scarborough ruffians

my memories of Scarborough are hardly real and since they come from a child's mind, the details tend to get bended and a few sparkly twists get thrown in there for good measure. but there are a few memories that i am absolutely sure of. i remember people writing on walls a lot (myself included) where they weren't allowed to. i cannot believe i haven't been back since. i remember acorns the size of my head, and pigeons being tucked away in a drawer on the balcony whilst eager children feed them rice and i remember red carpet and thirsty afternoons from riding our bikes outside the apartment, or playing with the Skip-it. my sister and i wore hilarious dresses to church, and one time our mom forgot her purse on the bus or maybe it was the subway by accident since she had her hands full with three youngsters. i remember my lesbian babysitter with spiky hair, and a younger version of bob barker on the television every single day, i remember being a mouse in a school play, and taking a photo dressed entirely in denim (hot dog in hand) under the CN tower, and i remember falling on two occasions; once off the swings and spraining my ankle, and then chipping my tooth, blood everywhere.

i remember my big brother was my hero; first he designs the mascot for his elementary school, then he has lobsters for pets, and of course because he was a huge Simpsons fan, and i'll never forget being a fat little kid riding her bike in the middle of the living room while my mother vacumed, especially when she taught me how to ride that same bike and me getting it the very first time. hell yes. i remember almost being followed into a building by a very scary homeless man. that was the first and last time i think i've ever been literally frozen in my tracks. i remember my last day in Scarborough i walked around my room and it was completely bare save the two marbles i left behind on the window sill..for the next child perhaps. but then again, all this happened..."when i was four.."

- soleil