Episode Overview

In this episode, David reflects on a turbulent but formative stretch of his childhood—those last two years living near West End Park before the big family move. From innocent crushes gone wrong to the sting of childhood humiliation, from brushes with rebellion to lessons learned the hard way, this chapter of his story captures the messy mix of heartbreak, mischief, and resilience that shaped his early life.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• 💔 Young Love & Tough Lessons – A crush on Lori Pawinski that ended in stitches, and a love note to Marcie Blanchard that backfired in front of the whole class.
• 🚬 Early Rebellion – First cigarette, first shoplift, and the pull of wanting to be seen in a world that often overlooked him.
• 📚 Mr. McGrail’s Classroom – A WWII veteran teacher who disciplined with grit but earned a deep respect.
• 🩸 Wrestling Matches Gone Wrong – The day kitchen roughhousing turned into a bloody walk home.
• 🏡 The Big Move – Leaving Masten Avenue for a new subdivision, surrounded by unfinished houses, railroad tracks, and fresh friendships waiting to be formed.
• 🐾 Loss and Companionship – Childhood pets like Jody the Siamese and Tricksy the beagle, and the arrival of Cricket the Chihuahua during a time of change.

Themes

• Growing up between innocence and rebellion
• The sting of rejection and the tenderness of a young heart
• Teachers and mentors who leave an indelible mark
• The upheaval and opportunity of moving to a new neighborhood
• How childhood friendships and pets stitched meaning into everyday life

Closing Thought

What felt like chaos, heartbreak, and upheaval at the time were really the early sparks of growth. These were the moments that began to shape a boy into the man who would keep moving forward—through loss, through change, and into new beginnings.

Liddle did he know, it was just the beginning.

Background Music: One Smooth Move by Kevin Macleod Projects — Kevin Macleod