Roy Blakeley's Silver Fox Patrol

While I was sitting on a rock down in our field eating a banana, I had a dandy thought, and I was going to begin this story by telling you about it, only now I forget what it was. Anyway, Mr. Ellsworth says it?s best to begin a story with conversation. He says conversations are even better than bananas to begin with. But, gee whiz, I like bananas. If I began with conversation that means I have to begin it with Pee-wee Harris, because he always does the talking in our troop. He can even talk and eat a banana at the same time. He said, ?Do you mean to tell me a railroad car can?t have a dark past?? ?Sure,? I told him; ?maybe it went through a tunnel. Anyway, it?s got a dark enough present with one kerosene lamp in it.? ?I didn?t mean that kind of darkness,? he said; ?I mean the kind that secrets are. You know what a dark secret is, don?t you?? ?It?s one that?s all black,? little Alfred McCord said. ?Sure,? I said; ?they?re all colors. My sister?s keeping one that?s a kind of pale lavender.?