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This award-winning collection by Gene J. Miller brings readers into the unforgettable adventures of growing up along the Delaware River in the 1960s and 1970s. Through fifteen humorous and memorable short stories, the book captures the freedom, friendships, and everyday mischief that defined childhood during a time before technology shaped daily life. Each chapter delivers laughter, relatable moments, and thoughtful lessons about the challenges and joys of adolescence.
Readers of all ages have connected with the book’s nostalgic storytelling and its ability to remind us how imagination, curiosity, and adventure shaped childhood in a simpler era. Whether discovered by students, parents, educators, or book clubs, the stories invite readers to revisit a world of outdoor exploration, neighborhood friendships, and the timeless experience of growing up.
Gene J. Miller
Chapter 2
Adventures Along The River
Mrs. Michalski was ancient, but she sure knew her stuff. Our brilliant sixth grade teacher captured our minds by filling us with tales of our close location to famous pirates and their buried treasure. As legend has it, the likes of notorious pirates Edward Teach and William Kidd—whose aliases were Blackbeard and Captain Kidd sailed up the Delaware Bay along the main coast of the Atlantic Ocean to avoid detection from the British Navy during “The Golden Age of Piracy.”
Since Philadelphia and Burlington City were both established Quaker cities and pledged to nonviolence philosophies, they posed no threat to the pirates. Historians believed that pirates regularly frequented the Quaker port cities in the early 1700s to trade booty and resupply their vessels for their next plunder. Reports of Blackbeard, Bluebeard, and Captain Kidd finding refuge in such desolate areas of Marcus Hook at the opening of the Delaware River on the Jersey side and Blackbird Creek on the Delaware side are documented in texts.
Since sixth grade, the possibilities of buried treasure along our shores hung in our heads. As luck would have it, our town fell smack dab in the middle of both cities! I always wondered if I would find something amazing one day along the river. Now Easter break was here. As a seventh grader with a week off from school, I knew I had plenty of time to explore the river, searching for that mythical buried treasure.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was ready for a week of exploring The Dunes along the river on my own, possibly searching for my own buried treasure left by the likes of Blackbeard, Bluebeard, or Captain Kidd. Near my house, there were tree-lined trails with a swamp for catching turtles and tadpoles. The sand dunes and their trails then led to the Delaware River. Without any adults in sight, we had the freedom to pursue adventures on the river like fishing, swimming, and exploring. As kids we loved hanging out on The Dunes and beaches along the Delaware River. Every visit began a new adventure...
Purchase 'WARNING: Short Stories For Middle School Boys Only Because Girls Have Cooties!' to read the full chapter.
