Using our “skills” (part 2 of Atari rules)

This motley crew would take our earnings to the next adventure... off to the corner store. It was pre or post dinnertime that our rule in the streets was in full effect. While parents busy cooking and watching the news… off we went. Although the store was only 4 blocks away, the journey was long and adventurous. It would take us a half an hour just to get one block; stopping to chat with other friends walking by, or a neighbor who would ask for help, or we had to pass the scary lady’s house hoping she would not be out so we could sneak through her yard. With James Bond like movements (that is what we thought… although we looked more like we were having seizures by flopping all over the ground) were part of our adventure. We scaled garden walls; we crawled on our knees to get past windows; heck we even found treats for the dogs who so wanted to give us away. Then “coolly” walked past the cute guys house... Hoping to catch a glimpse of him yet trying to look like we really didn't care. At last, the store’s bells would ring on the door. We made it. Soon numbers and mathematical equations there tossed around like we were solving the debit crisis. Finding “the most for our money” and bargaining were then next skills to surface. Content with our choices, our purchases were bagged and bells rang again. We faked smoked (those terrible candy cigs) and ate candy that did rot some of our teeth. But we gained independence, knowledge, and community in every adventure. I loved my childhood and feel lucky that I grew up when I did.