guilty in the court of public opinion.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">A few months later we walked through a flea market and there was Mrs. P\u2014.&nbsp; Large as life selling small antiques.&nbsp; She did not see me.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cMarjorie, we have to get the hell out of here. Now!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">We never saw her again and gradually our caution subsided.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">3) &nbsp;THE KID IN THE HALL (Suppose he claimed assault)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">The hall was empty\u2026or nearly so.&nbsp; I was late for class.&nbsp; A boy came around the corner.&nbsp; My did he look forlorn.&nbsp; Teachers notice these things.&nbsp; Body language\u2026facial expression\u2026shambling.&nbsp; That kind of thing.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cThings can\u2019t be all that bad, son.&nbsp; Cheer up.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And I tapped him on the shoulder with an envelope I was carrying.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">No reaction.&nbsp; Just a blank, maybe slightly hostile stare.&nbsp; Maybe even a bit of a surprised look since we did not know each other.&nbsp; No time for much more dialogue.&nbsp; I was paid to teach and the class was waiting.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Sounds like a non event.&nbsp; Wish that were so.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Ron Graham, our Vice Principal and a good friend, came to see me right after the class.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cBoy, I saved your ass, Al!&nbsp; Took the whole period to do so.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat?\u201d &nbsp;I thought Ron had a joke in mind for his comment made no sense.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cI spent the last 45 minuted cooling Larry down.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWho is Larry?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDidn\u2019t think you knew him because he certainly did not know you. He burst into my office claiming you hit him in the hall.&nbsp; Wanted to know your name so he could report you to the super-intendant.&nbsp; Perhaps even the police.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cGet off it Ron.&nbsp; Who is Larry?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cYou may not know him now but you would certainly have known him<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">if he had laid the charge.&nbsp; Assault.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cRon, I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.&nbsp; Some kind of joke?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNope.&nbsp; Serious, Al.&nbsp; Really serious.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWho is Larry?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cLarry is a new kid here.&nbsp; Troubled kid.&nbsp; Unhappy home life.&nbsp; I guess you would call him a loner.&nbsp; He does not trust teachers or the world in general for that matter.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat has that got to do with me?&nbsp; Don\u2019t know the kid.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cOK.&nbsp; Did you meet a kid in the hall before class?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cOH, that kid!&nbsp; Yes, met him\u2026seemed depressed.&nbsp; Tried to cheer him up.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDid you hit him?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cCome on, Ron.&nbsp; Do you think I\u2019m stupid? I tapped him good naturedly with an envelope.&nbsp; This envelope. \u201d (The envelope was an invitation to speak to a University Women\u2019s club about teaching if you can imagine.)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSo you did touch him.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHardly &nbsp;a touch, Ron.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cEnough for him.&nbsp; He did not know you.&nbsp; Thought you had no right to even speak to him.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cGet off it, Ron.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cAny witnesses?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNo, we were alone in the hall.\u201d &nbsp;Now I was getting worried.&nbsp; Alone in the hall meant it was my word against this student, this person called Larry.&nbsp; That spelled trouble.&nbsp; Teachers walk on egg shells, especially male teachers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSo what did he say?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHe said some weird teacher with &nbsp;a brush cut and a blue suit jacket hit him in the hall near Room 225, your room\u2026your haircut\u2026your jacket.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And your hand it seems.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSo?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSo, suppose Larry laid a charge with the super-intendant and it got down to the Toronto School Board.&nbsp; First thing that would happen is you would be hauled out of class\u2026told to leave the school and not return until the case was investigated.&nbsp; Many people would believe you are guilty of assault.&nbsp; You even admitted touching Larry with that envelope.&nbsp; Touching and assault can become synonyms.&nbsp; So you would be out of her on your ass.&nbsp; Doesn\u2019t matter that you have taught here for twenty years and have a great reputation.