Everything is out of order

Chapter 42: 1947 • Larry’s diary (age 13)

Oct 1  Went to Mrs. Rossoci’s house to see her about some stamps but she was busy

Oct 2 Had scout meeting tonight. Got our Spanish textbooks in class, I got a book in very bad condition.
Oct 3  Had a football game tonight against Ceres; the B’s won and the A’s lost. After the game I went to the dance, got home at 1.
Oct 4  Worked all day at new store
Oct 5  Sunday: Worked all day at new store. The store needs cleaning and straightening. Everything is out of order.
Oct 6  The English class got Shakespeare textbook today, The Merchant of Venice. 

Oct 7  The Tracy game against the Sonora Cs and Ds in Basketball was this afternoon.
Oct 8  Worked at store this afternoon. Mom is in San Francisco. It has been raining.
Oct 9  Had a boy scout meeting tonight and every boy was given a law to memorize

Oct 10  We had an exchange assembly with Oakdale today at school 

Oct 11  Bought two books Treve and Chips, both by Albert Payson Terhune. This makes seven out of eleven in a series.
Oct 12  Sunday: Cleaned my room today. Also cleaned the porch (back and side). Went for a walk for about an hour
Oct 13 Bought 2 more books by Terhune. The Way of a Dog and The Critter and Other Dogs
Oct 14  The Manteca Cs and Ds played against Sonora. The Ds lost but Cs won in a very good game.
Oct 15  A girl named Sharon may come to take care of the kids regularly until maybe even December 3, 1947
Oct 16  Had a Boy Scout meeting tonight at youth center. Bought new pair of levis.
Oct 17  Football game with Manteca, after the game I went to the dance
Oct 18  The parking meters are positively going into use about the 16th of November. It has been raining
Oct 19  Sunday: Work is being done across the street and across the creek parking lots
Oct 20  Happy Holly gave a stage performance in the auditorium
Oct 21  Played Calaveras. We won both games. I got into the game for only one quarter. I am on D (freshman) team
Oct 22  Bought new jacket with fur collar at army surplus for $14.40 with tax. It keeps me very warm.
Oct 23  Had a Boy Scout meeting. Got job of regularly washing Sprouse Reitz windows.
Oct 24  Went to football game. The B’s won but A’s lost. After the game I went to the dance; got home at 1
Oct 25  Took all old signs off of windows in our new store and am putting up new lights and signs
Oct 26  Sunday: Mopped and cleaned my room and put camping equipment in box
Oct 27  Had our Freshman pictures taken in the bleachers

Oct 28  The neon sign was taken down at store, changed from “Tibbits” to “Clemens’”
Oct 29  Played Oakdale today in C and D basketball. We won C game and lost D game
Oct 30  Went to Boy Scout meeting tonight and played “steal the bacon” and played knot games for achievement
Oct 31  Halloween: Stayed home in bed tonight as I wasn’t going anywhere

To be continued…

Catherine Sevenau is a writer, humorist, and storyteller living in Sonoma, California. The stories in this series are excerpts from her book, Through Any Given Door, a Family Memoir, available at Sevenau.com. Catherine is an author of three books, several volumes of family genealogy, and a longtime Broker/Realtor at CENTURY 21 Epic Wine Country. Csevenau@earthlink.net