As a Sophomore in HS @14 had a job setting pins in a bowling alley. Did double alley, double shift mostly 5 nights per week (unless Sports got in the way). This is BEFORE the semi auto pin setters, had the treadle and pegs coming out of the deck.
Walked/rode bike 1/2 mile home after shift over.
Was making 30 +- per week which was excellent money for a kid in 1953.
Also went swimming —sometimes alone —in an abandoned limestone quarry.
Read story about the parents with ‘free range kids’ and wonder what all the ‘fuss’ is....HA....
My mother raised me and my sister alone and since she worked would sometimes go a week or so without seeing her.
Course in small town everyone looked out for the ‘kids’ and since ‘they’ knew my mother ‘alone’, got my share of lectures and a swat or two from people in town when I got out of hand....
Was in the care of ‘Nuns’ (in school) through 9th grade so what the townspeople had to offer was miniscule to say the least...