The followings facts are distinctly remembered primarily from experiences had as an adult with the medical profession and the reality of living within ten miles of the Palomino Hills Park for roughly half of a century.
During the Spring of '75, at the age of four, dear old mom asked a playmates mother if she would babysit while she ran some errands. It is believed that that lady was given a hourly compensation and some funds so we could all enjoy some ice cream.
She loaded this young lion plus her children John and Rhonda in her Pinto. And, we began a short journey from our apartments named Camelot and landed upon the playground at Palomino Hills Park in short order. John had most likely reached five and Rhonda was an older three. It is believed.
Upon reaching the sandy play lot with swings, a jungle gym, a merry go round, and spring-loaded play horses for teetering on, we each chose a place where we could play. The rules were well known. Do not approach the other children and find a place where solitary play could be enjoyed. Seeing that, life as the only Black child on a playground with White children during those years, and possibly these in some parts, had unique boundaries. Seeing that, John and Rhonda were known. We could have interactions; however, the other "unknown" children were "off limits" for conversation and play. Unless, they offered an invitation.
Without a second thought, a pale-yellow spring-loaded horse was approached and ridden quite happily on a side of the playground that did not have many children. John and Rhonda decided that they should play on the merry-go-round with another girl who was likely six or seven. And, everything was progressing peacefully. When, their mother intervened.
She told Rhonda that she should sit on the merry-go-round likely because she was the "baby". And, John and the older girl should give her a "free ride". As, they ran, picking up speed and then jumping on. So, they could enjoy the latent kinetic energy. Then, a moment of genius must has struck her mother. Considering that, she called for "help". Who could give Rhonda a ride. Being manner-able, she was obeyed. And, the pale-yellow Palomino was left as it rocked slightly from the teetering motion that had been set upon it before reaching an abrupt halt caused by the stiff spring that the horse's body rested upon.
As, the merry-go-round was pushed. It was difficult keeping pace with the older girl and John. They were each a step or so faster than this young lion. As a result, balance was lost. As, he fell. He twisted like a cat and landed face up on the ground striking his head solidly on the sandy yet hard ground. The back of his head burned, his vision blurred and turnt red, and he cried for his mother.
For, some reason this response, seemingly natural for a young child, infuriated John and Rhonda's mother. Who picked him up from the ground and started beating him. She climbed the jungle gym and sat him on her lap as she struck him. Then, she flung him from the top of the playground equipment. And, he hit the ground like a rag doll. She did this a couple of times. As, she spoke in German. "Gottverdamtschwartznegger!" she called him. Translated that is "God-damned black (evil) nigger!" She tossed him from the jungle gym a few times. His eyes blurred more and his vision reddened. The birds who had been signing grew quiet.
Sufficiently stunned, he stopped crying and calling for his mother. And, he simply lay in the sand looking upward and free of any thoughts. At which time, she started kicking him. The other children and adults joined the melee striking the young lion with glee. And then, the adults relented and the children continued. That included John and Rhonda.
One boy was especially maniacal announcing and spelling his name surname as he kicked him in the head with his all-white shell-toe Addidas. "Joe .... J [kick] O [kick] E [kick] ... Schloesselmann ... S [kick] C [kick] H [kick] ...." He did that a number of times with quite some glee.
Truth be told, he was lucky that he was not left lynched with a t-shirt as a rope, noose, and bight on the swing set.
While the kids kicked, he called on the only help that he knew knowing that dear old mom was not coming. He called upon his Father. The young lion spread his arms wide and unintentionally misquoted scripture. "Into Your Hands, I commend my spirit", he said not knowing that "commend" should have been "commit".
It seemed that he left his body for a moment as was sitting in a tree on a branch with the birds. As, the children kicked his body. His spirt looked upon the entire scene.
During this very public assault on a young child, a couple of families left. One mother told her child as they left, "His mother should know that she cannot not trust a White woman with her child."
During this beating, which seemingly lasted for an hour or more, moments of unconsciousness were had. And, all was black.
Finally awakening, when he heard John's mother scream his name. He saw that the playground was clear and the family that he arrived at the park with were stationed in their Ford Pinto. She told him that he should arise and get in the car. He got up, walked between the sandy lot and the parking lot, and climb up in the backseat of the car.
John mother said, "[Kids, we are making a robot with which Rhonda can play.]". Then, she said, "Jody! Sit up!" The young lion sat up. Then, she said, "Jody! Sit back!". And, he sat back. Then, she said, "He is O.K. He is ready!".
It seems that she felt that the beating had sufficiently impaired him that he could only mindlessly follow commands. Well, it could have been worse. He could have been dealing with "Doktor Mengele". Truth be told, the young lion was simply playing along. He had basically forgotten the beating from the intense state of unconsciousness in which he fell before being awakened. And, he wondered somewhat why he was laying on the ground. He really did not recall much at the time.
The next stop was a small ice cream parlor. Which closed near the late-70s becoming the site of a Payless Shoe Source. That was demolished recently, near the early-20s, for the building of a Starbuck's coffeehouse. Which closed for a lack of patronage after a couple of years.
As, he left the car. He was walking. Albeit, she would simply see a sheet of blackness at times. As, he navigated the parking lot and entered the small ice parlor. Which had wooden lattice work and green vines of ivy made from plastic woven within it. For some reason, John's mother, Mrs. Barbara Hinrich decided that she should tell everyone in the shop what had transpired that day. She loudly announced, "The boy struck his head on the playground this morning." At which, an adult European male, who had mingled grey and gave his name, struck the young lion down with a strong backhand. Then, he said that he was a Lutheran pastor and gave his church's name. And, he exclaimed, "That is how you must treat these wild animals. Until, they learn how they should behave. I know how they must be handled." He stuck out his chest, raised his head, and stood proudly in the wake of his "very manly act".
