JC Bio Part 3; Mom and Dad go separate ways

The most significant thing that hapened while we were living on Prospect Avenue was my dad moving to Toronto when I was ten, but I had known it was coming for awhile. Our parents never fought, at least not in front of us, so at nine years of age I was quite surprised, maybe even shocked, to read in my sister's diary:

Last night I was sitting on the stairs listening to my parents talk, and it seemed like they were breaking up. Dad wanted to leave but mom said that she couldn't handle Joey all by herself.

It was true that I had been a terror (I remember yelling at my mom that I hated her, accusingly claiming that she favoured my sister Debbie), and in the weeks following this revelation I strove to be even worse, thinking it would keep my folks together. That didn't last, as I was generally a good kid, but I think the advance read of the situation helped soften the blow when, some months later, I was told my dad would be leaving.

The thing was, it rejuvenated our relationship. When he was still at home, he'd leave for Toronto before we got up for school, and would often get home after our bedtime. After he moved to Toronto, we would get to visit him for whole weekends sometime, and in addition to spending happy times together, we were learning about Toronto. He had an office first on Spadina, then just off Yonge by Summerhill, right by the west side barbershop. His apartment was by High Park, and we'd arrive by Go Train and then take the subway. It was all very exciting and I believe my sister would agree that in addition to many other things done well, our parents handled their breakup and separation in a really honest and loving way.