That Time I Invited The Garbage Man To Dinner

My sister reminded me of my friendship with the garbage man who came through our alley in Chicago once a week. This must have been before I started kindergarten, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to be out there each time the truck rolled by. I was fascinated by the way the truck's mechanism brought a huge metal blade down to scrape away the garbage and send it to the interior of the truck. I got to know one of the crew members on the truck. He greeted me each week and talked with me while he dumped our garbage into the truck. One week I invited him to have dinner with our family. He accepted. I can't remember if I first ran that by my mom, or not. Anyway he came over. We had salmon patties. He was very well mannered, courteous and friendly. He belonged to a south side church, and he gave me a Christian friendship ring. It is inscribed, "Love One Another."