Monday, November 16, 2009

Soup

I have fallen behind a bit in posting, but this book by Robert Newton Peck definitely merits a post. The book is a collection of short stories about Rob Peck's adventurous youth with his best friend, Soup (a person, not a meal). I recollect reading several books in this series in my youth, and they are all pretty similarly adventurous.

A couple of examples: Soup convinces Rob to roll down the town hill in barrel that lacks structural integrity, which disintigrates just after crashing into a chicken coop. Rob ties his aunt to a tree just before a thunderstorm, and suffers some painful repercussions as a result. Rob and Soup fling apples from the end of sticks, and Soup breaks a window at the local Baptist church, but Rob unluckily takes the blame.

Andy read this book first and introduced it to me when he taught me to fling apples on a stick. He really enjoyed that activity and, since we had four apple trees in the front yard, it was a pretty easy hobby to pursue. Andy also rigged up a (more sturdy) barrel for us to roll around in down in the basement. I can still feel the thrill of tumbling head over heels in the barrel after letting out a wild "Tally-ho!" I don't think I every tied anybody to a tree, though...although Peter would have been a prime candidate.

5 comments:

Mom said...

This post is giving me happy memories of the Soup books, which I also enjoyed, and your apple-flinging and barrel-rolling!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, those Soup books made for some good reading. I can still recall happily flinging apples at Randy Saches, but he was quick for a chubby kid. I don't think we got the idea from Robert Newton Peck, but I do remember tying each other (and Bryce) to the pole in the basement and then playing Houdini. Good times.-Andy

Sarah said...

I was just thinking the other day about when we used to roll in the barrel! That was so much fun.

Chick in the Czech said...

Again I am asking the question: Where was your mother during all of this!?

Kathy said...

Hmmm...Where was I?! I don't remember any mean parts about Randy and Bryce, only the fun parts.