Picking himself up from the ground, the young lion stood silently as periods of blackness overtook his eyes.
[2Co 12:10 KJV] 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
We, the Hinrichs and their "robot", made it through the line. For some reason, John's mother bought her children a couple of vanilla scoops, each in a glass dish and each costing a dime, and their "robot" his favorite, a small root beer float, which cost fifty cents. That was evermoreso a bribe. Seeing that, she was using psychology on a young child. She told her children quite loudly, while also talking with the patrons of the ice cream parlor, "Jody's parent might sue us and take our money. We only have five thousand dollars!"
While, we ate our ice cream. The Lutheran pastor carried on a loud discourse about African Americans, how they were wild animals that must be tames, and quoted Scripture left and right. At which, for some reason, likely GOD's coaxing, the "robot" spoke quite boldly and contradicted the Lutheran pastor using a verse from the New Testament. At which, a young White adult, or teenager, spoke up saying, "He is an angel!" And, that voice of support quieted the pastor.
After, we left the ice cream parlor, Ms. Hinrich dropped her young "robot" off at his parent's door. And, she told a fib of sorts. She said, "Watch him! He fell and hit his head on the playground?" At which time, the young lion lay down on his twin bed in his room and his eyes blurred as he tried falling asleep.
We had often had ice cream during times passed. And, we had eaten some at the parlor on many occasions; however, our favorite spot was Dairy Queen. In fact, we went so frequently as a treat for being well-behaved, that one day were riding in our family's Camero, dear old mom was driving, and she told John's mother, "The children have been 'good'. Let's take them by 'D', ...." But, before she could get the 'A' out, her son had figured it out. And, he loudly exclaimed, "Dairy Queen". Besides root beer floats, it is likely that the "Dilly-Q" bar was his favorite frozen treat. Yet, John's mother looked stunned that the young lion could reason so well and was so quick. It really cannot be recalled if this event arose before or after Palomino Hills. It is not known. If, this sign of intelligence partially sparked the acts which induced head trauma. Or if, she was stunned that he functioned that well after the "robot-prep" beating. Which included many blows on the back and side of the head.
It is quite true that GOD has a unique sense of justice, a sense of humor, loves HIS children, and we shall know better by and by.
Seeing that, on one sunny afternoon, while John and Rhonda were still among the young hooligans who called Camelot home, a few moments of recreation were had playing scientist. And, the young lion pondered how a robot (automaton) could be taught the art of reading. Seeing that, John and Rhonda were still around the corner, it was before the second semester of Kindergarten. When, they moved away. And, he thought that he would have "robot" read the same way that he had been taught. He would teach it that it should process a single letter at a time. Until, it found the next space. Then, it should review the letters that is has in order. And finally, it should determine the word using the rules of phonics. Truth be told, that is how a child or a "new" reader of a language processes words. Adults or mature readers of a language simply look at a collection of letters and recognize a word from memory, instantly.
This moment of pondering how a robot or computerized automaton might work was sparked by a Saturday morning program. Which was sponsored by Kellogg's cereal. A large manufacturing plant for this cereal provider sat along interstate eighty near the eighty-fourth street exit. And, this children's program showcased computer programming in COBOL and mainframe computers. It was hosted by a person named Peter Gannett. It also was spawned by seeing Hal speak on scenes from "2001: A Space Odyssey". Which aired on network television during the early-70s. Seeing that, it was in theatres during the late-60s.
Interestingly enough, the pseudonym chosen for this "play" research was based upon some hard realities that this young lion faced. He realized that the "best" and "most desirable" work roles were often reserved for European American males. And, he believed that he would likely "tour" the entire United States before he found a solid opportunity working in computing. So, he would be "a land touring". Before, he found a work role as a COBOL programmer or something comparable. At which, he decided that the name he would use was "Alan Turing". And, he called his robots, which could read, "Turing machines".
He shared these playful moments and thoughts with his mother. A few days later, she entered his room as he was playing "scientist" with a pencil and a few pieces of paper. And, she showed him a "black and white" photograph. And, she said, "This is John Hinrich's grandfather. John's mother was asked for the photo. So, you would always remember them. He will be Alan Turing." And, he has been. The photograph that she shared in the early-70s was one that has been associated with numerous research articles and innovations from the early- and mid-1900s. It is below. Some old photographs of John are had. They might be added. So, the resemblance might be seen. They look nearly identical. Ironically, modern history has recorded him as a homosexual. Which sparks funny memories of John finding a pair of women's undergarments near the laundry room in the basement of the apartment building which had fallen from someone's basket that he donned over his pants and in which he started dancing one afternoon. At which, the young lion stood aghast telling him that he should take those off and that those are not his undershorts.
As for the beating at Palomino Hills Park, it was basically forgotten for years. Until, Joe Schloesselmann was met at Omaha Central during secondary school. At which time, he approached and said, "Boy! My name is Joe Schloesselmann! Can you spell that!" And, those memories of the park and that Spring day in early '75 was recalled. They have been reinforced by medical abuses with which have been dealt since starting as a student-athlete at Vanderbilt during the Fall of '88. But, that is another set of short "lion histories". Interestingly enough, he still wore white shell-toed Addidas.
- the Palomino Rider
Post-Scriptum: Here is a photograph of a generation removed? Is it possible? Or, is it only a "lion story"? Or, is it both.
With many years of reflection, that designation of "best friend" says plenty about the "beauty" of life as a minority child in a majority neighborhood during the early-70s. The following photograph shares a moment when Turing's descendants were "spying on" some birthday cake in '76 based upon the six candles on the cake.
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