As a child and a young boy, I grew up in a completely masculine environment.  My Grandfather inherited and ran a very successful woodworking shop with his six sons (okay, two were in different towns).  He used several young men from our town as helpers and apprentices.  Work went on from sunrise to sunset.  When the weather was favorable, some of the chores were done outdoors.

At that time there was no electricity in our town.  Everything from planing the boards, to sawing, to carving, to constructing, was done completely by hand, on wooden benches, or even on the ground.

There was no rushing.  Everyone worked at his own tempo.  Some of the men took naps in the summer time, and there was a lot of singing and talking.

At that time all the grandchildren, and I was the oldest, were boys - the girls came later, much later.

Since our home and shop were at the end of the town, all the men watched the gentile girls take their cows and goats out every morning to the pastures and wet lands and bring them back at sunset.  They all passed by our workshop, to the delight of the men.

The girls were young, barefooted, pretty, wore very little clothes, and teased the men with the display of their bodies.  Some pulled their short skirts up even higher.

I noticed the looks in all the men’s eyes. I even saw my own grandfather’s gaze following some of the young "shiksa," and I now recognize this look as "lust."  At that time I didn't yet understand what it was.

Among the young workers was one who took a liking to me, and I to him.  His name was "Itzick the Shpltzk" - Ylzmk the sharp one, the pointy one.  He was a hand carver, and he taught me a little of his craft, and to respect sharp tools.  Everyone in the shop liked Itzick - listening to his singing and story telling.

I was particularly taken with his recounting of his getting together very often with Olga; of their "rolling in the hay."  Olga was a peasant girl living with a family some distance away on a small farm with an apple orchard.

Itzick recounted how Olga loved candy - how she would do anything for the sweets. Itzick always came in late for work on Sunday mornings, telling us how much fun he had had with Olga, and how tired he was now, while she was in church praying.

The more I heard about Olga, the more I wanted to know what they do while "rolling in the hay."  I asked Itzick, but he always smiled, and told me that  

"I was too young to know. I would not understand.  Wait.  Wait 'til you are older, and then you will know."  

But I wanted to know now.  I bribed and pestered this young man.  He told me, as his best friend, and as a gift for my next birthday, when I would be twelve years old, he will arrange for me to learn what it means:  

"What grown up men do."

But there were conditions - first, I must never, never, tell anybody.  Second, I must save up some money, as Olga will want to get paid in folding money, and Third, I would have to give her a big box of candy.

I promised to be silent and thrifty - to save up some money would not be too hard, not with Chanukah coming.  All the children got money, and there would be some gambling.  I knew that I would win from my cousins. And then came Purim, when the children delivered presents to the family and neighbors, and as a result were rewarded with money.  And my grandfather and uncle love me and slip me coins all the time.  So, saving up money would be no problem, but the candy would not be so easy.

I, too, loved candy.  Near us was a small grocery store, and they sold some sweets. My favorite was a small flat triangular concoction made with honey covered with poppy seed.  They cost a penny a piece, and I couldn’t get enough of them.  I knew that I would have to save up this honey candy; and a lot of them.  I tried.  I just took a lick in one corner and put it in an envelope, but I couldn’t resist the temptation. I tore off the paper and ate it. I tried many times.  I knew that I must overcome the temptation.  So I worked out a temptation proof device.  I took a very large carton, sealed the lid, so I couldn't break in, and cut out a very small slit on the top where I inserted the delicacy; not to be retrieved.

And, to make double sure, I found a dusty comer in the cellar, where it was dark and covered with old timber and rags and kept the box hidden.  Everyday I deposited the triangular, sticky, candy and covered my treasure.

All fall, all winter, I kept up my silence and my collection grew.  Then spring came, and I had folding money and a heavy box full of candy.  Itzick said: 

"Be patient, in June, on your birthday, I will arrange it with Olga."

When the time came, I pretended to go to sleep.  Later I dressed, went down to the cellar, retrieved the sealed box, counted my money, and met Itzick.

It was a summer night, there were no lights, but enough illumination from the stars and sky, and we made our way silently to the apple orchard.  I was to sit under a tree and wait for a signal from Itzick; who took my money and the candy box.

Some time passed.  I was nervous, waiting for the meeting with Olga, when I heard a terrible scream and saw Olga with a shovel chasing my friend and hitting him.  All the time she was screaming, 

"You cheap bastard, trying to poison me with sticky chocolate full of vermin, bugs and ants."  

She was spitting and throwing handfuls of goo at this poor man.  He ran as fast as he could screaming, 

"Philip, save your life, run, run."

I ran, fell down, cut myself; my nose was bleeding.  I ran home and covered my face in the bedding.  The next morning Itzick came in early.  He didn't even look at me.  He was silent all day.

There was no next year.  I fell in love with a schoolgirl my age; her name was Faige.  During recess we stayed in the doorways, looked at each other and sighed.  It was sad and sweet.  And soon, I left for America; still a virgin.