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These stories as a whole or in part is Copyright © 1967-2005 by George T Mason of East Stroudsburg PA.. These stories may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any form or fashion. These stories may not be modified in any way. These stories may not be posted on a mirror site or any other Internet site without the written permission of the author. These stories may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical or optical mediums. These stories will not be lettered, written, printed, Xeroxed, laser printed, cut, carved, laid, inlayed, graved, or engraved, upon anything movable or immovable under the whole canopy of heaven whereby or whereon the least letter, character, symbol, or semblance of the same might become legible, or intelligible, to yourself or any other person, Without the written permission of the author or his next of kin upon his death.  That should cover that.

Denville is a small town about 40 Miles west of New York City. I was born in 1967 and lived there for 23 years. We were far enough away from the big city to be out in the sticks but close enough to get the TV stations. The place was as close to perfection as I can imagine. we could get reception on channel 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13. My best friend Keith lived across the street and a good kid named Dan lived next door. My Dad was an engineer for the power company JCP&L and my Mom was a retired schoolteacher. You would have thought with that DNA that I would have been a great student. Sadly not. My most popular grade was the D*. "Based on ability but not up to grade level." was on every report card I ever received. I was born to a family with 2 brothers and 1 sister. My first elder brother Charles died in a drowning accident when he was three. My brother Doug or "Guggie" as I called him while learning how to speak is 11 years older than I was, and most likely I drove him as crazy as any little brother drove an older one. Doug was and remains to this day a hero of mine. I am sure he does not realize it, but If he is reading this right now I guess he does. My sister Debbie whom I get along with now is 13 years older than I am. My mother was 36 years old when she and Dad had me and was effectively out of the kid business at that time. My growing up constantly amazed and aggravated her. My Dad who is an incredibly smart man worked very hard for his money, and was a guy that wanted his dinner on the table as soon as he got home. which leads to a great story about cucumber soup that I will get in to later.