On Grapefruit and Boy Scouts

Memories Of Things Best Forgotten

When I was a kid, I was not only a kid, I was also a Boy Scout — different animal. So we used to go camping and study comparative religions and other things that Boy Scouts do. On one of these camping trips, there were about 40 of us in a log cabin somewhere in the wilds of Pennsylvania near Gettysburg.

Even then I was an early riser, so the night before, the Scoutmaster asked me to please (actually he didn’t say “please”) start the fire and cut the grapefruits in half for breakfast when I got up. I did, only I cut 20 grapefruit in half the wrong way!

The Scoutmaster was not a happy camper. He didn’t even say “thank you.” I thought I was in deep trouble.

The Scoutmaster also had no idea what to do with 40 grapefruit halves cut the wrong way.

The scouts did though. They took them outside and threw them as far into the bushes as they could. I was a hero. I mean, who the hell had the dumb idea to make a bunch of pre-teen boys eat grapefruit in the first place? Probably the same guy who brought the oatmeal for the next morning!

Adults like grapefruit (until the get on certain medications). Kids don’t like grapefruit.

Disaster averted. Whew!