Nearly 50 years ago I was Walking 2 blocks to a little Mom-n-Pop on an errand for Mom when I heard:

Grits: Hey kid!
Me: (eh, keep walking. maybe it'll go away)
Grits: HEEEEYYYY KIIIIIID!!! Come here!!!
Me: Um, Hi.
Grits: You need to play with me. I just got here.
Me: I have to go to the store for my Mom but if she'll let me I'll come back later.
Grits: Now!!
Me: Sorry.

Something to note: if this had happened last week Mom would probably be reported to Child Protective Services for putting me in extreme danger of abduction. But I digress....

An hour and a half later I had completed my errand and some chores Mom required, then she sent me off to play at a strangers house with a strange mouthy kid a block away from home.

Yep, CPS for sure.

He was still there on the front porch where I first met him. And we played croquet. They had moved in recently and I was his first friend in the neighborhood. Over the last nearly 50 years we've played croquet, ridden bikes, played about every sport or game you can imagine, hunted, fished, been stupid together, shared an apartment, had families, and he made me The Godfather.

Just like that, it's over.

RIP Grits. 55 is much too young.