Aletha (Morgan) Moyers (71)

Growing up in the community of Roby allowed many people the opportunity to contribute to the sucess of my adolescences. One of these people was Walter Wood.

Curfew was 11:00 and we had just enough time to drive from the party in Rotan to my house. We had just driven the S across the railroad tracks when the flashing lights came on behind us. It was Walter and we were in trouble. No, he did not give us a ticket for MIP or DWI, he did something worse; he took us home.

First, we went to my date's house and woke his parents. All was very polite, but we all knew that big punishment was forthcoming. The boy's parents offered to take me home, but Walter said he was going back to Roby and that he would take me.

Visions of my mother at the door with Walter explaining the night's adventure began to produce fear for the existance of a future summer life. Walter did not lecture me on the trip home, instead we rode almost in complete silence. I think that he felt sorry for me and knew that I was being punished with embarrassment. We drove up in the yard, I opened my door, he gave me a final drinking and driving warning, and then he said good-night. Relief washed over me. He wasn't coming in to talk to my parents, my parents were in bed, and I was home free.

He never did tell my parents, he didn't have to. Instead, he saw my sister, Linda, in the post-office the next day and asked her if she knew how I had gotten home the night before. He didn't tell on me, but he left the situation so that I had to confess.