The Writer's Pen

What a lucky childhood! The South Dakota State Fair was the star attraction of my hometown, Huron. Each visit was a sensory overload to grade school and junior high kids who weren’t at all excited about the beginning of school. (These were the days before adult supervision and oversight were deemed necessary.)

My younger brother was an expert at locating “free stuff” at seed corn dealers, political tents and hearing aid sales tables. These treasures were stashed in large shopping bags brightened with advertising slogans. Our loot consisted of free yardsticks, political pens of upcoming candida...