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDo you mean I would be considered Guilty until proven innocent.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cRight.&nbsp; OSSTF would provide a lawyer.&nbsp; The case could take a year or so and all that time you\u2019d beitting at home.&nbsp; People would wonder why. Some would assume you are guilty.&nbsp; Even when the case was rejected, as it would be, you would have that stigma forever.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cYou\u2019re scaring me, Ron.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I got you off.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHow?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cI asked Larry to sit down so we could have a chat\u2026to cool him down.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cLarry,\u201d I said, \u201cMr. Skeoch and I come from different generation. From friendlier times.&nbsp; We try to treat people in a friendly manner.&nbsp; We have different values you might say.&nbsp; Your hat, for instance.&nbsp; In my time, students removed their hats in the presence of teachers.&nbsp; Larry then took off his baseball cap so I knew I was getting through to him.&nbsp; Larry, I continued, I think you are making a mistake. Mr. Skeoch has never hit&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">a student in my time.&nbsp; And he has never sent a student to me for discipline reasons.&nbsp; Never.&nbsp; I went on and on.&nbsp; Made you sound like a prince of the church. Finally asked Larry if he would consider withdrawing the charge.&nbsp; And he did.&nbsp; Saved your bacon, Al.&nbsp; You owe me big time.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cPhew!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cBy the way, I have enrolled Larry in your Grade 12 class for &nbsp;next semester,\u201d said Ron with a mischievous grin.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Larry turned out to be a really nice student.&nbsp; He got to like me.&nbsp; Greeted me in the hall often.&nbsp; He became cheerful.&nbsp; Not sure whether he punched me on the shoulder saying \u201cMorning, sir!\u201d.&nbsp; I like to think that happened. &nbsp; I also wondered what could have happened had Larry not withdrawn the charge.&nbsp; I really did owe Ron Graham &nbsp;beer.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I taught at Parkdale Collegiatte Institute for 31years.&nbsp; Never missed a day for sick leave.&nbsp; Loved the job.&nbsp; But these three incidents were never far from my mind which is a sad thing to say.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cCABBAGETOWN, EH?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">FOOTBALL, MARRIAGE AND A VERY BAD \u2018PEP\u2019 TALK<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Alan Skeoch<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Feb. 1,2104<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cCareers? Careers are not that important in life,\u201d she said,&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cThere are higher priorities in life.&nbsp; At the top is finding a life partner\u2026 husband or wife\u2026careers, sports, academic success, money, prestige\u2026 are not at the top in my opinion. You will spend your life with a wife or husband.&nbsp; Think about it.\u201d &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">The speaker was the Dean of Women from the University of Guelph and she was speaking to my graduating class at Humberside Collegiate.&nbsp; I thought she made sense.&nbsp; Others thought she was silly. My odyssey in life was to find a nice girl and down the road\u2026way down the road\u2026consider marriage.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">You may wonder what on earth this &nbsp;has to do with football.&nbsp; All the forces in my life came together one day on the football field at &nbsp;Victoria University (U of T).&nbsp; It is a long story so hang in there if you can. Our team was good.&nbsp; Very, very good.&nbsp; Even though we had the shortest Quarterback in the League.&nbsp; Gary Lummis could barely see over the ass of Russ Vanstone, our centre. Deadly though.&nbsp; He could thorw a passr with pin point accuracy and when facing certain death Gary could &nbsp;slip away from a tackler like a greased pic.&nbsp; Laughing all the time. And then there was Seeb\u2026Don Seebach\u2026our fullback who was being recruited for the big time but resisted because we had so much fun.&nbsp; Seeb took little steps but moved like a tank through barbed wire.&nbsp; Unstoppable. Super sociable too.&nbsp; Seeb made us all feel important. My role was less visible. Left Guard and Inside Linebacker\u2026no glory\u2026no ball carrying.&nbsp; Just had to punch holes in the defence for the half backs and Seeb to gain yards.&nbsp; Got to love the job.&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I took out an old high school chum, Bob Cwirenko, once when we played the SPS engineers. Used a good flying cross body.&nbsp; A suicide block if a knee was raised in defence. \u201cNice block, Al!\u201d, he said.&nbsp; Bob and I had played high school ball together.&nbsp; There is a bond between team mates.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Football at university broke through social barriers.&nbsp; Ed Jackman was left tackle.&nbsp; His brother became Lt. Gov of Ontario.&nbsp; The Jackman family are very wealthy and great philanthropists.&nbsp; I did not know that.&nbsp; I knew Ed could be depended upon as &nbsp;a team mate though.