This is the story of a local girl who, with her younger sister, was raised in an atmosphere of unusual and inventive toys - and early competitiveness.

She was a pretty baby when she was born in 1946 at Methodist Hospital. When presented to her mother by the nurses, the baby sported a red ribbon in her long, black hair. Her name was Cynthia Kay Walker.

Between the ages of 2 and 6, she evidenced a talent for inventiveness as she created a new language based on English. I can still speak it today, fifty-four years later. Her mother Alma and I probably aided and abetted her in this by not coaching her, as she was so cute. On entering PS #80 [located at 61st and Guilford ] in the first grade, she soon adjusted to the King's English.

Her sister, Rebecca Jane, came along in 1947. She was born at the old St. Vincent's on Fall Creek Boulevard. At the time, we owned and lived in the east-most apartment building, center row, of the old frame apartments along the canal. Cindy and Becky had only one little friend to play with in the row. Her name was Susan Millicent Hammond. They remember even her middle name. If Susan reads this she is urged to respond!

At six years of age Cindy could identify most of the 1952 cars. For instance, she named "Mookwies", "Plymlas" and "Booicks". At this point in time we sold the apartment and used the proceeds to buy a house in Long Beach, California, where we knew two couples from Broad Ripple: Ray and Evelyn (Jones), and Bill and Marge (Rhine) Thomas. Ray, Evelyn and Marge all went to BRHS. We stayed with the Thomases for a few days until we found a house to our liking. Our next two children, Jeff and Jaymie were born in Long Beach.

In Long Beach, Cindy and Becky were very popular with the neighborhood kids. This may have been influenced by the variety of toys that they enjoyed. First, I introduced a merry-go-round that the neighborhood kids in old Broad Ripple played on. This consisted of a railroad tie, or length of a log, sunk into the ground with three feet standing above ground. A hole was drilled in its center. A 2x8, about ten feet long, was centered over the top of this with matching holes into which was inserted a sturdy bolt. The plank had cross pieces at each end for holding on to. With a child (big ones, too!) on each end, the plank was then revolved, the speed depending on the age of the rider. The most important thing was to keep everyone well back. I learned to keep out of the way after I failed to do so myself and took a pretty good wallop in the back. We hid the bolt when not in use to avoid unauthorized use.

Another fun thing that they had was a huge truck tire, into which a child could sit with his or her feet braced and hands up clutching the bead of the tire overhead. The tire could then be rolled down the sidewalk with the child turning head over heels. No one ever fell out.

The most beautiful and dramatic toy was a surrey with the fringe on the top. This had a front seat and a back seat. It was pedaled and steered from the back seat. I considered much later having a bicycle shop fabricate one for me.

The last toy of note that they had was a tether ball, consisting of an aluminum pole set into the driveway. Attached at the top of the pole was a rope hanging down with a soccer-size ball at the end. Cindy and Becky stood on opposite sides of the pole. They spent many hours as teenagers viciously batting the ball in an effort to wind the rope around the pole against the opponent.

The End - part one