Did anybody else grow up in Fargo, North Dakota in the late 00s? I mean specifically 2007-2011. I have to ask because the more I think about what went down, the more I realize I have no idea how the heck it’s considered a society at this point.
Fargo, North Dakota
Now I’m not trying to clown around and say it was hell on earth; I’m more so realizing that I experienced things as a kid up there that I don’t think many kids had the chance of experiencing.
Of course, it was during a time where parents really didn’t care too much where their kids were heading off to. I’m sure you remember the commercials that asked parents, “Do you know where your kids are right now,” toward the hours of 9PM, 10PM and 11PM.
It’s crazy commercials were even needed to remind parents about their kids.
My age follows the last 2 digits of the year on the calendar, so I was kid during that time. And I was a shy one. You could barely get me to talk; and when I did talk, it was probably to say one of three things: “Yes,” “No,” or “Sorry.”
Unbearably Cold Weather
-40°F. That negative sign is correct.
Winter was a hellish landscape of snow that towered over your head and unbelievably chilly weather. A common occurrence was to wake up, bundle up in many layers of winter clothing, wait outside in negative degree weather, and sit on a bus with the heaters on blast.
First period at the school was called, “Wrestling,” and the whole point of the class was to wrestle yourself out of the winter clothing and to get ready for the day’s lessons. This was after the busses dropped the kids off at the parking lot, and by the time they got to the front door, they had icicles hanging off their noses and gloves.
It actually got to a point where we would hit each other with the icicles as we waited in line for the state-sponsored hot chocolate. We called it, “Ice Hit Game.”
By the end of the school day, it was time to dress up in all the winter clothing and get back home. It was a whole ordeal because as kids, we had no idea how to dress ourselves, so it was a communal experience of misery and frustration as we all got tangled in clothing and our poor, under-paid teachers would have to calm us down and get us ready for the buses.
The Sandbox and The Lungs
During the months where it was reasonably warm, we had a sandbox where the neighborhood kids would meet up. Kind of like a town square, but for immature rascals who probably should have been supervised.
Of course, we got into trouble.
I’m not even sure if the sandbox was actually meant to be a sandbox. It had weeds growing out of it and I’m pretty sure the cat colony that lived in the bushes would use it as a litter box. Which, now that I’m writing this down, just added some very unwanted clarity to a couple questions I had from rethinking about this time.
Two words. Sand clumps.
Moving off that disgusting topic, there was a fence and a shed incredibly close to each other. I mean really really close. It formed basically a wall that we knew we shouldn’t go around. But there was this alleyway that you had to turn your body parallel to in order to squeeze through, it was really tight.
And being the adventurous kids, we would see who could get further down the alley before scrambling back because they thought they heard a parent or just got spooked.
Until one day. One day, randomly, I happened to check out the alleyway. In the middle of it was this fleshy, pink thing that looked like it was filled with air. And it stunk. I remember it stinking really bad and rotten and it filled me with some unspeakable emotion.
I never touched the thing, but I just remember how it shined in the sunlight when the sun was directly overhead. It looked fleshy and so out of place.
I never visited the alley again after that. At some point it disappeared. I imagine someone found it, or perhaps the cat colony disposed of it. I don’t know. All I know is that it was disgusting.
If anybody is missing a pair of lungs. Found it for ya!
If you liked this narrative story, please let me know. I have many more memories of probably the weirdest place in the country. I have stories of a serial killer family, a school that had the weirdest secrets, and so much more. Like the post, reblog it or whatever, and shoot me a comment asking for more. If you like it, I will tell you more.
Thank you!
The Liberal Lens: Finding Life in the Moment 
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