On the Corner of Oak and Ryerson

The irrepressible and irreplaceable Della Gruthoff.

In my last blog entry, I revisited the front porch of 153 Oak Street (just down the street from Juby's Pharmacy) and called to mind one of a thousand warm summer nights I spent with Ira, Kate, Della and, on occasion, Myrtle.

I'm back again so why not find yourself a seat (there's room here on the glider) and join me for another of Della's stories (told my way). This particular tale asks the age old question, "Where's My Big Toe?"

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Once upon a time there was a little boy who lived with his mother and his dog, Buster, in a little house at the edge of town. He was an average, everyday boy much like you or me. He had an everyday face, everyday clothes and everyday friends. And just like you or me, he liked to watch TV, play with his dog, have adventures and go exploring. Why, sometimes he would spend whole days climbing trees and building forts or digging in the yard and searching for interesting things. He had whole shoeboxes full of rocks, pebbles and bits of string for his ever growing collections.

One day, the little boy (let's call him Pete) was digging in the back yard at the very edge of the fence that separated Pete's yard from the sad little cemetery next door. He'd been playing in the rich black dirt for about an hour when he found what looked like a big white marble but flat on top and flat on the bottom. He had just started to rub the dirt off and take a closer look at it when his mother called him to come in for dinner.

"Pete! Supper time!" she called. "Bring the dog in with you!"

"OK, Mom," he yelled as he shoved his newest find in his pocket and pulled Buster inside by his collar.

Pete and his mother were rather poor so dinner was a very simple affair--just a bowl of boiled cabbage and a bologna sandwich. Some day soon, Pete hoped, they would have enough money saved up to share a hamburger; maybe they would even have a few scraps left over for Buster!

After dinner, Pete and his mother curled up with Buster on the sofa and watched their favorite TV shows until it was time for bed. Outside, the wind picked up and the sky clouded over. In the distance, lightning played along the horizon.

Despite the rising breeze, the night was still warm so Pete's mother left the windows open after she put Buster outside for the night. As his mother tucked him in, the swaying curtains caught Pete's imagination and attention and he was soon lulled to sleep.

A few hours later--just after midnight in fact--Pete was woken by a loud thump. The wind had risen further and the flapping window curtains had knocked over a lamp. Pete took a moment to let his racing heart slow and was just about to get up to shut the window when he heard a low moan.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh," said a low, guttural voice. "Ohhhhhhhh nooooooooooo. Gone, gone, gone. Gone, gone, gone!"

Pete quickly climbed back into bed and drew the covers over his head. "Who is it?" he called.

"Ohhhhhhhh," said the voice. "Ohhhhhhhhh nooooooo. Wheeeeeeeeeeeere's mah big toe? Wheeeeeeeeere's mah big toe?"

"I said who is it?" Pete called. "Who's out there?"

(Although he was an average, everyday boy much like you or me with everyday fears you have to admit he was also pretty brave!)

"Ohhhhhhhh," said the voice, nearer now. "Wheeeeeeeeeeeere's mah big toe?"

"Now you answer me, ya hear?" called Pete, his voice starting to quiver. "Who's out there?"

"Ohhhhhhhh," said the voice, louder and even nearer now. "Wheeeeeeeeeeeere's mah big toe?"

"I got me a baseball bat, ya hear?" yelled Pete. "I ain't afraid to use it! Don't come no nearer!"

"Ohhhhhhhh," said the voice, even louder and much nearer now. "Wheeeeeeeeeeeere's mah big toe?"

"I said I got me a baseball bat!" shrieked Pete when suddenly a body jumped up on top him, pinned him to the bed and began sniffing him.

"Git offa me! Git offa me!" screamed Pete as he threw back the covers and jumped out of bed to find Buster gnawing away on his new, big white marble.

"Relax kid," said Buster. "I was just lookin' for my bone. Check with me first next time before you go diggin', huh?"