The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.

Hello Partner,
We’d get arrested or thrown into “juvie” today for some of the things we did as kids. That would be right, but it is a little sad. We never caused any damage, never put graffiti on anything, and never left a mess. From looking around Benicia today it is obvious things have changed greatly that way. That is definitely sad.
I don’t see kids playing as we once did. When my wife and I see a couple kids playing catch in front of their home or shooting hoops in their driveway I often say, “It’s nice to see there are still kids doing that.”
The empty lots where we used to play are gone. People have to have permission to play on school athletic fields. We just picked up what gear we needed and went and played. Nobody got killed. Nobody brought a gun. The only knives were an occasional pocket knife that might be used to clean the mud off cleats. There were bloody noses, knocked out teeth, skinned knees and elbows, but in the long run nobody was worse for wear.
There are always kids, and most of them want to play. Kids will always be kids. They should still have the chance to meet for pick-up games, choose captains, pick sides, argue without adults around, play without fear of someone driving by and harassing them, play until they are tired, and go home. Mostly, those times are gone and will never return.
Lee

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” “Chief Salt,” and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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