Parkville Jr. High was a long distance from our house on Cliffwood Road. I had to get up and walk down the road to catch a bus. The ride on “the bus” was not a cool thing. The kids were loud and always pushing me out of their way. Thank goodness that Shellers and Jazmin had gone to a different school ‘cause I would have been beaten up the first time I put my hand on my hip and said, “Scuse me.”

Things were so different back then. Saturday and Sunday I worked at my parents’ store—B&E Discount. This was a cheap dime store on Belair Road right next door to Woodlea Bakery. Here it is 1979 and I am cashiering at a dime store. Well, it was at this dime store that I watched The Dolly Parton Show on my small black and white TV. “Love is Like a Butterfly” was the first song I ever lip synched to. I got home that night and put my brother’s football shoulder pads on with a sheet hanging from them and a beach towel on my head as I pranced around my room singing “Love is Like a Butterfly.” I was stomping so loudly that my mom walked up the stairs, “You som bitch, keep it down, and I don’t mean break the ceiling!”

The 8^th and 9^th grades were not happy times for me. “Miss Skippy” or faggot. A couple of the assholes pushed me into lockers or pushed my books out of my hands. I am happy to say that I was not beat in or harassed as some kids were. There was a boy named Ritchie that was beaten regularly. One day three guys were hitting and kicking Ritchie and I ran up and screamed, “Oh my god! Mr. Toole is coming. Better get the hell out of here!” The guys took off. Ritchie got up, picked up his books and said, “Thanks, Skip. Oh, by the way, Mr. Toole is still at Elmwood Elementary, not here at Parkville Jr. High.”

Well, grades 7-9 went fast. The summer before 10^th grade at Overlea Sr. High was when my life changed. B&E Discount closed, but not before I learned how to take the #15 bus. I had to walk up Kenwood Avenue and take the #15 down Belair Road for 50 cents.

I must say that being gay in a straight family and neighborhood was not easy. I was walking down the road one day when a neighbor named Kevin said, “Hey Skipper, come here.” Well, let me tell you that I learned all about sex and what it can do for one if you do for him. Thank you, Kevin. It was an afternoon in a horse trailer that I will not forget. Well, let’s be honest. It was 15 minutes, but I still will not forget it. And, I will not forget that Kevin told me about gay bars downtown in Mount Vernon. A sweet childhood it was, but it was now the past. The #15 bus and Mount Vernon awaited me in the future.