I was about 8 years old, my mom was out shopping and my dad fell asleep drunk at the table. I switched on cartoons. I'm sitting in the dark and a commercial came on "Only you can prevent forest fires" It was Smokey the Bear. I looked behind me to see who Smokey was talking to. No response from Dad. "You talking to me?" I said to the TV. Smokey was talking to me. Only I could prevent forest fires.
I'm thinking to myself, how am I going to do this. I live in the city. Although, from what I knew about forest fires from school, it helps to be a lookout in a fire tower. My bedroom was upstairs and I had a good view out the window. I brought a small pail of water to my room and kept watch out the window every night till I turned 16, bought fake ID and started drinking. Then I would just come home and fall asleep.