Andre James - Short Cuts - San Francisco 1960's
Fence hopping was a favorite pastime during summer vacation in San Francisco. The goal was to see if we could start on McAllister Street, sneak into someone’s backyard then hop…
Fence hopping was a favorite pastime during summer vacation in San Francisco. The goal was to see if we could start on McAllister Street, sneak into someone’s backyard then hop fences from yard to yard until we reached Golden Gate Avenue. The Golden Gate Elementary School playground was just one block away, down a steep hill. Once we reached the schoolyard, we attacked the chain-link fence to launch our bodies over the top. Yes, when your a Jet, your a jet all the way…
One day, feeling like Spiderman, I decided to go solo. I found a backyard door that was open about three houses down. As I stepped in I noticed a dog peering at me through his dog door. No problem. He was obviously chained up.
As I crossed his yard the dog pushes his door open with his snout and comes charging at me. Yikes, do I go back or do I go forward? Halfway across the yard it is too late to retreat. I will myself toward the next fence. Leaping, I launch one foot onto the fence to catapult my body to the top. My hands reach the top just as I feel the dog’s breath on my ankle. With all of my might, I throw my body up and over the fence to escape his bite!!
Now, I am hanging on the other side of the fence. I glance down to determine my next cool move. “Holy Houdini, Batman” (forgive me from moving from Marvel to DC so quickly), I had just jumped from the boiling kettle to the Cliff-Of-No-Return.
Looking down it seemed as if it was 100 feet to ground zero of this next yard. No footholds available. Just a sheer cliff. Looking left, looking right there were no escape options. And I was not going back into the jaws of that guard dog who was still barking incessantly as if cheated out of his afternoon assault.
My grip was failing. I knew that eventually I would have to release. So thousands of seconds later, I let go.
As I was falling, it seemed as though my life was passing before my eyes. My birthday. Fun at the park. My first bike ride. At ten, my life was as brief as the fall. So, I am certain I reviewed my entire life during what must have been a 12 foot drop.
I hit the ground flat on my back. Everything went dark. Once I realized I had closed my eyes I was amazed when I refocused to check all limbs for breakage. No damage assessed. Batman had escaped once again.
That afternoon I skipped the jump over the school fence. I just dusted myself off and ran home to watch my mom make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Andre at ten.
Andre James, February 22, 2021
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
