My Wonder Years

  I felt like I was living in two different worlds: my Warren Easton school life and then my after school and weekend life, not feeling completely all in one or the other. I enjoyed getting to know this new group of friends at school, good people like Wally Scott, Chris Pumilia, Sammy Toups, David Crain, Tommy Ezell, Ann Audler, Missy Dearing, Gladys Ortiz, Steve Longa, Janice Reimmuth, Angie Fontan, Oscar D’Souza, and so many others.  As I had been either suspended and/or expelled from my schools each year since sixth grade, I did my very best to make it through my senior year without a suspension. Unfortunately, with about five days left until the end of school, I decided to skip my 6th period Math class and head home early. As I was walking to my car, about two blocks from campus, I noticed the Warren Easton school bus driving carrying the track team and Coach Ken Martin, the track coach, who also happened to be the school’s disciplinarian. Coach Martin looked out the bus w...

  I still had my fake ID from East Jefferson High School, which said I was now 19 years old, so I applied for a weekend job as a bar back at Bruno‘s Tavern on Maple Street, the home of bartender legend, George Rankin, and second home to Fletcher, the police guard who protected Audubon Place residents. This was great news on so many levels. As one could imagine, I obviously couldn’t stand still just being a bar back, so eventually I assigned myself the job of bouncer and late night bartender while the other bartenders were taking a break. Again, as one could imagine, I immediately started letting in all of my Uptown friends that I had made through Walker and Bill, including Arthur Fort, Tony Benjamin, John Denegre, Max Hart, Danny Pick, Larkin Selman, and so many others. My drink of choice became the gin and tonic, with a wedge of lime, and since I was making them for myself, I immediately developed a pretty good habit of drinking five or six each night. It was either Walker or Lark...

  I loved going to Warren Easton. I remember my very first day, going straight to the gym and getting myself into a pick up basketball game with Kenny “Kid Funk” Moss and Kerry “Cooley High” Washington, two guys who happened to play on the school basketball team. We kept winning games together, as a team, and I felt really good playing with these guys. While they didn’t yet know my name, they kept calling me “Pistol Pete” because of my moves and jump shot. Yes, I still had it. We finally lost to Richard “Crip” Simms’ team. As we sat in the bleachers waiting to get back in, they asked me about my story and how I got to Easton, and so on.  As high school kids do, they ended up telling me about which of the cheerleaders they had slept with, etc., which led to a discussion/brag session about our favorite lines and moves that we were “known for” with the ladies. After many stories, some half truths and some hysterical lies, I ended up with the nickname “Peter the Eater” for the res...

  My love affair started early... Just a skinny sixteen year old boy... I was working at Stephen & Martin’s... I was willing, but acting somewhat coy... An old black oyster shucker... Mr. Carl was his name... “Boy, once you try one of these... Your life ain’t never gonna be da same!” Being coaxed on by the patrons... I stared at the meat on the half shell... “Suck her up, boy!” yelled Mr. Montgomery...  “She’ll be the first of many, I do tell!” Sitting cross legged next to Mr. Montgomery...  Sat his perfectly beautiful wife... She licked her lips and offered a wink... “This was going to be a special day in your life...” She picked up the shell from the marble top bar...  Held it gently between her thumb and finger... I could smell the scent of her exotic perfume...  My boyish thoughts were starting to linger... As everyone was now watching... I stared down at the gooey blob... I could feel my confidence growing...  As my head began to slowly bob... ...

  It was now the Fall of 1975… Eleventh grade started and I was back at East Jefferson, working on weekends and whenever. I was able to participate in the Louisiana Association of Student Council workshops, attend Junior Achievement meetings at an office located downtown in the CBD, and to sell programs, now at the new Louisiana Superdome, but I really had no personal direction while living out in Metairie. I don’t even remember giving my report cards, or my class pictures or any keepsakes to my mom for my School Days book, so I don’t even remember who my teachers were or what grades I received. On the bright side, I was getting invited to more Uptown parties and I hadn’t yet worn out my welcome with sleeping over at Stephen’s house, so I went Uptown as much as possible.  It was around this time that I met two important new friends, the first being Walker Boss, and the second being Bill Kearney, both of whom I met at one of the black tie social parties, where Deacon John was t...

  He was the very first friend I ever had...  He was the first kid I ever knew... We went to Holy Name together... We were in Cub Scouts together, too... Sometimes I would get his hand me downs...  He was a little older and bigger, you see...  But he was always like my brother... A wonderful friendship, Lil’ Ste and me... He taught me about the Packers... He knew everything there was to know about Bart Starr...  We both had a crush on pretty Shawn... But neither one of us got very far... I used to always sleep at his house... He could rhyme better than Muhammad Ali...  His parents would often host parties... We would sneak drinks, Lil’ Ste and me... We went to Sam Barthe Camp together... And watch the Saints lose almost every game...  Even though we went to different high schools...  Our friends were all one in the same... There wasn’t much we didn’t know about each other...  Sometimes we shared a girl or three... We would tell each other the...