When I think of P.S. 173, Lawrence Landis comes to mind. The pristine red brick building comes to mind as well; with the white faux marble stairs in front of the school, (the stairs rarely used by anyone, save those who were kept well after three o’clock, when the side exit doors had long been locked) and the shiny brass handrails that we polished by sliding upon them when we did use the center doors. I can still smell the brass.1
That pretty picture of the school was taken from 173’s early years in the 1940s. By the late 60s and 1970s the school, at least its appearance, had gone to seed and was covered by graffiti, as was much of Washington Heights. And it had aged, melting into the years, into deterioration; into, not so much encroaching time, but the encroaching times. But the memories of the early days and the early people remained. And they are unchanging, immutable. 2
Miss Callanan’s first grade class was not all that pleasant. We folded our yellow pulpy papers and filled in the top two folds with our name, the date, our class, and the subject. Arithmetic papers were folded into four boxes, spelling papers only once in half, to form two columns. Denizens of the class knew what kind of lesson or test was to come based on how we were instructed to fold our papers. And the ink, spraying from those horrid pens when the nib got momentarily hung up in the paper’s pulp…added mess to misery. If you were left handed, all the worse. Of course, I was left handed.3
Tensions heightened when papers were “handed back.” The grade you received was one of two: A cross: not good; a check: good. It was Lawrence Landis, seated one aisle to my left, who showed me how to successfully defuse this tension as well as mollify the devastating effects of a possible poor grade. Landis, a comfort, a smile, and a fellow traveler, seemed to know how to make light of an otherwise difficult half hour. What he did was fold his returned paper lengthwise in four, then fold the bottom inch upwards and away from him, the next inch segment toward himself, making a zigzag pattern, until the entire paper was transformed into an inch square packet. He would then hold the little square, pressing it on his desktop with an index finger, letting go all at once, as it sprung up, revealing itself as a nifty Jack-In-The-Box: an improvised toy; an entertainment; an amusement, fashioned out of the very cruel weaponry the adult world was using to torture us. With judicious use of this toy, the feeling was that we had prevailed.4
We did not always prevail. In fact, it was rare. And when we did prevail we did not always triumph.5
Sometime in 1946 Tom Mix and the Ralston Purina Company offered an interesting premium. For a thin dime and box top from Shredded Ralston you got a neat little adjustable ring which enabled the wearer to look around corners. I got it. After weeks of waiting, which of course seemed like months, it came in a little brown envelope, addressed to me. I was slow to finish the cereal, however.6
Rings that followed included Sky King’s Gold Ore Ring, the Magna-Glo-Writing Ring, and Navajo Treasure Ring, (for which one had to consume Peter Pan Peanut Butter) and a host of Lone Ranger rings, including the Flashlight Ring, the Six Shooter Ring and the Weather Ring, which required proof of purchase of either Kix or Cheerios Cereal. Always, however, I was slow to finish the cereal. And it was because of this sluggishness and limited cupboard space that I failed to acquire what for me became the ring of rings: The Lone Ranger Atom Bomb Ring. My mother simply refused to harvest anymore fractionally consumed boxes of cereal. Although, one bright day, in Mrs. Storm’s sixth grade class, my dreams were answered. Almost.7
I don’t remember who, but one of the boys, (whom I thought was the luckiest kid in the room that day) flashed the ring. The Lone Ranger Atom Bomb Ring. It had been around for a couple of years, but I had never seen it, never held it, much less removed the rear fins to peer into the innards of the bomb itself and thereby witness the mini-phosphorescent atom bomb devastation. But the kid wouldn’t let me see it. He would not let me hold it. I negotiated for the ring all day and finally assumed ownership of the coveted piece by day’s end…after trading away a goodly proportion of my pocket's contents, trading cards, pen knives, pin backs and do-dads.8
My curiosity, although only moments remained until the final dismissal bell of the day, was not to be contained. I removed the fins and looked into the ring. Nothing. I adjusted the angle and cupped my hand over it to block out the light. And it was then I heard those ominous words:9
“What do you have there? Bring that up here, please!”10
She took the ring…and threw it in the wicker waste basket just as the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. And my atom bomb ring dream.11
“Line up, in twos!”12
The door was held open by the door monitor. We marched out. It was not the highlight of this day. And it was not until some forty years later did I get to look into one of these rings. But by then the little flecks of phosphorus (A-bomb devastation) had long since lost their ability to absorb light and had died.13
