the taffy pull

 the taffy pull

Since we are on the subject of Greg's boyhood and march to manhood I place into  posterity the once famous "taffy pull." As has been noted, the Creasons and the Sheehys were very close as family units and John met Ben when he was doing "post-grad" studies at Huntington Park High School taking typing or some other useful skill. They continued to be pals and had some adventures together including a trip to a Notre Dame game that was heightened by doses of Wilkin Family whiskey that might be mentioned another time. They also, as John told it once drank 77 ten cent beers and then stopped at a stand called Finley's for tamales. Their walk home included many belches and stops to water the bushes of Florence. In this bit of Sheehy lore the five from the Sheehy unit were visiting on a Sunday to the Annetta street home of the Creason six. One of the ties that bound the two families were the age similarities of the kids. Cheryl and Stephen were near Maureen, I was near Jack and Christine was just a year ahead of Greg. As it turned out little G felt some rumbling in the tum tum and repaired to the bathroom to take a poo poo. Christine, being a curous tot wandered in and viewed the boy sitting on the can with something odd dangling down. She said hello, walked over and gave what my Mom called "his willywacker" a tug to see if it was attached to the rest of his legs. Poor Greg let out a howl and adults came running. When it was determined it was just a curious girl examing parts she did not have, laughter was held back but burst forth later. Way back in the day it was a story that never failed to get good laughs as they described "the taffy pull."