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHey, Eddy, that son of bitch opposite me isn\u2019t charging.&nbsp; He\u2019s hanging back and kneeing me in the mouth every time.&nbsp; Mouth is like hamburger.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWait until Gary calls a play to the right.&nbsp; I\u2019ll get him a good one.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Eddy gave him a good kick between the legs with his cleated boot. That seemed to solve the problem.&nbsp; Football is a rough game.&nbsp; I have heard it said that the impact of two linemen hitting each other is the same as astronauts experience breaking from earth\u2019s gravity.&nbsp; No experience with a cleated bot between the legs though.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Eddie and I became good friends.&nbsp; The son of a truck tire builder and the son of a big time affluent businessman.&nbsp; And, if you want more weird associations I can stir in a little religion. Ed was a Protestant who became Catholic priest.&nbsp; The guy he kicked with the cleated boot was from St. Mike\u2019s. I have often Wondered if Ed ever said anything in Confession about that.&nbsp; Guess not.&nbsp; Ed would be hearing confession, wouldn\u2019t he? We still see each other on occasion.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">By now your are wondering where this is going.&nbsp; When does Parkdale Collegiate enter the picture?&nbsp; Hold your garter belt, we will get there but first I must mention my main point\u2026women.&nbsp; To be precise, one woman.&nbsp; I really did believe, at that time, that women liked football.&nbsp; Gave them chance to see a number of bull moose cavorting about in search of a female.&nbsp; Yes, I now know, that most girls did not give a damn and really saw football as another demonstration of testosterone and male immaturity.&nbsp; So be it.&nbsp; Hang in there a bit longer.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Football players have to practise\u2026must be in top physical shape to take the steady bodily contact.&nbsp; To get in shape we worked out on the Victoria College field every evening even if that meant skipping classes. That was back in the 1960\u2019s when there was a field and when the university encouraged students to play football.&nbsp; Now both are gone\u2026the field and the encouragement.&nbsp; Makes me wonder if there is any joy left in university life. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">One day while doing wind Sprints around the field, I noticed a girl leaning out the window of the girls residence.&nbsp; High up. Fourth floor of Margaret Addison Hall. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHi up there, are you doing anything tonight,\u201d I hollered, then continued my circling.&nbsp; Next time round she was still there. I remembered her from an initiation dance few days earlier.&nbsp; Liked her. Food dancer and attractive.&nbsp; North Bay girl.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNothing in particular, why?\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Next circle.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cMeet you at seven in the coffee shop, OK?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Next circle.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cOK! Who is paying?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And so we met and became an item for the rest of our university life. So much fun together.&nbsp; Marjorie got to know all the team.&nbsp; She liked the fellows.&nbsp; It wasn\u2019t until years later that I realized she had no idea what my role on the team really entailed.&nbsp; It is a big misconception by males that females care a hoot about the game.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">If truth be known, I did not know all the permutations &nbsp;and combinations about the game.&nbsp; I knew my job\u2026hit people hard with my shoulders or cross body.&nbsp; Tackle with both arms locking below the runners knees. The intricacies of rules and other job classifications were not high on my list. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">All I really knew was that team work was one of my great lessons in life. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">THE POINT IS COMING\u2026READ ON PARKDALIANS!<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">In short, playing football did not make me a great coach when I became a teacher and football coach at Parkdale Collegiate.&nbsp; As you will see.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">(Note: &nbsp;Big Bill Martin became a great football coach at Parkdale.&nbsp; His life story needs a separate chapter. Suffice it to say Big Bill, \u201cHeavy Willy\u201d, as my brother named him, had been part of our team at Victoria University.&nbsp; Heavy Willy was also a former Parkdale student who, like me, spent almost his entire teaching career at Parkdale. To him it was really home.&nbsp; To me it was a new home. Familiar. Working class.)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span id=\"cid:177985d56fe315c82ec1\" class=\"\">&lt;IMG_4362.jpeg&gt;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Picture taken by Toronto Star Skeoch with Grant Weber.&nbsp; Humberside C.I.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Parkdale was a small high school.&nbsp; Other schools could draw on up to 1500 and even 2000 students to get a football team together.&nbsp; Parkdale Had around 600 when I started.&nbsp; And a lot of Parkdale students were new Canadians.