(A conversation with Preston Stevens)
THE 1948 QUEST FOR THE SHREADED WHEAT FACTORY. A VISIT TO MY OLD ROOM MATE IN DAYTON.
S
Rigdon is on top of the car, 1948
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Wonderful! Is that Manry next to you? Looks too tall?
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HE IS MY DARLINGTON ROOMATE, JIMMY FORTNEY. MANRY TOOK THE PIX.
S
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ON THE CABINET JUST ABOVE OUR STOVE AND MICROWAVE IS A NABISCO SHREDDED WHEAT BOX. IT BEARS THE COPYRIGHT DATE 1942 BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT OLD.
I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PRODUCT IN THE STORES FOR A LONG TIME BUT IT USED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR OF BREAKFAST CEREALS.
RETURN IN TIME WITH ME TO 1948 WHEN A COUPLE OF FRIENDS AND I DECIDED TO GO ON A QUEST TO FIND THE SHREDDED WHEAT FACTORY AT NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y..
18 YEAR OLD BOYS WERE KIND OF NUTTY LIKE THAT AND I GUESS THEY STILL ARE.
TO US THE TRIP MADE PERFECT SENSE BECAUSE COULDN'T YOU SEE THE SHREDDED WHEAT FACTORY ON THE CEREAL BOX?
I AM SURE OUR PARENTS WERE READY TO CALL THE VAN WITH THE MEN IN WHITE COATS BUT OUR THREESOME HAD BEEN KNOWN FOR QUESTS LIKE DRIVING A CUT DOWN 1934 FORD V8 COUPE SOUTH UNTIL WE COULD PICK A COCONUT OFF A TREE. THIS WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED UPON REACHING WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. AN UNDERSTANDING COP FOUND US IN A LOCAL PARK TRYING IN VAIN TO REMOVE THE HUSK FROM A FALLEN FRUIT. THIS HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR US AND THEN POINTING BACK NORTH, WISHED US A RAPID AND UNCEREMONIOUS DEPARTURE.
WITH THE OLD FORD LEAVING A TRAIL OF BLUE SMOKE, WE SET OFF FOR NIAGARA WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS, A FULL TANK OF GAS AND $50.00 EACH. MY BUDDIES WERE SOON RELIEVED OF THEIR MONETARY STASH AT A YMCA IN CHARLSTON, S.C. SINCE I HAD SLEPT ON MY WALLET I FURNISHED ALMOST THE ENTIRE FUNDING. "ALMOST" BECAUSE THERE WAS A GIANT PICKLE JAR FULL OF CHANGE IN THE TRUNK. ONE OF THE GUYS PLAYED THE GUITAR AND SANG WHICH SOMETIMES GOT US A FREE MEAL.
DAYS LATER AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT WE BECAME AWARE OF A BIG ROAR WHICH SIGNALED THE END OF OUR JOURNEY IN A LOCAL PARK OVERLOOKING THE FALLS. I CRAWLED UNDER THE BUSHES FOR THE NIGHT WHILE THE OTHER TWO SLEPT IN AND UNDER THE CAR.
AT DAWN I AWOKE TO FIND MY FRIENDS MISSING. A LOCAL SQUAD CAR SOON SOLVED THE MYSTERY, DISGORGING ITS HUMAN CONTENTS INCLUDING THE GUITAR AT MY FEET.
THE STORY GREW WITH THE TELLING BUT THE GIST OF IT CONCERNED A MIDNIGHT CONCERT AND A FREE BREAKFAST AT THE STATION HOUSE. WE NEVER DID FIND THE SHREDDED WHEAT FACTORY BECAUSE THIS TIME A SMILING COP POINTED SOUTH.
PRESTON STEVENS
2024
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