A River Tale

When I was about 8 or 9 years old my grandfather's Kaiser rolled into the Ohio river.

My brother, sister and I were staying with them for a couple of days while my parents went to Chicago to take in a few shows and have some leisure time.  The town I lived in, and do live again, sits right smack dab on the Ohio river. I was born here and didn't leave until I was 15.  We spent a lot of time at the river. I learned to swim in the river and we spent time with parents on boats.

My grandparents house was just up the path and there we found ourselves at the river bank. My brother had gone down there just before dinner. He was called several times to come and eat and he didn't come, and he didn't answer. So my grandfather decided to drive down there. I went with him.  I was seated in the passenger side with one of my dolls. We were both in the car and looked and looked.  But, we didn't see him. My grandfather parked on a sloped area that went right into the river.  It was used to launch boats. He got out and told me to stay there.  I did sit there for awhile and watched as he looked.  He was standing beside the car in the back and I decided to get out (even though I was disobeying). I went over to stand beside him and suddenly I see his car moving ever so slowly into the river.  I kept looking at him.  He just stood there.  I said "Pop"!! Isn't that your car?"  He said yes and into the river it went.  I ran to my grandmother's house to tell her so that she could call someone and then I went back.  All of this time my brother never did show up.  I know I was concerned about him and now as a grandparent myself, I can imagine that my grandfather was practically beside himself with worry.

Anyway in this very small town the word got out quickly and everybody in town was down at the river.  The local headlines were:

The editor wrote "In a few moments, the attorney was surrounded by sympathetic citizens, and shortly thereafter the word was spread throughout the village that "Hamilton drove into the river" "Elizabeth fell into the river" "Hamilton fell into the river" "J.Ham fell into the river" "Elizabeth was in Hamilton's automobile when it went into the river" And so, the Ohio Theatre played to an empty house."

During all of this hullabaloo my brother appears with his friend.  Just staring and wondering what was going on.  He asked me and I said "Boy, are you in TROUBLE"!!! From then on there were many men working for hours to get that Kaiser out of the river.  We were all thankful that my brother hadn't drowned, but he did get in trouble.  The article ended this way:

I remember it like it happened to me yesterday.  Every day when I take my walk to the river I remember that day.  What possessed me to get out of the car I'll never know because I wasn't a child to disobey, especially when the parent or grandparent was right there with me. But I'm glad I did...

My grandfather bought a new Oldsmobile after that.  It was a neat car.