I was the youngest of five children but four months older than my adopted brother. I was 12 years younger than my  youngest sibling who was also my brother. My parents worked hard and by the time I was born, with all that went on in a household, had little time for me. My two older sisters and two older brothers were on the dating and party scene so had little time for me. At least I had some freedom and  many adventures.

I can remember bits and pieces of my childhood, some sad, some happy, some strange and some embarrassing, at least one terrifying but most of all very lonely.

Terrifying        

This is partly based on memory and asking questions about it later in life.
I was about two years old at the time, my parents were out at work, my sister who was the mother of my adopted brother, was babysitting him and I. She decided to go out front to chat with some friends, took my brother but left me alone in the house. Being the rascal I was, I went into her room and started to play with her cigarettes and matches. I knew they must have been important because everyone in my home smoked cigarettes. They must have been really special.

While experimenting I started the bed skirt on fire, the bed caught fire, drapes, wallpaper, furniture and so on. I guess somehow the fire and light show frightened me, that or my diapers caught on fire, I scrabbled out as  fast as I could on hands and knees straight out the front door into the arms of my sister.

Happy 

I was about seven years old and somehow had acquired one dollar, a tidy sum at the time considering a chocolate bar was ten cents, taxes in. It was lunch hour so I hurried home for lunch only to find no lunch was prepared for me. I took my dollar and headed for the ice cream store as fast as I could. After all it was on my way back to school. Back then one scoop cost ten cents. Having eyes bigger than my stomach I ordered ten scoops. I can still remember the store owner laughing as I took my giant cone outside, but I didn't care I was on top of the world. I don't think I finished it, but I'll never forget the euphoria.

Embarrassing 

It was a hot summer day, I was maybe six at the time and an older boy up the street had a small concrete pool his father had constructed. He and my next door neighbour were best friends and twice my age. They said I could join them in the pool if I gave them ten cents each. I went inside my home found two dimes and gave it to them. While in the pool they said I could come everyday if I showed them my pee pee. So I did. Of course they pointed and laughed, I ran home and never went back.

Strange

It was a hot summer day, just after lunch. I believe I was about seven years old. A couple of friends and I wanted to go down to the lake to see the construction that was taking place. When we arrived I remember seeing a sea of black plastic held down with wooden strapping as far as I could see. It had something to do with the nuclear plant that was being constructed at the time. We agreed it was boring and started back home.

My friends and I walked barefooted in the summer at the time. On the way home it was getting dark, my feet were tired and sore, so I started to walk in the grass in front of the sidewalks. My foot struck a water valve locate sticking a few inches above the ground. It split the top of my foot quite violently severing a vein. Blood washing gushing out at a rapid pace.

A man in a tuxedo with a top hat appeared at my side, he removed his cumber bun and wrapped my foot. He scooped me up in his outstretched arms  asked where I lived and brought me home. I still have a scar on my foot about two inches long and about a quarter inch wide.

Sad

This emotion I experienced almost every Christmas but I never complained because Christmas was one of the rare times I spent with my family as a child and if I complained I would be sent on a guilt trip.  Every year my younger brother would get more presents then I. Even at the youngest years it was quite obvious but I never complained, I did probably pout like any child. It was not until I was fifteen when I was told my younger brother  was adopted from my sister that I finally understood why he had received so many more gifts  than I.  I can still remember his excitement as he received walky  talkies, tape recorders, skis, bikes, etc, while I received socks, sweaters and a model boat I had to build myself. 

Well, that's some of the stories I can remember from the early years I have to share this night. I imagine others out there have had worse and better.