The Story of a Bad Boy

An unapologetically mischievous narrator introduces himself as a “bad boy” not for any dark deeds but because he never fit the model of the flawless, angelic youngster that fills many schoolroom tales. He’s a New England lad with a voracious appetite for peppermint drops, a quick tongue for naming new classmates, and a selective ear that prizes names like Langdon and Wallace while shunning the oddly jumbled Higgins or Spriggins. His memories of recess trade schoolyard handshakes for vivid day‑dreams of future acquaintances—consuls in Shanghai, judges with freckled noses, and wine‑making cousins in California—lay a playful groundwork for the life that will soon stretch far beyond his hometown.

From the bustling schoolyard, the story lifts to the river‑bound world of Rivermouth, a place where winter snow forts and daring boat rides hint at larger adventures on sea and shore. Along the way, the narrator’s impulsive spirit and love of hearty candy keep him forever on the edge of trouble, promising listeners a lively blend of youthful humor, colorful characters, and the kind of earnest recklessness that turns ordinary moments into memorable escapades.