Around our Bronx neighborhood, we were known as the "Three Musketeers". We were three friends enjoying those carefree, fun-filled, teenage years just hovering over the looming precipice of adulthood. World War II had already begun, but we were still too young for the draft. So the three of us, Donald Manning, Bobby Williams, and myself busied ourselves with finishing high school and playing big city street games--stickball, ring-a-levio, handball, and kick-the-can. Donald was the best athlete--he beat us at every game, especially handball! Bobby was the slyest--he found a multitude of ways to cheat us! I was the shyest--more of a follower than a leader. It was Donald and Bobby who would often cut classes to sneak into downtown movies. I remember the one time I followed them, I was fearful every second that the truant officer would nab us in the act! Another time, I did get caught, this time by the police! Donald and I were walking one noon down a Bronx street. Donald was carrying a Daisy BB rifle that we were taking to his house to be fixed (he was good at fixing things). An old woman, sitting on a wooden box in front of her house, made a disparaging remark about boys with guns. Donald kinda...sorta...pointed the broken BB rifle in her direction. Before we had traveled one more block, two policemen, leaped from their car, guns drawn, ordered us to drop the rifle, and pushed us up against an iron fence to be searched! On the way to the station in the back of the squad car, Donald complained about our mistreatment, only to be rewarded by a slap across the face by one of the officers. After a few tense hours in the lockup at the police station, we were let go with a warning but without our Daisy rifle! Yes, we were the three musketeers, but only Donald was the aggressive one! He was the first to volunteer for the war. He joined the Navy. Bobby followed soon after--joining the Marines. I waited until after high school graduation to be drafted. Donald was also the most aggressive pursuing the neighborhood beauty, Ruby Peters. Ruby was well-guarded by her religious grandmother. It took relentless effort on the part of Donald to win Ruby's heart. One night, covered in grease, he dove off an anchored Navy ship and swam to meet Ruby (whom I had driven to the pier for this illegal rendezvous). They eventually married. So did Bobby and his girl, Jane. Eventually, weddings broke up the triumvirate of the three musketeers! Sic transit gloria mundi!
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