"You've got to keep the child alive; you can't create without it."

Joni Mitchell

The bike basket. Wanted more than a new slingshot or cane pole.

Needed more than new Western Auto jeans or black PF Flyer low tops.

One lucky posse member, usually the self appointed leader, had some style of basket on his or her steed. When the summer sun hit one quarter up, the gang would gather at the monkey bars next to the courthouse, planning the day and filling the baskets with rations and essentials. Which included, 8 oz bottles of RC cola, Moon Pies, bologna sandwiches, Scotty jelly jar of fresh dug garden worms, Band Aid can with a dozen or so kitchen matches, lady finger firecrackers, Bull Duran bags filled with marbles (no steelies-they were outlawed by the gang last year), compass used in World War 2, numerous leaky water guns, various homemade and store bought sling shots, one Red Rider BB rifle, one quarter full worn tube of bbs, A & P coffee can with fishin' line and Eagle Claw hooks, one chewed hardball, assorted ball mits and a Mickey Mantle bat. Once the gang was packed and gathered, a herd of Schwinn's and Sears steel stallions would ride off into the rising sun. True freedom, knowing your only concern was to be home before the streetlights came on.