&nbsp; Poor.&nbsp; Kids often needed after school jobs. Language difficulties. &nbsp; &nbsp;So the football pool was small.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Worse still was the Parkdale field.&nbsp; It was a mile away from the school. It took dedicated kids to change into uniforms after school and then walk with their cleats klick-klicking all the way to the CNE grounds<\/span><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;for a practice field\u2026a long way there and back.&nbsp; A major disadvantage compared to other high schools. Homework was hit hard\u2026not done often.&nbsp; Yet we fielded three teams in the 1960\u2019s.&nbsp; Good teams.&nbsp; Won a few, lost a few.&nbsp; Not a powerhouse until Big Bill Marten transformed our seniors into top contenders with tough guys like Henry Jaskula and the king of the roughhouse Gary Kuzyk.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">The Kuzyks must have been Cossacks in the Ukraine. I could picture him on a horse with a long knife waving in the air and &nbsp;few heads rolling around as he passed through an enemy horde.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Sam Markou and I had the juniors for a few years and we developed a very rough and ready bunch. Sam had the defence.&nbsp; I had the offence. The feeder team. Our team was a contender until our star quarterback John Wolowiec got addled with a serious brain concussion.&nbsp; I don\u2019t think we caused it.&nbsp; Seems to have been present for some time.&nbsp; His mother raised hell when she discovered he was playing football.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cYour take my son!&nbsp; You never tell me!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Truth be told, John never told us about his concussion nor his mother about being quarterback for Parkdale Juniors.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">John was a natural leader of men and boys.&nbsp; Second nature to him. He Knew the plays he wanted to run.&nbsp; He could pass and he could run the ball himself. &nbsp; How was I to know he was injured? &nbsp; When we lost John we were in big trouble that year.&nbsp; So we made up for it in other ways. Not proud of my role.&nbsp; Not proud at all. &nbsp; Ashamed.&nbsp; But also amused.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">It is not easy to convert 30 boys with independent ideas into a team with one clear idea.&nbsp; Lots of loose ends.&nbsp; Football is really a kind of controlled warfare\u2026civilized combat.&nbsp; But not always civilized.&nbsp; That was brought jarringly home to me in a game against Riverdale on the High Park field.&nbsp; About halfway through the game the opposing coach called his team bus to the field and began loading his players aboard.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?&nbsp; Why are you loading the team?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">He looked at me with the closest thing to hatred I have ever experienced.&nbsp; Well maybe that\u2019s a bit of an overstatement\u2026others have hated me as well. His answer?<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWe only play Christian teams\u2026not hoodlums like your boys.&nbsp; I will not put up with it.&nbsp; We are going home.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Now I don\u2019t know what the Parkdale boys were doing on the field.&nbsp; Couldn\u2019t hear them.&nbsp; They were rough kids though.&nbsp; And that was apparent when they realized the East Enders were going home.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cTaking your balls and going home, eh?\u201d &nbsp; Lots worse was said.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Took me a while to realize I was not a good coach.&nbsp; This incident was the first.&nbsp; The worst one was &nbsp;the game in the North End of Toronto against Lawrence Park.&nbsp; I still feel sort of bad about that one.&nbsp; It was a rainy day.&nbsp; Lots of mud on the field\u2026puddles of mud.&nbsp; Deep brown puddles. Nice day for guys that did not mind getting dirty.&nbsp; And one of our boys got really dirty.&nbsp; Worse!&nbsp; This error on my part needs a little background.<\/span><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;The pep talk! &nbsp; I had given the boys a good earthy pep talk.&nbsp; Got their adrenalin really flowing.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cOK boys gather round.&nbsp; I want to talk to you about the game today.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">We are going into new territory.&nbsp; North end.&nbsp; You know what they think of you up there.&nbsp; They think you come from cabbagetown.&nbsp; I want you to show them just how good you cabbagetown kids can play football. Go get them.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Disaster!&nbsp; It\u2019s a wonder I kept my job after that game.&nbsp; Ground warfare.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">The errors of my pep talk became apparent when Ed Couch took down a Lawrence Park half back with a strange kind of tackle.&nbsp; More like throwing a steer at the Calgary stampede.&nbsp; He rode the kid through&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">the mud to a choice mud puddle close to our bench.&nbsp; Close to me.&nbsp; Ed held the guys head up as they slid.&nbsp; Then when they got into the puddle, he yelled whispered loud enough for me to hear\u2026and the halfback to really hear.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cCabbagetown, eh?