Around that time I passed a sign in the seventies on Manhattan’s east side that said Lawrence Landis, Real Estate. I made note of it and called him. We chatted for a bit. Essentially, he was somewhat perplexed as to why I had called. I suggested lunch. He declined and indicated he was very busy these days. 14
After several weeks I was driving past his office and decided to say hello in the wake of all the years. Someone was pulling a car out of a space just along side of Lawrence’s office. I pulled in. 15
“Mr. Landis in?” I jauntily asked the receptionist.16
“Do you have an appointment?” she said, not jauntily.17
“Just tell him his old buddy Gary from P.S.173 is here,” I said. She rose and went into Landis’ office. Moments later she returned.18
“I’m sorry,” she said, “he’s tied up. Would you care to make an appointment?”19
“No. That’s all right,” I said. “Thanks.” And I left.20
I went out and stepped over to my car. There was a $115 dollar ticket on the windshield. I removed it and got into the car. I put the key into the ignition and turned it. Then I folded the ticket in half lengthwise, and lengthwise again. I took the bottom inch and folded it away from myself and the next inch or so toward, making a little, zigzag, Jack-In-The-Box. Then I pressed the packet on the dashboard, holding it down with my index finger for a moment. And I let it go.21
A contest entry
- Childhood Obsession by VanillaLace6661.
225 points, ended October 10, 10 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 52 of 52
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This was really well written. I think the descriptions were a little too-well developed (meaning long-winded), but thats probably just my personal taste.
Again another enjoyable story! Great work!
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I really liked this... it was really good.. very interesting.... well done
~Dani -
I enjoyed your story and like the way you manage to maintain the reader's interest throughout - even though some of the descriptions were a little long-winded for me that is. But, nonetheless, I like your ability to 'capture' a moment of your childhood - at least I think it's autobiographical.
One suggestion - Shouldn't it be the 'nib' of the pen and not the 'nub', just wondering?
Well done.
Bernice. Rewarded 8
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I really liked it, especially the ending. It's clever but not too clever. The Jack-in-the-box detail of folding the paper is one that sticks out early in the story and you do well to tie it in at the end. I thought there ought to have been a bit more explanation of why the teacher just suddenly threw away the ring the main character was playing with; it seems rather nasty, uncalled for, and even random. Seems like a teacher would take it away, maybe give it back later, not just throw it in the trash. Plus, why wouldn't the main character fish it out of the trash later on? I feel like most kids would at least attempt that. Just some more explanation might make that work better. I did love your description of all the different rings. That felt really authentic and interesting.
I did feel like the jump from the past to the future (present? I couldn't tell) was a little abrupt. But besides that the story as a whole flowed nicely. Although I feel like the story might be a bit stronger and more satisfying if you did actually end up talking to Landis and had a short, awkward conversation with him that really kind of showed you that the old days are gone and so is that little boy who you thought was so cool.
Anyways, great story. Could use a little work, but that's always true of any story basically. Well done.. Rewarded 8
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This is one of the first stories on the site which leaves me wishing I were a better writer. Simple, yet somehow deep though I can't figure out exactly how... Great job! The best sentence is the last, and it very well should be.
. Rewarded 4
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Wow! I really like this story. I can definately relate to making my parents but a bunch of things [in my case, Smucker's Jam] so that I could get something [a Sailor Moon watch, with pictures all up and down the band]. My parents were so mad!
It's beautifully written. I want to fold a paper like that now... hehe.
Thank you for entering! -
Aww. I LOVE how this kind of comes full circle...very creative, too. Beautiful story-telling - who would have thought that a story about grade-school paper-folding could be so great? Thanks for the read.
Sorry I didn't comment when I clicked this in the Featured Box. Hope you didn't think I was going to click-and-run.
. Rewarded 6
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Very interesting read. You definitely have a talent for writing here. Keep up the good work!
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ANOTHER FINE PIECE!
This brought back memories of school for me. Not a happy time. But this is perfectly written. I wouldn't change a thing!
. Rewarded 4
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wow good work mate! You're a very talented writer and really really good with description. I envy your ability
. Rewarded 4
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Awesome
Yes, this is awesome. You are a great writer, and I can totally relate to this story. The "good old days" that still had their stress, and the fast forward to getting an overpriced parking ticket. Love this!
