Every week, Mission Local asks city residents one big question. Do you have a question you think we should ask San Francisco? Send suggestions to thebigquestion@missionlocal.com.
“I liked to play with matches, and I started a fire behind the barn when I was 5 years old. My mom was asleep, it was early in the morning, and I put it out by myself. My parents didn’t even notice it for weeks later. I finally told them when I turned 22. They were shocked that I had done it, because I was always the good kid. But I did like matches.” โ Kenny C., Civic Center
“I was a pretty rowdy kid. I’m a middle child, so you gotta stand your ground! I think I was 8 years old, and I followed my sister around with a tissue with poop and tried to smear it on her. That’s pretty brutal. But my mom put a stop to it.” โ Andrea H., the Mission District
“I cut part of the upholstery of the sofa when I was about 7. My mom asked me ‘What happened here? Do you know what happened?’ I said I had no idea. To this day, I’ve never admitted it, although I’m sure she was 100 percent certain what happened there.” โ Amir A., the Mission District
“I’m the oldest in my family, and one time I took my brothers and sisters out for three extra hours of trick-or-treating. My Mom was waiting for me at the bus stop when we finally got back, and I got whupped all the way home.” โ Arthur R., Civic Center
“Well, I’ve done much worse things as an adult. But when I was a teenager, we would steal people’s mailboxes, paint them in bizarre colors and patterns, and then take them back. Until we found out it was a federal offense. One time, a bunch of guys got caught, but fortunately one of their dads was a federal judge, so they didn’t do anything. Yes, we were very spoiled, affluent, wild children.” โ Carolyn B., Noe Valley
“I snuck out a lot when I was 12, 13, 14. We lived in a college town, so we would go to the college parties and drink. I’m not sure I could say it was the worst thing I ever did as a kid, but I have to be careful; my mom reads Mission Local.” โ Lisa H., the Mission District
Send your suggestions for future questions to thebigquestion@missionlocal.com