\u201d and then rammed the kid face down in the mud puddle. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">After that I had second thoughts about coaching.&nbsp; Too much influenced by Winston Churchill\u2019s speeches that revved up the troops to go an kill in World War Two. \u201cWe will fight them on the beaches\u2026\u201d etc. etc. &nbsp;\u201cWe will never give up!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Then there were the night games at Brockton Field\u2026the old Dufferin Racetrack.&nbsp; Night games really brought out the violence.&nbsp; Not the teams though.&nbsp; Safest place to be was on a football team.&nbsp; The most dangerous place was in the grandstand bleachers where inter school hostility always seemed to get out of hand aided by illicit liquor consumption and quasi-hoodlum strangers who liked mayhem. Our last night game is etched deep in my mind for it was truly tragic. Parkdale teachers were assigned policing functions at these games.&nbsp; Not a popular assignment.&nbsp; Akin to trying to cap a volcano.&nbsp; Our team bench was on the other side of the field but I noticed fists and bottles flying in the stands.&nbsp; Saw the cheerleaders shying away from leading cheers.&nbsp; And I noticed Al Goldsmith walking towards us right across the football field.Ignoring the game.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cYou\u2019ve got to stop this game.&nbsp; Got to send everyone home.&nbsp; Got to get the police.&nbsp; I can\u2019t control the crowd.&nbsp; There are some drunk guys that i don\u2019t even know. Laughing at me.&nbsp; Starting fights.&nbsp; Someone is going to get badly hurt.&nbsp; Do something.&nbsp; Please do something.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat can we do?&nbsp; End the game?&nbsp; We can\u2019t just end the game. We have &nbsp;city schedule to meet. It will be over in another half an hour.&nbsp; Hang in there.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Al Goldsmith went back the stands.&nbsp; He died of a heart attack the next week.&nbsp; Maybe it would have happened anyway.&nbsp; Not so sure though.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I wrote a story about that game which was published in the OSSTF Forum.&nbsp; Not long afterwards all night games ended.&nbsp; Guilt?&nbsp; Yes!<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Where did Marjorie come into the picture?&nbsp; She dove into football with both feet.&nbsp; When the University of Toronto engineering faculty advertised for cheerleaders.&nbsp; She volunteered even if their team opposed us on the field.&nbsp; Our team was amused by Marjorie yelling \u201cToikety-toikety Hoik\u2026Fight, Fight, Fight\u201d in order to build up the fighting spirit of the engineers, our opposition.&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">At Parkdale, Marjorie also helped out with the teams.&nbsp; She came to many of our games.&nbsp; She was there in the stands at that infamous night game that killed Al Goldsmith.&nbsp; She got to know our students and got to love Parkdale as much as I did.&nbsp; In my first year of teaching Marjorie invited the whole staff and their better halfs to our apartment for a party. About 160 people. Most came.&nbsp; Must have thught we were weird first year teachers. That shocked the principal Stan Ellis and triggered a tradition of staff parties that continues to this day. For the next 31 years Marjorie and I had our own small Parkdale team of two..eventually four.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">It all came together.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">But I was not a stellar football coach.&nbsp; Tried to inject too much team spirit. Over the top as they say.&nbsp; I will not apologize too much though. I really loved that comment by Ed Couch. \u201cCabbagetown, eh!\u201d as he baptized that halfback with mud and water.&nbsp; Not everyone was amused. Little wonder that some people hated me.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span id=\"cid:177985d56fe7c06a7ed2\" class=\"\">&lt;IMG_4363.jpeg&gt;<\/span><br style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Picture taken at University of Toronto, Victoria College football team\u2026Looks sort of half civilized, doesn\u2019t it? What a wonderful team we had!&nbsp; Still friends.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cCOME AND SEE THE MAN-EATING CHICKEN\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">BIG BILL MARTEN\u2026LARGER THAN LIFE<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span id=\"cid:177985d56fed30df7303\" class=\"\">&lt;220px-Sunnyside-rides-1923-1.jpg&gt;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">to be co<\/span><span id=\"cid:177985d56fe6e06dbc64\" class=\"\">&lt;220px-Sunnyside-bathing-pavilion-1922-08-07.jpg&gt;<\/span><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">ntinued\u2026lo<\/span><span id=\"cid:177985d56febe8a84385\" class=\"\">&lt;220px-Sunnyside-rides-1923.jpg&gt;<\/span><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">ts more\u2026<\/span><span id=\"cid:177985d56fef84be2cd6\" class=\"\">&lt;220px-Deans-boats-palais-royale-1923.jpg&gt;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">alan skeoch<\/span><span id=\"cid:177985d56fead207f7\" class=\"\">&lt;350px-Sunnyside_Boardwalk_Toronto_1931.jpg&gt;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cThat damn fool stood up on the Flyer\u2026flipped off\u2026Lucky to have just broken both his legs.