. Rewarded 4
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Ha! What a perfect ending! Another failed test (the ticket), and you make it into a jack in the box too. Awesome.
I really like how things don't tie up prettily at the end of your stories all the time, like this one. I don't know if you'll ever see your old friend, or if you'll ever find a ring that still glows inside. But with your stories, it seems there is always hope. Well done again, Gary.
. Rewarded 6
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Excellent detail
I envy your abillity to describe things in such fine detail. Good craftsmanship. -
You have good descriptions in the story. The story seems very realistic. I like the way you described how the jack in the box was made. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for entering the story in my contest
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I felt like I was there, standing, watching everything happen. When I read the last part I laughed, if I ever figure out how to do it right (folding the paper) then I'd do it to every one of my tests!
Nice job! 
~Mia~
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Fabulous.
It was so well written and it kept my interest. The description you put into this is great and I loved it. It gave me perfect vision of what you was happening and I loved it. I like stories that allow you to follow the character as if you were there! Fabulous!
♥`Mel`♥
P.s. Thanks for reminding me to comment. XD I dunno if I would've felt right leaving it empty.
. Rewarded 6
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ooooo. I wnna do that jack in the box thing. O.O
It sounds like fun
And your story was really nice.
I like your narratives alot. Where you leave the emotions to the readers. They seem very...impactful? o.o I don't know the exact word. But it was a really nice story. I enjoyed it alot. ^^
. Rewarded 6
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Hurray for PA! Kind of... haha.
I love the way you write and describe everything in detail, and I really liked the way you brought the story back at the end by talking about the paper folding!
If I have to nitpick, I'd say there were one too many "howevers" in paragraph seven, but I barely noticed it anyway.
. Rewarded 6
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Wow. I was completely mesmerized since I had started reading this. You really have a gift with words.
I'm really glad you reminded me to read this. Amazing !
. Rewarded 4
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^_^Heh heh, poor guy. Is this a true story? If it is then poor you. everything just beyond reach. I really liked the ending with the jack in the box paper toy thing. That was awesome. I couldn't focus completely because my cousins were argueing and hey can be loud, but I like this alot. Your really good. I'll have to rea something else of your later.
. Rewarded 6
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odd, I thought I had commented on this one, apparently not. Either way this was interesting. It saddens me that Mr. Landis didnt remember him, or maybe he was still unhappy about losing the little ring. I liked the way you wrote this, it was so easy to imagine what was happening.
. Rewarded 6
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Yeah, sounds familiar. Easy to identify with this one; even if one did not grow up in NYC. Most of my classmates in primary school left the town as soon as they were able. No cohesion.
All our cereal was from General Foods, because that's where my grandfather had worked. Ralston Purina was a comopetitor. I only remember one premium, a submarine. It cost $0.25 postage. You put a drop of baking powder in it to make it sink. When the powder disipated, it rose to the surface.My school was built in the 1890's, had not one blade of grass; all bitumen and chainlink fences. We played Korean War on the playground, using the klinkers from the coal-fired furnace as handgrenades. There were only two entrances/exits in the whole building. When new safety laws came into effect, the school was tunred into a storage facility. Fitting.
I tried contacting my kindergarten best-friend last year. No response. Too many miles in between.
Thanks for the memories.
jg
. Rewarded 8
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I think it was perfectly written so I will definately be reading more of your stories...=)
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ok so i didnt really read this story the 1st time i went on here its not usually the type of story i read but i actually did like this story ,how you wrote it , and how it flowed.
i love how every thing in this story connects together...um all in all it was great!
sorry i didnt read it till now
. Rewarded 6
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wow.. i really liked this. i didnt get one part tho... was the ring Landis's, and was that why he didn't want to talk to u? I just need to be explained that part... other than that, quite a good story you've got there! sorry i didnt read it for a long time...
. Rewarded 6
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ou thats a good one
this story reminds me of those t.v. shows made in the 40s with the crabby teacher with the mole on her face slapping the kids wrists with a ruler. ^-^ i loved how you brought how the man remembered the little folding trick. nostalgic. the part about the rings little boys used to collect out of cereal and snacks really caught my attention. those rings were really neat. i've a couple. wish they still did that. >,< great work!
. Rewarded 8
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lol. The triumph of children. Always a fun topic to read about. The rings demise via waste basket was tragic though. Loved it!
