Arse over Teakettle: An Irreverent Story of Coming of Age During the 1940S in Toronto

Doug Taylor

Nov 2010 · iUniverse

About this ebook

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn found adventure on the banks of the mighty Mississippi. Tom Hudson and his friend Shorty discovered it in the secluded laneways and avenues of a deceptively quiet Toronto neighbourhood. Arse Over Teakettle is an intriguing tale of Tom Hudsons boyhood escapades in Toronto during the 1940s. He and his mischievous friend, Shorty, encounter eccentric characters such as Grumpy, an unconventional older man in the neighbourhood, and their fierce neighbourMrs. Leyer. Their confrontations with the Kramer Gang are sometimes painful and at other times hilarious. As Tom and his friends become sexually aware, amusing situations develop. Shorty constantly pushes Tom to explore beyond the secure boundaries of childhood, into the world of the big boys. An intimate and heartfelt tale of family life in Toronto, Arse Over Teakettle is set during the decade when the city is transforming from a parochial city into a cosmopolitan urban centre. In Toms neighbourhood, difficulties arise as he confronts ethnic and religious prejudice, which wounds his boyhood friends.

About the author

Doug Taylor has researched, studied, and taught the history of Toronto for several decades. He was a member of the faculty of Lakeshore Teachers’ College (York University), and the Ontario Teacher Education College. He is retired and lives in Toronto.