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Mrs. Mazda added a few more curse words. Our new landlady had little to No sense of sympathy. One of her boarders lived in the attic at 18 Sylvan Avenue where we lived in 1949.&nbsp; Young. He had gone to Sunnyside, bought at ticket on the roller coast aptly named &nbsp;the Flyer.&nbsp; Then for whatever reason stood up as it sped around a bend and fell off.&nbsp; The way Mrs. Mazda talked, the boarder should have died.&nbsp; She did not seem to care much.&nbsp; Guess what? It never happened.&nbsp; I have tried to find evidence of an accident.&nbsp; None found.&nbsp; Why wold Mrs. Mazda want to tell this story?&nbsp; Or was the broken leg story hushed up?<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Sort of like Roswell (i.e. aliens have landed and their bodies hidden)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><img alt=\"\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;border-style:none;height:auto;max-width:100%\" class=\"\"><a class=\"\">x-msg:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/8\/8b\/Sunnyside-rides-1923.jpg<\/a> 2x\u201d id=\u201de7c616b5-dcb4-4eab-9058-eb859657c91d\u201d apple-inline=\u201dyes\u201d src=\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/220px-Sunnyside-rides-1923-2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/220px-Sunnyside-rides-1923-2.jpg<\/a>\u201d&gt;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">This story is not about The Flyer, &nbsp;broken legs, Mrs. Mazda or myself.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">This is a story about Big Bill Marten, \u201cPepper\u201d &nbsp;or \u201cHeavy Willy\u201d \u2026a man who drew nicknames like a cow pie draws flies.&nbsp; Bill was a big man.&nbsp; He had been a big boy.&nbsp; Perhaps close to 300 pounds in later life.&nbsp; Certainly 250 pounds when we played football together at Victoria College, University of Toronto.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">What is the connection to The Flyer, you ask?&nbsp; Bill\u2019s family were \u2018Carnies\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">, Carnival people who owned the slot machine games right at the foot of the entrance to Sunnyside Amusement Park.&nbsp; Right opposite their nickel and dime slots was the Flyer. &nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Old Parkdale was the bedroom community for the Carnival people.&nbsp; Still see vestiges of this.&nbsp; Sunnyside Amusement Park was built in 1922, named after John Howard\u2019s farm that is now the site of St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital.&nbsp; Howard gave High Part to the City of Toronto so it seemed fitting to name this amusement park after another of his public ventures.&nbsp; Parkdale community and the City of Toronto needed something to distract people loss of 60,000 Canadians had in World War I and thousands more had been crippled by bullets, explosives, disease &nbsp;or chlorine gas.&nbsp; So the land below the ancient cliff face was in filled with dredged mud and topped with black earth.&nbsp; Then in 1922 Sunnyside was constructed.. &nbsp;coloured lights, loud voices of Carnival sideshow boosters\u2026and that Gypsy Fortune Teller in the glass box.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Sunnyside lasted until 1955 but was in sad shape by that time.&nbsp; Arson helped its demise.&nbsp; But the real killer of Sunnyside was the Gardener Expressway which sweeps over the footings of The Flyer, the Red Hot stands and the Marin penny Arcade where the Gypsy beckoned small time spenders like the siren Medusa of Greek Mythological fame.&nbsp; By the 1950\u2019s the Gypsy Fortune Teller was even beginning to look like Medusa\u2026frightening in other words.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I never knew Bill when I was a kid but I certainly knew Sunnyside.&nbsp; Visited it quite a few time on the Roncesvales street car which dumped passengers at the top of the cliff\u2026the old beach, ancient beach\u2026below which sprawled Sunnyside on piles and piles of landfill that had pushed the beach two or three hundred yards into Lake Ontario.&nbsp; There was an iron mongers stairway covered with black corrugated iron.&nbsp; Black from the coal belching steam engines that hugged the base of the cliff face.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">To get to Sunnyside, revellers had to cross the tracks by way of this grim tunnel.&nbsp; At the bottom of the last flight of stairs was the daytime home of Big Bill Marten.&nbsp; His parents income depended upon loud hail hawking akin the old Carnie\u2019s cry. \u201cCome and see the man-eating Chicken, only ten cents!\u201d &nbsp;Behind the tent flap was a man busily eating a piece of chicken.&nbsp; True story but not the Marten story.&nbsp; The Marten pavilion featured a life size image of an ancient woman encased in glass.&nbsp; The fortune teller! This frightening woman had a bandana on her head and a gypsy-like costume.&nbsp; I am not sure just how it worked but somehow she could tell whether your future was bleak or rosy.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cShe was made of wax, Alan. Wax. Do you know what happens to wax when exposed to hot sun in a glass case.&nbsp; It melts.&nbsp; So every year we had to remake her face.&nbsp; She got uglier and uglier but lasted until the day in 1956 when all of Sunnyside was bulldozed into oblivion.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat did she look like?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWorse and worse every year!