. Rewarded 4
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wow this is really cool! i love the ending! this is such an interesting story and i like the characters that you developed. the flow was good and plot kept me reading! i can not wait to read more of your works!
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This was great, flowed really well and a good story to generate memory from childhood. Well done!
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This was a very great read. Well done, especially the way you had the story end. The story flows very well.
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I've got to honestly say, that you're one of my favorite writers on this site.
Your stories are amazing and they flow wonderfully.
I love them.
Holly -
I'm not sure you could have ended this piece better! I love the way it circles around itself! It's interesting the way you tell two seemingly-unrelated stories from the past in one piece, and it's really the place (and the title!) that holds them so perfectly together. You have an eye and a voice for memoir, that's for sure.
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That was a good story, with your unparalleled attention to detail. It amazes me how your stories can go from uplifting to melancholy so quickly, and how you can maintain your sense of perspective throughout.
As always, a pleasure to read your stuff...
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First off, this is nothing short of amazing. You have a greatly admired ability to write about the simplest things and turn them into great works of art. I love how you tied everything together, the shortness and pureness of the words you used, the much-anticipated ring story, and the ending.
So childlike. So innocent. So pure.
So...beautiful. In something that we wouldn't normally look to find beauty: not being able to see an old friend, a parking ticket, cereal box rings, and failing grades. This talent of yours...I'm so jealous!
♥S
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Excelent! You have a talent for knowing the subtle passions and this one it's beautiful.
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I really loved reading this! The simplicity of childhood (and the little things done during that time to make life more bearable) was depicted well, as was the way those times fade. It's sad that this story rings so true for everyone; no matter how much we wish it, things change... and some things never change.
The childish obsession with the rings amused me. It was not too long ago (first and second grade) that I remember having a similar fascination with Pokémon trading cards!
I enjoyed this greatly. I find that I often feel like life is moving by too quickly for me to truly enjoy, and reading this gave me that feeling again. It brought out an emotion, a thought, that I wasn't expecting to feel today. It makes me treasure my current friends even more; I haven't seen any of my elementary school friends in years, and I hope I can keep some of my high school ones.
Thank you for letting me know about this piece! Well done, and well written!
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Ah, we can never go back, can we? Most of us do try but meet the same thing, we have all moved on. I was never allowed to collect anything from boxes of cereals, or similar enticements, but I understand the desperate need for such things - I saw others with them and being popular for the moment by possessing the sought after trinket. I wonder what the kids of today are hankering for? Do they still 'do swaps' behind the bike shed?
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Ah, you should see the things you can 'swap' for in schools these days...
♥
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Excellent, very enjoyable read. I liked the connection drawn between how the school degraded with time and "the times", poignant how the ring lost its gleam, and the childhood friendship dissipated. The jack-in-the box was a marvelous detail, the letting go of the ticket in the end made for a great moment. Prevailing over the ticket, even if ultimately not a triumph (felt good, but still had to pay it LOL). Well done!
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Well executed. A fairly recognisable tale, it could have happened to anyone, which is its main strength. There's an element of being unable to cross the same stream twice, nicely mixed with the idea that what you got from Larry wasn't so much a comfort as an attitude, what Kipling might describe as "If all men count with you, but none too much". (There's a lot of other imperialist tosh in the poem, but i expect you know it anyway.) I feel there's a tiny bit of fairly ridiculous triumph in the fate of the parking ticket, of which I thoroughly approve. Just a little pedantic thing; I would lose the split infinitive. You might ask jauntily, but you surely wouldn't jauntily ask; you might as well boldly go! This minor points apart, it's like I said, well executed.
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Hmmm, something weird about the word "denizens" here :-) I remember those yellowish papers- manilla paper.
"We did not always prevail. In fact, it was rare. And when we did prevail we did not always triumph."<---cut me, cut me, yuck!
I like the ending, the twist and conclusion is a strength in all your stories. The transition to talking about the cereal rings was a big, awkward jump, though the next section was good. Some awkward dialog there. ~Six -
Stay away from Larry Landis
That guy is nothing, but bad luck for you. I really enjoyed your total recall of all the rings and cereals that were out there. I could relate to the left handed part too. Good writing and nice story.
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This was indeed a very well written piece(as usual). It brought back some of my childhood memories. Its also true as we grow up we lose contact with our childhood friends. I have contact with only 2 of my school friends now.
