Half Way Home from Kinderlou

<P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; tab-stops: 0in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in><SPAN style=FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'>Through a collection of short stories a grandfather describes his happy<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>childhood in the small town of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags /><st1:place w:st=on><st1:City w:st=on>Valdosta</st1:City></st1:place> Georgia.<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>It was a simple time when children played simple games with simple toys. Those were the days when failure of a child to say yes ma'am and yes sir to grown folks was considered an act of disrespect which brought swift rebuke and punishment from the disrespected adult and the child's parents.<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>Most homeowners in his neighborhood only dreamed of indoor plumbing electric lights and home telephone service.<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office /></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; tab-stops: 0in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in><SPAN style=mso-tab-count: 1> </SPAN>Despite the prevailing social order dictated by racial segregation which choked the advancement of some of his neighbors little James Edward was often permitted broader liberties to expand his borders simply because all of the adults encouraged his growth.<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>His timing was right.<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>Colored adults nourished his self confidence as though vicariously rekindling their own aspirations.<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>White adults saw a fast moving innocent youngster with a cautions and keen intellect so letting him roam was a gift to a child which did not threaten their prerogatives.<SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>So adults of both races sought ways to assuage the harshness of segregation for little James Edward by smothering him with affection and special attention. The effects of this <SPAN style=mso-spacerun: yes> </SPAN>esteem is reflected in his pleasant memories of the post depression years and other events of that time.<SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 22pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt></SPAN></P>