Neighborhood Ode

In my old neighborhood, Jamaica Queens, I grew up with my 2 younger boy cousins. I think the tomboyish ways I developed was due to this. I didn't play with Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets until way later, it was video games and basketball for us. We played tag, freeze tag, red light green light 123, acted out action scenes from movies or wrestling shows, or just ran down the block to get away from the house. Running was just about all we did. Except in and out the house. Collectively, we had about 4 times to run in and out, then we had to choose one to do.

Since my house was in the middle of a cross street, it seemed like we had a better advantage over those who lived on one end. Those kids had parents who didn't want them at the other end where the vision was limited. The environment we were in was kind of safe. The corner store was perpendicular to my house, so getting candy was just a matter of asking for a little change and running up the block. Our money went to that or delighting in ice cream when we heard the ice cream truck down the block.