CHILDHOOD - MISTAKES

Driving Error

I was four. My father had a big Chrysler, perhaps the only automobile on the street.  It was a shiny dark maroon.  Much higher than today's autos.  My father let me drive it, sitting on his lap and steering.  

I drove us into a telephone pole doing that, traveling probably a mile an hour.  I think my father laughed, and I must have too after he did.  He was good natured with me and most people except my mother.  So it didn't seem too big a mistake.

We had a Boston bull terrier. Not a friendly dog, she bit me when I tried pulling her out from under the bed.  That wasn't too much of a mistake either.  I continued to love dogs.

Lost Finger Nails

Another error was really not mine and featured one of my hands, my finger nails actually.  It also involved the car. The one I drove into a pole. We were getting out of that Chrysler in front of our house.  Mother first, angry about something my dad had said or done. I followed, grasping the strut between the front and rear doors.  Mother slammed the door shut, momentarily hitting and compressing my fingers.  My instantaneous cries ended their argument, but ignited another.  It angered my dad and he yelled at mother.  What the hell had she done!  She scooped me up and soothed me. Soon after that my nails turned black and fell off.  The damaged fingernail were small potatoes really. My parents were soon to divorce after some violent confrontations.  A larger calamity and not of my doing.