I Should Have Married My World History Teacher

Book excerpt: It's not every kid who falls out of his grandmother's moving car, is labeled a "vandal" by his hometown newspaper, and covers his face with a handkerchief in World History class but gets a passing grade. Say hello to Larry McCoy, a proud son of Frankfort, Indiana. His high school years were raucous ones with his talent for misbehaving so admired he was voted Class Clown in 1955. His was a world of fun and adventure--playing ball, trying to pull down girls' swimming trunks, emceeing a talent show, lying about damage to dad's car--and a world of wonderful food--breaded tenderloins, strawberry pie, and home-made noodles piled on mashed potatoes. He writes lovingly of his grandmother, of a favorite uncle and of his brother Jim who turned an empty field into a baseball diamond where second base was a cow patty. After high school, McCoy hit some bumps at Indiana University where his social life at first was limited to stocking shelves at the A&P. Still, he probably learned more there than he did in college. A flirtation with Catholicism strained relations with his devout Protestant parents. But goofiness and good times won out after McCoy met Irene Kristoff at I.U. She was smart, pretty, and thought he was funny. Rather than having her head examined, Irene contacted a minister and married Larry. He picked the title, "I Should Have Married My World History Teacher," without consulting his bride of more than 60 years. A very wise move.