Guadalcanal Memories


I like this story. It reminds me of you falling asleep in our bed.

When I was growing up in Shark River Hills, I knew a boy named Fred Frevert. Fred and I went to school from 4th grade through highschool, and since we were both smart we were in a lot of classes together. Fred was poor. I believe he came from what we then called a "broken family." He lived with his father, who may have been a drinker but in any case was rarely around. Fred and I were not close friends, but for a short period of time we hung our together, mostly because we were in a phase where we both loved DC comics. I loved going to his house after school because there were no grownups there, and we would read and exchange Superman and Batman comics and drink Nehi pop and eat Tastycakes.
In 7th grade English class, we were required to do oral book reports, and I remember Fred doing a report on Guadalcanal Diary, an account of the World War II battle for this Pacific island. I remember this odd detail because in 8th grade English class Fred also did an oral report on Guadalcanal Diary, and then in 9th grade he did yet another report on Guadalcanal Diary. Fred also had bad body odor, and even kids who hardly knew Fred knew those two facts: Fred Frevert has BO and he loves the book Guadalcanal Diary.
I heard from Fred about five years ago, out of the blue. I was working at US News and he noticed my byline and rang me up. He had joined the army after college, and ended up stationed out in the Maryland suburbs, and when he got out of the army he stayed. He was married with a few grown kids. He chatted for about 10 minutes, then we said goodbye. Neither of us suggested getting together.

Watching The Thin Red Line with you stirred up these Guadalcanal memories. Then we fell asleep next to one another.