As always I really enjoyed reading this story.
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Jack in the box. A spring of memory, a cure for misery. It's really cute. ^_^ Some things don't change but then again, maybe we just don't want to see the change. Awesome as always.
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Contradictions make it work
I hate to say how wonderful this is, because it appears that everyone underneath me has already done so! Instead, I will do my job and comment on your language (which was nearly impeccable). For some reason, your voice and sentence flow seem to be better and more natural in your nostalgic pieces; it's much more like listening to a good friend tell a story. Comma after "Mrs. Storm's sixth grade class." I didn't noice any passive voice sentences, that's good, especially in stories like this that feel natural.
Great job with the opening imagery: it serves to pull the reader in by offering something familiar AND by appealing to the senses (building descriptions and "I can still smell the brass," which was absolutely fantastic to me. I didn't realize that other people noticed the smell of brass). It set the tone very nicely for story with a..... let's see... not a twist ending.. but an ironic one? Situational irony, I think. A plus, Mister G. Alexander!
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This piece is very cute - I can't believe your old schoolmate was "too tied up" to talk to you again - the least he could do was spare 5 minutes (or at least that's my opinion of it anyway)
Times have really changed since then; no offence mate, I'm not calling you old, it's just this really puts in perspective where we've come from and where we are now. Then again the teacher you had sounds scarily like my grade 5 one... but even I still like making those zig-zagging paper things XD
The question remains however; I wonder if anyone still has any of those collectable rings? My advice: eBay.
This is really descriptive; I felt like I was there as it all happened. It wasn't boring as many texts turn out to be when written from memory, and I reckon it was really enjoyable to read! Good job. ^.^ -
The Lone Ranger Atom Bomb Ring
It's funny, these things that would seem so small to anyone else, can be things so dominate in our own memory. The rings, for instance. I remember for me it was always a little Batman figure at the toy store. My dad would give me a couple dollars (depending on if I'd behaved well), and I'd purchase one... My brothers play with them now.
I greatly enjoyed this piece. The use of language was superb, and the characterizations fantastic. Also, I liked the way the paper Jack-In-The-Box was used as a toy for coping (perhaps in the real past?).
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Fantastic piece, as always. The nostalgia you feel for bygone days really shows in this story. It's such a shame that "my era" is so obsessed with their priorities that people can't make time for an old friend, even when your fondest memories date back to better days. And as for the rings in the cereal boxes, the only prize I've ever found in a box was a step counter under the plastic packaging of Special K. Oh joy.
Thanks for posting,
--V -
What a lovely, reflective piece. I loved the two main themes - that no matter how much time passes some things never change (the coping mechanism - paper spring), and that things are valued by what they mean to the individual (the rings, and later the old school friend)
I found it interesting that you had your character deal with rejection from his old friend using a method that same friend had taught him many years ago.
I loved how you related the lessons of life to the original lessons of paper - for every situation, the solution is different.
On another note...
The only cereal box collection fad that ever held my interest, were the plastic cards that you filled in your name etc, then put in the oven to shrink. The smell of the plastic had a truly unique odour and if I ever smell the identical odour, the memory comes back in technicolor.
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You give this simple memory a lot of colour with this piece. I like how you capture all of the little, usually forgotten, details of life and give them the same sharpness as experiences had only yesterday. This held a lot of meaning for me as change is always something that niggles at me, and you expressed it in such a matter-of-fact way that once I finished it I smiled and thought to myself, 'Well, change is just part of life, it happens'. It takes certain talent to display such a message while seemingly focusing all of your attention on detail and the content of the story, making it all the more enjoyable. I especially liked the ending, it was an amusing but very fitting finish to the story; the protagonist still making light of the 'cruel weaponry the adult world' in a childish manner. People change and move on at different rates, I suppose - it's easy to forget that.
Thank you for the food for the thought and for the glimpse back into the exciting world of cereal-box toys. A very enjoyable piece.
- CC
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Once again another amazing piece. You truly are a talented writer. You have so many life stories and I just wish I had as many as you did. Once again, all I can say is wow.
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I do not know of the ring or rings you were talking about. But I do remember eating cereal after cereal for the prize at the bottom and sending the proof of purchase for the spy ring everyone else had.
Brings up memories and it also makes me feel really old
Brooke
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