The Brilliance of Bobby Thompson.

Age is only a number…

I was the smartest kid on the block; I sometimes used those smarts for personal gain. My very first covert operation involved me and four other fifth graders who were all my neighbors.

On the day of the job, we rode our bikes through the densely wooded area of Chagrin Falls to reach a road less traveled to the city.

“It’s time, guys!”

We dropped our backpacks, some of which contained rope and homemade spike strips. We set them across the road and waited. Right on schedule, the small, white, box truck crested the hill.

All four tires popped as anticipated. The driver slammed on the brakes and jumped out completely flustered. We ambushed him with three shiny black revolvers. He didn't know they were filled with water.

“GET ON THE GROUND! And don’t try anything funny, Mister. I'm fully loaded!”

I instructed two boys to tie him up, while two jumped inside the truck to start filling the empty backpacks.

We escaped into the woods, barely wasting any time to scarf down handfuls of the glorious troves of candy we lifted from the truck.

That day was worth every last one of those cavities...