Clark Fredericks

I was 10.

I was 10.

Oh, just, he would, you know, like down at the dam, he'd be like, throw your bike in the back of my truck. Let's go over to the other, you know, the Polska River went from one end of the town down to another end. The fish aren't biting here. Let's go over to the other side, you know, by the Gristmill Bridge and see how fish are there. And he would always slip into the water.

Oh, just, he would, you know, like down at the dam, he'd be like, throw your bike in the back of my truck. Let's go over to the other, you know, the Polska River went from one end of the town down to another end. The fish aren't biting here. Let's go over to the other side, you know, by the Gristmill Bridge and see how fish are there. And he would always slip into the water.

and get his sneaker wet or whatever he was wearing or his, you know, pant leg wet. Oh, we got to go up to my house so I can change. And then get me comfortable being at his house. You know, give me a beer while we're at the house. And, you know, how many times that happened, I can't even tell you. You know, like going up to his house and him slipping in the water or whatever.

and get his sneaker wet or whatever he was wearing or his, you know, pant leg wet. Oh, we got to go up to my house so I can change. And then get me comfortable being at his house. You know, give me a beer while we're at the house. And, you know, how many times that happened, I can't even tell you. You know, like going up to his house and him slipping in the water or whatever.

Yeah, yeah. I mean... Half a dozen minimum.

Yeah, yeah. I mean... Half a dozen minimum.

Yeah, over years. Wow. So, you know, and this was all out of the eyes of my family. You know, like everything's down at the lake. It's not like he's, you know, when he's coming to the house, he's just coming to see everybody and be Mr. Jovial, you know?

Yeah, over years. Wow. So, you know, and this was all out of the eyes of my family. You know, like everything's down at the lake. It's not like he's, you know, when he's coming to the house, he's just coming to see everybody and be Mr. Jovial, you know?

And it's not like trying to, other than that one time, you know, with my scar when everybody was in the backyard and he had me in the den by myself.

And it's not like trying to, other than that one time, you know, with my scar when everybody was in the backyard and he had me in the den by myself.

Yeah, I saw Dennis and, you know, we were fishing.

Yeah, I saw Dennis and, you know, we were fishing.

You know, at 10 years old, you're having a beer. At nine years old, having a beer with the lieutenant in the sheriff's department. How cool is that? Like, why would you want to ruin that? And he'd be like, you know, everything was our secret.

You know, at 10 years old, you're having a beer. At nine years old, having a beer with the lieutenant in the sheriff's department. How cool is that? Like, why would you want to ruin that? And he'd be like, you know, everything was our secret.

Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, the beers obviously were a secret.

Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, the beers obviously were a secret.

And he would always, you know, have candy and gum to give me and, you know, make sure I don't have anything on my breath. Ah. Yeah. And so just one of the times going to his house, you know, let's try wrestling. Let's see how tough you are. And, you know, so he would allow me to, like, Be the aggressor on top for a little while, I guess, till he got hard and excited.

And he would always, you know, have candy and gum to give me and, you know, make sure I don't have anything on my breath. Ah. Yeah. And so just one of the times going to his house, you know, let's try wrestling. Let's see how tough you are. And, you know, so he would allow me to, like, Be the aggressor on top for a little while, I guess, till he got hard and excited.