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I dimly remember the Gypsy at the foot of those stairs.&nbsp; Yellow skin\u2026rather wax although I did not know that the time\u2026blotchy, diseased\u2026scary.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">That would be in the late 1940\u2019s when Dad took us to Sunnyside to see a baseball game called The King and His Court where 4 or 5 reals hotshot baseball players took on a whole local team.&nbsp; We did not stop at the Fortune Teller Lady so I never really met Big Bill Marten as boy.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">His friends called him \u201cPepper\u201d, maybe in deference to the Carnie in him.&nbsp; To trick people into spending money on losing games required more than a little flim flam salesmanship.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Big Bill Marten\u2026teacher, football coach and \u2018Carney\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">by &nbsp;Alan Skeoch<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\" class=\"\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Parkdale has had more than its fair share of eccentric teachers and students.&nbsp; Top of the list has to be Big Bill Martin, affectionately known as \u201cPepper\u201d by his Parkdale peers when he was a student at PCI\u2026and also by \u201cHeavy Willy\u201d by some of his fellow teachers when he was a teacher at PCI.&nbsp; Both are terms of endearment even if one sounds rather insulting.&nbsp; Males often speak in reversals. &nbsp;i.e. call a fat person \u201cslim\u201d or a skinny person \u201cfatso\u201d.&nbsp; Weird, I know, but remember males are weird.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">So let me start this note with Big Bill.&nbsp; He was a larger than life character for sure.&nbsp; I first met him on the football field at the University of Toronto where we played for Victoria and won the Mulock Cup every year as our team was a power house. &nbsp;(Allow a little bragging, please)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Bill was a big boy\u2026perhaps close to 280 pounds.&nbsp; Red Lipsett was the same.&nbsp; My fondest memory of those two is when we played an exhibition rugger game in sweat pants on the UC campus.&nbsp; Bill and Red had large sweat pants.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cI\u2019ll bet you both could get into one pair of those pants?\u201d someone said.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cLet\u2019s do it, Red&#8217;\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cOK, you put one leg in here,\u201d and Bill slid his leg down Red\u2019s pants.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNo more room.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cLet\u2019s see if we can play using three legs.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cGet the scrum, ready.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And so Big Bill and Red played on three legs in that scrum.&nbsp; For those of you who know little about rugby, the scrum is where half of both teams sort of pile up with the ball thrown in the centre.&nbsp; It is one holy hell of a scrabble to get that ball out to the running halfbacks.&nbsp; Legs, arms, shoulders, heads and bums all tumbling together.&nbsp; Red and Big Bill won the scrum, I think.&nbsp; Why? Because we were all laughing so much we could not scratch and scrabble.<br style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Strange how tiny incidents slip into long storage in our brains.&nbsp; And even stranger how our lives move in intersecting circles.&nbsp; At university, I never expected that Big Bill Marten and I would share the next three decades of our lives at Parkdale Collegiate.&nbsp; We were both part of a huge wave of young teachers that flooded into high schools across Canada in the 1960\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Bill preceded me by one year and it was a little startling to find we had adjacent school rooms at PCI.&nbsp; This was the beginning of some great times together.&nbsp; Fun times for four decades.&nbsp; How many people can say that about their lives?<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Take skiing for instance.&nbsp; Bill organized staff ski trips to Olean, New York for three winter week-end escapes.&nbsp; Unforgettable. No doubt Bill got a free hotel room for bringing forty or fifty people to Olean.&nbsp; Part of the nature of the beast.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDid you hear what happened to Bill?\u201d, said Dave McNaught barely containing his laughter.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNo, what has he done now?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHe went off the ski trail\u2026thought he\u2019d found a short cut.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSounds like Bill.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cPowder snow.&nbsp; Covered up some rocks.&nbsp; Bill hit the rocks and his boots came to a dead stop but Bill kept going.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cGet off it.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHe did.&nbsp; He tore the tops right off his ski boots.&nbsp; His skis and boot bottoms stayed put while Bill proceeded bare foot with boot tops through the powder.&nbsp; Imagine the force involved.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Of course no story about Big Bill ever really comes to a conclusion.&nbsp; Bill comes from a family of \u201ccarnies\u201d (also spelled carneys)\u2026flim flam people\u2026artful dodgers\u2026a la used car salesmen.