My favorite short story of all time is “That Kind of Party” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Eleven-year-old Terrence, infatuated with neighborhood beauty Dolly Bartlett,  is driven by the headiness of young love to, by whatever means necessary, stage a party in which to play kissing games. He and his sidekick Joe must find a way to rid the party of the chaperones to lay a clear path for their scandalous games. They forge telegrams, eat raw eggs, and even upend the wheelchair of poor Carpenter Moore, who attempts to expose their base desire to the neighborhood, all in the vain pursuit of an afternoon of stolen kisses. Fitzgerald closes the story with the following line:

“In one day he had committed forgery and insolence, and had assaulted both the crippled and the blind. His punishment was obviously to be in this life. But for the moment it didn’t seem important- anything might happen in one blessed hour.”

I couldn’t help but think of that story when I read Lori Nawyn’s delightful essay “Donny Osmond and Pudding” in the Fall/Winter issue of Segullah. She captures that spirited essence of youth. That realm of childhood consumed with impetuousness, power, and desire. As a teacher of child development, stories like this illustrate so classically Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, moving from ego-centric and impulsive decision making, toward abstract and consequence weighted ones. Still, there is something sublime in the glimpses of youth where the intensity of the moment reigns triumphant over all rational sensibilities and consequences. I love how she, like Terrence, stumbles and trips in her youthful morality, assembling lies and cover-ups for the sake of some all-consuming need. So grab your teen beat, your dad’s flannel shirt, some snack pack puddings, and all your pride and go read her essay.

So truth or dare? Do tell about your impetuous childhood escapades. What foolish things did you do? What needs and desires overwhelmed any sense of consequence- was it love, power, or pride? What drove you to lie, cheat, steal? What things from your childhood do you look back on with laughter or shame?  Share some of your childhood follies and escapades.


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