Missing Dennis

Back then, life for kids was harder than it should have been. They say that kids had rights too, but I don’t remember when. Back then, if there were child labor laws, they never told us. If labor laws for kids were broken, none ever made a fuss. Back then, I remember chopping weeds in the oven of the sun. Kids had to work long hours, but we also played and had lots of fun. Back then, kids played cowboys and Indians in the light of day, And chased lightning bugs in the black of night. Back then, I had a friend name Dennis, and no, he was not a menace We played baseball, basketball, football, but not golf, socker, or tennis Dennis and I lived on opposite sides of the busy railroad track; and he had a big brother who rode a mule loaded with cotton sacks Dennis and I were best buddies in our early days, but the years went by. We grew older and went our separate ways. When I think of Dennis, I remember the good times of our childhood, and how We kept busy shooting marbles and rolling rubber tires throughout the neighborhood; and most of the time, we did the things we should. I haven’t heard from Dennis, but I would love to see him if I could. I once heard it said in a Christian song that friends are friends forever. I sure hope to see my friend Dennis on this side of never. Perhaps we could laugh and talk about farm life and the fun times we shared. Perhaps we could remind each other when we bought ice cream for a dime. Perhaps we could chat about when kids were free and fearless of crime. Perhaps we could laugh about the gray hairs on our heads and under our chins. Perhaps we could talk about the distant days and ask, “Remember when?” Perhaps we could share our stories of how we changed from boys to men. On this side of never, we would write a letter, email, or visit every now and then. On this side of never, we would both recall when our money was very thin. On this side of never, we would reminisce about house roofs made of tin. Yes, I well recall “The Perhaps”, “The Back Then’s”, and “The Remember When’s”. I do miss Dennis, and I hope to see him before this life is finished Posted04192015cjPS