That year some of my friends got bikes. You ever tried to keep up with a bike with a scooter? LOL...
Not easy, well, impossible! That scooter didn't last long.
I remember I sabotaged the scooter. I later used the scooter wheels to make a skateboard.
My dad didn't mind me breaking the scooter on purpose. He knew what I was up against. (Bike vs.
Scooter) As a matter of fact, I purchased my own 1st bike at age 13 with my own hard-earn money,
a Western Auto 3-Speed Flyer...it cost me around $49. I kept it like my dad kept his car.
I earned my stash selling cookies, candy, chips and snacks in middle school. I would buy my
inventory with the lunch money my mom gave me. I purchased my goods before I got to school.
I never ate lunch in middle nor high school, but I never lost a pound. School lunch was highly over-
rated. My mom's breakfasts and dinners were belly- lling. Bacon...Nah...sometimes we had fried
pork chops for breakfast! Once I found I could bypass lunch without issues. The sale was on.
I reinvested my pro ts daily and sold to my more nancially endowed peers. At age 13, with the
help of number# 6, I open my 1st bank account.
My father was impressed. My father stressed work and everyone did, all of us working before we
were legally in the eyes of justice. LOL.
Flashback; More Lesson Learned... My rst scary moment - I mistakenly brought home some toy
soldiers I had lifted from the department store my friends and I often visited.
I made the stupid error of bringing some stolen toy soldiers home. They were still in the package, in
my hand, as I walked through the front door. I was about 8 yrs old. My father watching me as I
entered our living room. He immediately recognized that those toys in my hands didn't come by
way of his wallet.
He asked me "Boy where did I get shit from?" I responded nervously "These are Robert's toys"
My daddy responded back..."Robert, (my best friend who lived across the street) ain't got no damn
money either". He was right. It was funny, but I dare not laugh. I was shaking in my Keds. Fearful of
the next move.
I knew what was going to happen next. I just prayed I would survive. ..I did.