George's best friend Andy Thompson lived opposite him on Main Street. At one time or another, the two boys operated a "restaurant," grew tomatoes, loafed at the nearby blacksmith shop, played billiards, and conducted a ferry service across Coal Lick Run. George had a "crush" on Catharine Lindsey and played ball with athletic Herb Bowman. Once, he and his friends rode their bicycles 12 miles to Brownsville, where they hopped a boat to New Geneva. To his friends, George was "Flicker," a carefree, freckle-faced youngster.