When I was 9 br I had a receding hairline br br thought I would be br as bald as a coot come 10 br br but now I have the exact same hairline br as then br br and the hair’s still all there br even more curly and long. br br When I was 9 br I found my first white hair. br br Well...that’s ok br br all us Dempseys are that way br at a young age br (beating old age at its own game) br br the “badger effect” br we all call it and laugh. br br So the advent of white hair is br neither here nor there. br br When I was 9 br I never thought that there’d come a someday br br when I would look br at myself that day br br (from this so far away) br br but hey that’s cool br br I’m still(I guess) that same old br young old fool. br br br * * * * * * * * br br THAT WAS THEN...THIS IS NOW...OW! br br In the middle br of a power cut br br petrified little boy br br watches his candle br flicker the shadows br br that leap into wolves br & other assorted monsters br br snarl across the wall. br br He laughs br at the memory br of his self br then br br worrying now about br keeping the wolf from the door br br (being forever in the red) br br & what the big bad bank manager br will say br the next day! br br How he longs br for the days br br when all he had to worry about br was the power of his br br imagination.