Left to right: Schwinn Wasp “Newsboy Special” bicycle; 1950s Japanese transistor radio; Los Angeles Herald Express; authentic(ish) illustration of my paper route
My Real Memoir: I Was a Daredevil Paperboy!
As a result of my reckless adventuring and frequent self-disfigurements, Mommandad had been keeping a closer watch on me. But then I was set free by the most reckless device known to boy: a bicycle.
Our hilly little suburb was built for bravado bikery. First it was the No Hands trick, then Steering With My Feet, and finally Standing on the Seat! And yet, despite my reckless two-wheeled exploits, I got nothing worse than bruised limbs and stubbed toes. (My toes had so many mouth-like little splits, I could have staged a muppet show). Yet, ironically, my biggest injury came when I wasn’t taking any risks. Or so I thought.
A Big Kid’s Bike!
Dad was a newspaper dealer. And as a result, I’d acquired a manly new bicycle and a paper route for my ninth birthday. The bike was a black Schwinn Wasp with heavy duty shock absorbers. I rubber-banded my revolutionary Japanese transistor radio to the butterfly handlebars, and away I flew! Sort of. Actually, Mom had to drive me on my first day, after I came home drenched, crying and ashamed, with all the addresses on my route list wiped clean by the rain.
But soon I knew the route by heart, and was gliding daredevilishly down those suburban slopes! One particular corner was my refreshment break. It was a hot summer, so I’d hug the curb and raft my bare foot through the lush, damp ivy.
But…
Unbeknownst to me, the gardener who resided there had upgraded from old-fashioned hose watering to that marvel of modern lawn care, the automated RainBird system. How it works: heavy duty steel sprinkler heads pop up out of nowhere, saying, “Chicka-chicka-chicka-chicka–pppptttttthhhhhtttttt!” as they spray arcs of aqua-pura across the yard. Marvelous!
And lethal.
As I rounded the corner, I slid my foot into the cool undergrowth, when an alien object suddenly popped up like a u-boat conning tower! “Chicka-chicka-chicka-chicka—CRACK!” My blue-jeaned shin struck the evil vessel with full torpedo force!
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!” I shouted as I pulled away from the corner. The devious device had ripped open the bottom ten inches of my new jeans!
Still, No Big Deal, Right?
I figured I’d have a black-and-blue shin for a week. But the news waits for no boy, so I pushed up the volume on my radio to drown out the pain and pedaled on.
Until a few block later, a man yelled, “Stop, kid!” As I braked, he ran up and pulled back my torn pantleg. My shin was a miniature Rio Grande, gouged open all the way to the bone, and flowing red from the Colorado of my knee to the Mexico of my foot. “What’s your phone number?” the man demanded.
Mom to the rescue again. She picked me up fifteen minutes later, and took me straight to the E.R. Only this time I didn’t cry…
Much.
To read My Real Memoir from the start, click here. To read the next episode, click here.
The Schwin brings back memories. I also assume that at one point, you pinned a baseball card to the back wheel frame with a clothespin so you could hear the cool sound when you pedaled. They knew when Dirt was coming on my paper route….
Oh, yeah. That was a must, Don!
No-hands riding, yes. Standing on the seat…are you kidding me?
I was so proud of that, Bob! I didn’t know anyone else who could do it.
Ah this is the good stuff, Mitch. I got so many scars from my riding days as a kid.
And I think stubbed does were mandatory 😆
I wasn’t a paperboy, but I played daredevil every day.
Yep, kid stuff is truly universal, Nigel!
I dont often see kids outside anymore. No more daredevils about.
Reminds me of the special skills I learned in the news biz. Ha! https://myplanc.blog/2021/03/19/my-career-in-the-news-business/
Love your post, Paul.
yikes, ouch! we used to ride our bikes like crazy and always kept pushing the envelope – lots of injuries to show for it
Exactly. They’re a rite of passage, Beth.
Boys and bikes. So many adventures 😁
I know, right?!
You sure do 😁
Did you apply for workers’ comp? 🙂
😆
Ouch!! It was painful just reading this!
2 Evel Knievel’s thumbs-up 👍🏽👍🏽
;>)
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Once I fell off my bike and pebbles got stuck under the skin in my hands. My mom said try doing the dishes, maybe that will loosen them up. Long story short I passed out doing the dishes. I don’t remember how they were removed, I was out cold.
Ouch! At least you got out of doing the dishes. ;>)
lol
Ooh the memories Mitch. We had a wonderful big long slope that led down to the woods that I used to fly down on my bike until the day I hit a branch flew over my bike and it landed on top of me with the handlebar in my head. I still have that scar to this day. Great days though. I always wanted a Chopper bike but my Dad said no…it was a dull Raleigh but we still tore around the neighbourhood and woods.
Wow! Your injury trumps mine, Nicola!
That is a big ouch. I’m feeling the pain reading this. So, you have a big scar?
It’s faded a bit, but yes it’s still pretty big, Iba.
Wowwuch!! That was a pretty major mishap, Mitch! I used to think every boy was a paperboy, but eventually I realized it was really only a select few of us. Paperboy adventures, miseries, benefits, and windfalls are a great part of our histories!
Yep!
It hurts just to read about it.
Sorry to cause you pain, Nora. ;>)
I can’t believe you kept going, oblivious to the gravity of your injury. You were one tough kid!
🧡
I agree with you 100% Nancy. I would have been crying my eyes out!
I used to live on my bike! But I never went through anything like that! Didn’t you go into shock?
No, it really didn’t hurt that badly. The ER doctor told me I had a high pain threshold.
Your childhood adventures always read like little movies — full of daring, mishaps, and that wonderfully self‑aware humor you weave into every memory. The paperboy escapades here are both hilarious and oddly touching, especially the way you balance bravado with vulnerability. Revisiting this felt like watching a scene unfold with all the charm of your storytelling voice.
Ouch!!
Yikes! That beats my paper story of sliding down a hill on a snowy morning and ending up under a car. It was parked thankfully.
I don’t know, Joseph, that sound every bit as harrowing to me!
me too 🙂
💪
Such a lovely story, Mitch, from the title all the way to “much” 🙂
Thank you, Anonymous friend.
This was a whimsical little tale! Memories do make us laugh & ponder on what we did as innocent, yet sheepish & mischievous children. Have a nice day!
BBB
Thanks, you too, BBB!
Thank you!
Wowza. I agree with Anonymous…it reads like a mini-series of mishaps, and about a boy with a gift for adventure and mischief—a wonderful read. I fell off my bike once, hurt my ankle, and was sure my leg was going to be amputated…I was only 10, so it was a very big, noisy drama!
You were lucky, Fleur. Leg amputation is the standard treatment for kids who fall off their bikes. ;>)
😂 🚲 😉
You were!
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Wow, reading this post reminded me of my days. Still have the scars to show.
Thanks for sharing your memories.