Summer of '56. I was 11 and looking forward to starting Junior High (7th grade). That summer I purchased a transister radio out of my paper route money. These radios were expensive then so uncommon among kids my age. I would lie awake under my blankets, night after night, listening to my beloved Seattle Rainiers. With the World Series on the horizon I hatched a plot to listen to the games while at school.
I went to the local Goodwill store and purchased a very thick book with a nondescript cover. I then hollowed a space in the book to just fit my transister radio. I experimented with the volume until I could just hear it if the closed book was next to my ear and I could suppress the volume by pressing down on the cover. On the fateful day I smuggled the radio into school and would "work" on my schoolwork with my head close to the desk where my "book" was. The teacher had the habit of walking the aisles but I merely pressed on the book cover whenever he started in my direction. After class I was pleased with my cleverness, but as the students filed out I heard the teacher say "David, I need to talk to you". Doomed, I slowly walked over to him and after the last student had left he asked me "what's the score"! We need more teachers like that!
I was able to tell that story to Don Larson at a Tacoma Dome show many years ago. He was indeed very warm and gracious.
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