Felix The Tourist Attraction

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Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

0 posted 2008-02-23 10:56 AM

Ten year-olds Felix,
Butch,
and Wawa
are diving off the end
of Penn Treaty Park pier,
down the end of
Shackamaxon Street,
in our slummy hood.

They’re diving into the filthy,
sewage infested waters
of the Delaware River.

A tourist bus drives up,
emptying it load of curious people
on to the pier.

The tourists traipse on out
to the end of the pier.

They throw shiny quarters out,
and watch Felix,
Butch,
and Wawa
dive for them.

The kids can see
the quarters
in the murky waters.

The kids shove the quarters
in their mouths—
something like a piggy bank.

They surface
and wave to the tourists
for more quarters.

The kids take time to notice,
a hungry glint
in some of the tourist’s eyes.

*Authors note:  This took place fifty years ago.  The Delaware River has been cleaned up, making it safe for would be present day Felix, Butch, and Wawa to dive for quarters there.
Unfortunately, the pier was struck by an errant barge several years ago.  It has never been rebuilt.  Now the kids have to go all the way up river to Pulaski Park to dive in the water.  No tourists go there, so no more quarters.

Bobby

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

1 posted 2008-02-23 11:29 AM

You and your friends truly did live a different reality than most of the kids today. Your's and the gang's experiences have provided much grist for your poetic mill!!!

Linda

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

2 posted 2008-02-23 11:44 AM

Some of the things you did in your childhood remind me of my own. This is one of them. My brothers and I, and our friends, hung around some places that would be unthinkable today. I guess you had to be there.
Ida

TomMark
Member Elite

since 2007-07-27

Posts 2133
LA,CA

3 posted 2008-02-23 02:14 PM

A children's world is so different from the world in the eyes of adults. No matter what. have fun, Felix.

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4 posted 2008-02-23 02:43 PM

Earth Angel,

Well, no--the neighborhood reality hasn’t changed all that much here. The kids still swim in the river, and get into pretty much the same things as we did. It's an ancient place, as places in America go.

It’s a generally poor, and sometimes wild place.

Billy Penn signed his treaty with the Indians there in 1682. That happened just down the street at Penn Treaty Park, under a massive Elm tree. The tree is not there anymore, but it’s remembered.

Of course, I still live here.

Bobby

[This message has been edited by Robert E. Jordan (02-23-2008 05:40 PM).]

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

5 posted 2008-02-23 02:45 PM

Ida,

I'm pleased that you can relate to this story. That makes me feel good.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

6 posted 2008-02-23 02:48 PM

Tom too,

Oh, I don't know. Some of us just never grew up.

Bobby

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

7 posted 2008-02-23 03:05 PM

Nice writing...reminds me of when I was a boy living in Kentucky at 705 Dresden Avenue, one street over from the Kentucky Derby...when the big races were running we would charge for parking in our neighborhood in front of our neighbors houses...we would tell them we would keep an eye on their cars...it was a safe neighborhood...James

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

8 posted 2008-02-23 03:30 PM

James,

You rascal, shaking down the tourists like that--aren’t you ashamed of your self—GO FOR IT!

Tourists are easy, arn't they--and that's the way it should be.

Bobby

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

9 posted 2008-02-23 05:55 PM

What an interesting story. It's great the river is cleaner, but sad the pier is gone. As for quarter-tossing-tourists, what they did was treat Felix et al like performing seals.
In your presentations, you never fail to give the Felix's of the world the respect they deserve as humans.

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant

since 2000-01-29

Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia

10 posted 2008-02-23 06:16 PM

now that sounded like a fun day Bobby for Felix and his gang... hope they didn't end up with bad ear infections or anything like that from the murky river! love RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

11 posted 2008-02-23 06:20 PM

A wealth of history in your neighborhood! Thank you for your interesting and informative reply!

Linda

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

12 posted 2008-02-23 06:40 PM

A pity that the water was murky, otherwise it would have been such a pleasure for Felix!

Among the better memories I am sure.

Thank you dear Bobby for another interesting piece of the story!

love
Margherita

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

13 posted 2008-02-23 06:56 PM

Midnitesun,

I love your response to the poem. It made me laugh out loud. Now let's see, what kind of noise do seals make? Arf Arf Arf? I know it's something like that.

Your comment made me blush, thanks for that.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

14 posted 2008-02-23 07:01 PM

Dear RDB,

It's funny you should mention ear infections. I've been troubled with ear infections for years now. I don't really hear that well, because of them.

Felix and his gang were always catching something from that river--and it wasn't fish.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

15 posted 2008-02-23 07:04 PM

Earth Angel,

I'm glad you came back to this.

BTW, That treaty was never broken. That is where Philadelphia picked up it's nickname--"The City of Brotherly Love".

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

16 posted 2008-02-23 07:06 PM

Dear Margherita,

Thanks Hon. It still was loads of fun for Felix, and the gang. It was a wonderful time.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

17 posted 2008-02-23 08:23 PM

Midnitesun,

Please let me add that Felix is a dear friend that I have know for many years. He's now retired from all that, and drives a cab here in Philadelphia.

Yes, he went through hell as a child. It didn't leave him bitter.

Bobby

[This message has been edited by Robert E. Jordan (02-23-2008 11:45 PM).]

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

18 posted 2008-03-01 02:29 PM

The kids in my area used to steal the beer coolers of the tourists when they were out fishing. I guess kids are pretty much the same everywhere. Rural or city kids seem to have a way of getting what they need (or want).

A

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19 posted 2008-03-01 03:18 PM

Alison,

What a good idea. I'll pass that on to Felix.

Kids are kind of the same everywhere.

Thanks for digging this one up.

Bobby

Earl Brinkman
Senior Member

since 2010-03-03

Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan

20 posted 2010-10-14 01:00 AM

I found this interesting.

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