* based on a true story

My sister, Priscilla and I were at a friend’s house some blocks away from our own.

It was getting later and darker and we knew we needed to get going but we waited until the last minute to git.

We said goodbye to our friend and when we walked out the front door, I didn’t like how dark it was, but I had to be the brave one because I was a year older than Priscilla.

I was six so she was five and this was the 70s when kids our age were allowed to go off and play with no adult supervision.

I got on my bike and started pedaling. I didn’t go fast because Priscilla was walking.

I was afraid of the dark, but I kept yacking away as if the dark was no big deal.

Then all of a sudden, Priscilla takes off running and now I’m really scared because I’m also afraid to ride my bike too fast.

I yell out for her to slow down but of course she doesn’t listen and because I don’t want to be by myself in the dark, I do try to go a little faster.

I am riding my bike faster and this scares me, the dark scares me and I am trying to keep an eye on Priscilla who has now crossed the street to the left.

I was so distracted that I didn’t see the street sign pole in front of me until it was too late, and I crashed right into it.

I fell to the ground with my bike, yelled out to Priscilla but she just kept running for home as if the devil himself was nipping at her heels.

I picked up my bike and hobbled with it the rest of the way home.

Back at the ranch there was a hustle and a bustle because we were supposed to be leaving for some Christmas event.

After taking a look at me and hearing about my tale of woe, it was decided that I should stay home, and my dad would too.

I was okay with this; I was still seeing stars.

Not long after my mom had left with the rest of the kids, I saw my dad walk over to the china cabinet and take something from it.

He turned around to show me and I saw what looked like a book.

Then he opened it and my eyes got big and my baby alligator teeth began to rattle with excitement.

I saw roll after roll of Life Savers candy and when he handed it to me and said it was for me, well, I just about died and went to heaven!

I walked over to the loveseat and opened this little book again and I marveled that such a thing existed.

I obsessed over which roll to open first and I was glad that I ran into the pole with my bike.

~missy salcido wead