&nbsp; In other words they would never let a sucker off the hook.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Below is just speculation mind you.&nbsp; But I can see him visiting\u2026<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cThese ski boots were defective.\u201d &nbsp;Bill Marten speaking to ski shop owner somewhere.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cBeg your pardon, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cThese boots could have killed me\u2026could have sued you for it.&nbsp; Take a look at them.&nbsp; The whole sole separated from the boot\u2026while I was skiing.&nbsp; What kind of merchandise are you selling.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDreadfully sorry, sir, let me get the manager.\u201d &nbsp;etc. etc. etc.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cSir, will you be satisfied with a new pair of boots.&nbsp; Free.&nbsp; We will send&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">these boots of yours back to the manufacturer.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cI\u2019ll take the new boots.&nbsp; Thanks.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cAnd the old boots, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cI want to keep them as souvenirs,if you don\u2019t mind\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Really Bill did not want the store to test the boots\u2026to see the big scar where the boots hit the rocks.&nbsp; Lest they discover he was skiing off course and was just as much at fault as the boots.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">Of course this is all speculation.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">And it leads me into the family life of Pepper Marten.&nbsp; His parents owned the Sunnyside Arcade.&nbsp; What is that?&nbsp; Toronto Snobs called Sunnyside Amusement Park the \u201cPoor Man\u2019s Riviera\u201d.&nbsp; It was located at the foot of Roncesvales Avenue on a strip of land between the lake and the ancient beach.&nbsp; All kinds of rides including a huge roller coaster called the Flyer and a Merry Go Round that was so grand it was later moved to Disneyland in Florida.&nbsp; Built in 1922 and demolished in 1956 to make room for the Gardiner Expressway. Home to a lot of \u2018carney\u2019 families like the Martens and the Blonskis. Sunnyside was an extension of the Parkdale community and a great number of the Sunnyside Carnival people lived in Parkdale, kids attended PCI.&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">&nbsp;The Marten penny arcade had one amusing feature\u2026the Gypsy Fortune Teller.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">I dimly remember seeing her 60 or so years ago.&nbsp; She was encased in glass, life size, right at the entrance to old Sunnyside.&nbsp; Let me put more words in Big Bill\u2019s mouth.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><span id=\"cid:177985d56fee6d401918\" class=\"\">&lt;sunnyside2.jpg&gt;<\/span><\/span>The Marten &nbsp;Penny Arcade was near the Flyer pictured above\u2026probably just to the right of thispicture which was taken in the mid 1920\u2019s.&nbsp; Sunnyside did not look so neat and prosperous by the 1950\u2019s when the bulldozers made way for the Gardiner Expressway.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cShe had to look good. That Gypsy Fortune Teller was our fish lure.&nbsp; Lured people into the arcade where we could nickel and dime them to death.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat did she look like?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cWhen we first got her, she looked really good\u2026but deteriorated with time\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDeteriorated!&nbsp; I Thought she was in a glass case.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cRight.&nbsp; Do you know what happens to a person in glass case after months of summer sunshine.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cHot no doubt.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cAlan, she is not a real person.&nbsp; How dumb of you to even think so.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">She was made of wax.&nbsp; Wax melts in the sun.&nbsp; Her face got more and more blotchy each year.&nbsp; My job was to touch her up every springtime\u2026you know to push her cheeks up to where they should be\u2026to add a little wax to her hooked nose\u2026to give her a new smile and new lipstick, rouge, paint and powder.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cDid it work?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\">\u201cNot really, &nbsp;She got more and more frightening with each Sunnyside season.&nbsp; I think that drew more people than when she was pretty.&nbsp; I sort of enjoyed using my imagination on her face.&nbsp; She could have been the lead in a horror film.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><span style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:x-large\" class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Begin forwarded message: From: ALAN SKEOCH &lt;alan.skeoch@rogers.com&gt; Subject: Re: EPISODE 250 THIS STORY MADE ME CRY\u2026AND I WROTE THE DAMN THING Date: February 12, 2021 at 5:55:36 PM EST To: Edward Moskal &lt;edmoskal@gmail.com&gt; I was probably gone by then\u2026retired in 1999\u2026although the unusual Micah seems to ring a &nbsp;bell. Thanks for asking. On Feb 12, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18935\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}