Paul M Grogan(Captain)

Kindergarten Adventures: Oranges, Chickens, and Sears Shopping Trips

Kindergarten was a wild ride, and no one knew that better than me. Life in Citrus County was full of adventure—climbing trees, picking oranges, chasing chickens, and wondering why Brooksville’s roads made no sense.

The Great Brooksville Expedition

Going to Brooksville was a big deal. It wasn’t just about shopping—it was an event. We’d pile into the car, and as we got closer, the roads got weird. Cars in both lanes would drive the same way, and I’d stare out the window, confused.

“Why are they doing that?” I’d ask.

“That’s just Brooksville,” someone would say, like that explained everything.

Once we arrived, Grandma would pull out her measuring tape and tell me,

“Don’t suck it in!”

She measured everything—my waist, my arms, and most importantly, my feet.

Then we’d go to Sears, where they always measured my feet again. Just when I thought I was done, Grandma would say,

“We’ll just order from the catalog.”

Wait… what? We came all this way, and now we weren’t even buying anything today?

Oranges, Watermelons, and the No-Bathroom Blues

Before I ever knew what money was, I knew how to trade for food. Picking oranges meant climbing trees, sometimes too high, while watermelons made my back hurt from bending over so much.

But the worst part?

No bathrooms. No water.

If you got thirsty, you just ate an orange or a chunk of watermelon and kept going. If you had to go? Well… you held it.

At least picking fruit paid off. We’d trade those juicy oranges and giant watermelons for chickens or fish.

The Great Chicken Chase

Now, about those chickens…

When it was time for dinner, my uncle would break a chicken’s neck. But here’s the thing—chickens don’t stop moving right away.

So, naturally, we turned this into a game.

We’d chase the headless chicken around the yard, laughing and screaming as it flapped and ran. It was gross. It was hilarious. It was farm life.

Brown Water & The School Smell Test

Our house had a well, which meant our water was brown. It didn’t seem like a big deal—until I got to school.

Kids would sniff the air and say,

“What’s that smell?”

I didn’t say a word. But I knew.

We all smelled like the well water.

Thankfully, one day, we got a water softener, and suddenly, we smelled like everyone else.

Bus Rides & The Mystery of “It Wasn’t Me”

The school bus had one rule: If the driver turned on the lights, NO ONE could talk.

Now, I was an expert at not getting caught.

Every time the lights flipped on, I’d say,

“It wasn’t me talking!”

Even if I had been.

But if someone else talked, the driver would pull over and just sit there. We all knew what that meant. No one was going anywhere until there was total silence.

The Magic of Grandpa’s Mason Jars

Grandpa was the king of fixing things, and his mason jar collection was legendary.

He had a board with lids screwed onto it, and each jar held nails or screws.

If he needed something, he just twisted off a jar, grabbed what he needed, and screwed it back on.

I thought it was the smartest thing I had ever seen.

Fishing Off Trees & Digging for Worms

Fishing with Grandpa was serious business. Before we left, he’d remind me,

“Get your worms.”

That meant digging in the dirt until I found enough. Once at the Withlacoochee River, we’d climb out on a tree over the water and fish from there.

No fancy boats. No store-bought bait. Just worms, patience, and Grandpa’s quiet wisdom.

Milk Cartons & Missing Kids

Every day at school, I’d get a carton of milk.

And almost every day, there was a kid’s picture on the side with big letters:

MISSING.

I’d stare at their faces and wonder:

Where did they go? Who was looking for them?

I didn’t understand it then, but I knew it was important.

Lessons from Kindergarten Adventures

Looking back, kindergarten wasn’t just about school. It was about learning how the world worked—through trading oranges, chasing chickens, wondering about missing kids, and mastering the art of never getting blamed on the bus.

Would I climb an orange tree again? Absolutely.

Would I chase a headless chicken again? Probably not.

Would I ever understand Brooksville’s roads? Nope.

The End… or just the beginning?

This playful short story captures my kindergarten adventures in a fun, nostalgic way. Does this feel like your story? Would you like any edits or additions?