John Reed 
Why Mom Smoked 
Confessions of Boyhood Mischief

Dive headfirst into the pages of this darkly comical memoir, where Mom’s sardonic reply to the question of her smoking habits echoes through the narrative: "Not enough, John. Not nearly enough." Prepare for a journey into the heart of a blue-collar neighborhood, where hard work, hard drinking, hard smoking, and hard language were the order of the day. This riveting tale kicks off by setting the stage by offering a concise account of how this waning industrial riverward district was founded by dream-seekers chasing the coveted "American Dream." Immerse yourself in a vivid historical backdrop that paints a portrait of life in Kensington during those changing times. The mischievous older brother, John, entangles his willing accomplice, Rick, in a series of naughty uproarious childhood escapades. From the audacious feat of welding broken eyeglasses with a plumbing torch to car ride games of mercy, an accidental clubhouse inferno sparked by innocent "firemen" play, a hairbrained attempt at life-saving emergency surgery on a chicken, to a vigilante mission to cleanse the local park of drug abusers. Each anecdote brims with wild, outrageous humor. Throughout this rollercoaster of remembrances, you’ll encounter a vibrant cast of characters, each a mosaic of true-to-life Kensingtonian traits and the authentic vernacular of the era. Get ready to laugh, reminisce, and embark on a nostalgic journey through a world that was as surreal as it was unforgettable.