As we get closer and closer to the Conference, I will be bringing up names of people that went thru the program the same time I did. I have been holding back for quite some time now. I used to post these snippets awhile back on Don Smith's Straight Alumni Yahoo site, but Chris Poole dominates the site to the extent now, that I look for signs of intelligent life, like the Viking Explorer, and then move on (made sightings of a Metalgod and a Mo recently)if I come up empty. Without further adieu, tonights episode:
TROY & JOY WHEELER
Troy Wheeler was a tall thin guy of 15, the same age as I was. His sister Joy was older. They came in about 4 days after I did. Troy looked like a young hippy version of Charles Bronson. His sister had blonde hair and was pale and bug-eyed. I think they had different mothers or something. While Troy never acted like a jerk, he did rebel a little, during one of the times I was acting right, one of the Staff Trainees, I think it was Jimmy Cassidy, asked if any of us guys could do any crazy dances. I told him I could do that crazy Russian thing, and Troy pipes up that he could do it too. Next thing ya know, we are up in front of group, squatted with our arms folded, hopping from one outstretches leg to the other, while the group is singing "Fiddler on the Roof" at the top of their lungs!! Man that was sure a trip, and it got to be a favorite that summer. They even made it into a contest one Saturday and we went up against the higher phasers. Me and Troy put about 9 guys back in group on that one. As soon as a guy lost his balance, or unfolded his arms he was disqualified. Finally all that was left was a guy named Winston Pitman, and his 4th phase ego carried him through as the new house champ. I was just too damn tired, so I fell over on my side and let him have his victory. Troy had a very animated face when he related. He could bring a shitty rap to life just with his enthusiasm. Halfway through his fourth phase, his sister pulled herself and that was the end of it. His father was suckered in by the goddamn staff, and would stand up and beg for Troy to make progress faster. He was not the only kid that had to endure this humiliation every week, but I'll just stick to him for right now. His father simply did not catch on, that it was all just a game to get more of his money. Finally Troy was pulled on a Wednesday and he actually came in after school, stood up in a rap and said his goodbyes to everyone. I believe the rap was held by Steve Howe, Senior Staff and John Legg, Staff Trainee. It was unheard of for something like this to occur, and was also one of the last times I saw Steve Howe. I guess Steve had words with Executive Staff about how he must have felt about the whole mess. Troy's dad came and picked him up during dinner and that was that. I never saw him again.
But wait! 20 years later, I am working as a child care worker for the YMCA and I got to meet and care for his two children. His son's name is Tony and he is very high strung and hyper just like his dad. His eyes even have that same Charles Bronson hook in the corner. His daughter Sandy was a joy to work with, a real sweet heart. I told his kids that I new him when he was a teenager, but did not go into details. All that I found out was that he lived in New York and that him and his wife had divorced over issues of alchohol and his temper. I never got the chance to meet him, but his son did give me his telephone number. I never had the nerve to call him and I was afraid of losing my job over it because his wife became very angry at me for talking to her children. This is how it ended up with him. Maybe he will get in touch, maybe not. That's all for one night. See you all again soon.
[ This Message was edited by: 85 Day Jerk on 2003-05-23 21:20 ]