Ryan White - My Own Story by Ryan & Cunningham White & Ryan & Cunningham White

Author:Ryan & Cunningham White & Ryan & Cunningham White [White, Ryan & Cunningham, Ann Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0803709773
Publisher: Dial Books

5

I Come Up Grinning: How Life Changed

In the end I did go back to Kokomo a few times, but only to see my relatives. I was much happier when they came to see us. If I ever had to mention Kokomo, I talked about “where I lived before.”

Cicero was something different—just a little lake community, maybe 4500 people. More come on vacation in the summer. There’s one central street, and not a lot to do except drive around, visit your friends, and hang out at the Dairy Queen. That was fine with me. All I wanted, I thought, was peace and quiet.

As you come into Cicero, you drive past farmers’ fields and the town cemetery, and then cross a lake with several docks to get to the main street, which has old-fashioned gas lanterns all along it. Our house was a brand-new Cape Codder, right on the lake. The first time we saw our future home, it was only half-built. Andrea and I could pick which of the three bedrooms we wanted. The ones we ended up with were joined by a door, but each room had a separate staircase. So we could walk back and forth and visit each other easily, but feel like we had our own apartments. There was a deck that looked out over the boats on the lake, and from the kitchen window you could see birds and chipmunks and squirrels in the woods out back. When we moved to Cicero in May, I finally had all the shelf space I needed for Herbie’s cage and my G.I. Joe figures and my comics—just as I was beginning to get hooked on other things. Like skateboarding.

I had another year to go before I could get a learner’s permit, so skateboarding was the next best thing to driving. Whenever Mom and I drove into Indianapolis to see Dr. Kleiman—just about once a week right then—we passed through Castleton, a part of the city where all the malls are. It’s the best place around to see movies and shop. One day in Castleton I discovered Maui Surf and Sport, a skateboard shop that carried surfer T-shirts and shorts—the kind I liked from California that you couldn’t find anywhere else around us. John Riser, the owner, was a young, athletic guy who let me grill him about the best wheels and boards. Since I was just starting to skate, he gave me some videotapes to inspire me.

I bought plenty of clothes. When I finally got to California, I wanted to look like I belonged. I also picked up a board, several pairs of Oakleys—mirrored sunglasses in wild colors like orange—and copies of the skateboarding magazines John carried. I read every page of Skateboarding, Poweredge, and my favorite, Thrasher, which is the best for skateboarders. At least I could study tricks, even if a wall ride was way beyond me. I began to think all I wanted in life was to work for John when I turned sixteen, so I could learn how to be in business for myself.

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