Willard's Wall

I grew up in an average middle class inner city neighborhood. School was only a block away and there were large catholic families all around. Each age group had a nice sized gang of kids to roam and stir up trouble with. One thing kids all knew about without fail and regardless of age was Willard's wall.

Willard was an older reclusive man that had a double lot back yard. That in itself was pretty rare in the city. The length of his back yard was equal to half the length of an alley. The wall was along that alley side of his yard. We'd go there to be naughty of course, smoking cigarettes and sipping anything we managed away from our parents. What we all liked about the wall was that it was so long that we could sit at the far end of it and if Willard would happen to come out, we'd still be far enough away to run.

Willard was feared by all the kids, mostly for his reclusive ways and the rarity of catching a glimpse of him. Stories and rumors about him were rampant . He'd painted all his basement windows so that you couldn't see in but you could tell that he had lights on down there often. Many of the stories about him included tales of goings on in that basement.

If someone were dared to try to look in a window , it was a big deal if they tried. We'd all be ready to run at any noise or sign of Willard. He really very rarely came out of the house but if we were particularly loud , he would poke his head out and give us a yell. This went on often enough but there was one particular time that Willard caught us all off guard.

A group of us were sitting on Willard's wall smoking and cutting up. A group of older teenagers were also there at the same time, doing the same things. One older boy dared a kid in our younger group to actually go up into Willard's yard and look into his garage window. This kid was mentally cornered. He really had to do it or he'd suffer cruel teasing. He barely hesitated before getting on top of the wall and heading over somewhat slowly to the garage.

He barely made it to the side window when Willard opened the garage door and grabbed his hand. We all took off in every direction. Each of us running like the wind , home to our mothers. I remember my feeling like my heart was beating up into my throat as i ran into my own home to tell my mother and family what I'd just seen. I'm sure most mothers told the kids the same as my own told me. I was to calm down and she'd find out what was going on .

It turned out old Willard wasn't such a bad guy after all. After about a week of crazy stories and morbid ideas of the tortures Willard must have inflicted on that kid, we all found out the truth. Willard talked to the kid and told him how much he hated smoking. He didn't mind us hanging around on his wall. He only hated cigarette butts left in the alley. In the end he did something none of us would have ever expected. He gave that kid a handful of tootsie rolls and told him to try that for a new habit.

I guess it's the kid in me, but I'm still not sure what about Willard makes me smile the most. The tootsie roll thing is amazing. The little butterflies in my tummy from being afraid of him, are still an awesome memory. Both bring welcome smiles. Boo!