| My father grew up in Los Angeles in the 1930s, when | | | | and shouted "Welcome to America!". |
| an ice truck still delivered blocks of ice to homes and | | | | Aunt Nell sighed. "Dan," she said firmly, "shouting |
| the kids begged chips of ice from the delivery man in | | | | across the street was not what I meant." |
| the summer. | | | | Later the boys often passed in the halls at school, |
| In those days the kids played kick the can and | | | | though they were never in the same classes since |
| football before supper. They sent away box tops | | | | the new boy, Karl, was two years older and a math |
| from cereal for neat stuff like secret agent decoder | | | | genius. Sometimes Karl would help Dan with math. |
| rings about the size of a walnut that could easily be | | | | One day he asked- "Do you know why I find the |
| seen from across the street. | | | | time to help you with schoolwork?" |
| He recalls the day a new family moved into his | | | | "No", answered Dan, "I know you are busy and I |
| neighborhood. They were from Eastern Europe, his | | | | sure am grateful but I don't know why you take the |
| Aunt Nell told him, and they had gone through some | | | | time." Karl answered with a smile. "Well, when we |
| hard times. She said he should be sure to make them | | | | first moved in and you shouted across the street to |
| feel welcome. Not long after, he saw the boy from | | | | me 'Welcome to America!' that was the day that I |
| the new family across the street. He waved to him | | | | knew everything was going to be all right here. |