SHIRLEY IRENE

In The Beginning

As Shirley left babyhood, so did the family leave their neighborhood. Living near the Chicago river, often times rose would push her in her buggy, across the bridge, where one day, so the story went, baby Shirley tossed her mother's purse through the rails and into the river! The family had a large collie dog, named Lad, who used to watch over baby Shirley as though she were one of his pups. Many times, went yet another story of her baby-hood, Lad would grab Shirley by her dress, and drag her across the grass to keep her away from any traffic! Many Sunday afternoon's they would accompany another family to Navy Pier. Having formed a friendship with the captain of one of the huge ships that docked and offered rides into Lake Michigan, Lad was given to him.

The move found them in a lovely bungalow on Keeler Avenue, two blocks from the main street car line, Fullerton Avenue. Everett was sent to the nearby Catholic school, while Shirley remained home, too young for school. The next door neighbors were an elderly couple, named Nick and Mary. Coming from the "old country" (Italy), they spoke very little English but were always kind to her as she played in the backyard. One day Mary passed away and Shirley was taken into their parlor where Mary lay in her casket with lit candles on either side. Though she felt no fear, Shirley always remembered that somber scene. Because there were no little children nearby, she was fairly much left alone to amuse herself in whatever fashion. There was a sandbox under the enclosed porch and many an hour she spent there. She was also allowed to play with the garden hose, which she frequently did, making mud pies, decorated with berries from the bushes in their yard.

Shirley had her own bedroom, across the hall from her parents, Everett, however had his bed in the attic. He used to make balsam-wood airplanes by the hour and had them hanging from all the rafters. On rare occasions Shirley would be allowed to go up there and was always enthralled with all the space he had, and how he kept it decorated with these planes. On weekdays they would all eat in the kitchen, but on special days they would use the dining room. Shirley loved sitting in there, it was so pretty! On days like Thanksgiving or Christmas she and Everett were both given small glasses of wine as well. She was always treated well, as far back as she could remember. One memory she had of Everett as a young boy was when he was making lead soldiers. He used molten lead and somehow had spilled it onto his inner arm. In great pain, and fearful of being "caught" he had immersed his arm under the faucet in the kitchen sink, and who should discover him, but Shirley! Running into the other room to her parents she announced that "the boy" had a big owie! Rose came into the kitchen and took in the situation, she simply told him to dry himself off, and get up to his room! There would be no more lead soldiers for him! He was never taken to a doctor, and all his life he carried horrendous scars up and down that arm! Everett never stood up for his son, even though he had fought for his custody, and though she was young Shirley must have picked up on those vibes, for Everett told her she was a wicked little tattle tale! Somehow, the two were raised in the same house yet never knew one another as brother and sister. Because Everett was difficult for a little one to say, she simply called him "boy"! The eight year difference in their ages did not keep Everett from resenting the love of attention she received and would often retaliate by doing small but cruel things to her. He would put pins in a rubber ball then offer to "play catch" with her. When the pins pricked her hands and she would cry out with pain he would simply scoop up the ball quickly, remove the pins, and state innocently he had no idea why she was such a cry baby! Yet, there were other times, especially as she grew older, when he would display affection for her, in spite of himself! Many times he would hoist her up on his shoulder and get her to church, it being such a long walk. Neither Everett nor Rose attended mass, but were insistent that the two children should. As he continued to act out his rebellion he was ejected from parochial school for "behavior problems", (throwing spitballs at the nun for one thing!) so he went to public school for the remainder of his grade schooling.

Often, in the evening, Everett and Rose would walk down to the "corner tavern", at which time Everett and Shirley were left alone. Later in life she was to learn that after their parents left, so did Everett! He had a rope rigged up, wrapped around the chimney, so that he could leave through the attic window! It seems that they had locked the door to the attic, with a towel around the knob, so it could be told if he'd come downstairs. So he simply outsmarted them. Perhaps it was just as well little Shirley never knew how frequently she was left alone, sleeping, in that bungalow! By time she turned 5, in 1933, she too, entered Barry School. The two were able to walk together for a time, and then Everett went on to Kelvyn Park High School. School was an amazing world for Shirley. She learned to read, the most wonderful gift of all! She made friends throughout the years there, graduating in 1942. During that period she learned so much about so many things. She ate her lunch at the school store across the street, with other youngsters who lived too far away to go home. The school had no lunchroom, but they did have a large gym which was a glorious place to play and run off steam in. In seventh and eighth grades they were able to play music and have dances, where both boys and girls were taught the art of ballroom dancing. What fun!

Meanwhile, back at the house things were about to change once again. It seemed, they were told, that "we are moving." It would be their job to "get rid of anything they didn't really need" because the place they were moving to, was much smaller than the bungalow. The place turned out to be an upstairs, rear apartment, the front apartment was above a tavern, and the owners lived there. The downstairs rear apartment was rented by an elderly Polish couple. There were three bedrooms, but they were very small, yet both Shirley and Everett did have their own rooms. This move also meant another three blocks added to Shirley's walk to school, the High School was closer for Everett. Still she begged her father to allow her to finish her schooling at Barry, because she knew no-one at the closer Nixon School. Somehow he did manage to get her a permit so she could do so. They were right on the corner of Tripp, one block over from Keeler, and Fullerton. The streetcar stopped right on their corner. Shirley was thrilled to be where there was so much more activity! She would spend much time, sitting at the kitchen table, gazing out on the streets, people watching! Everyone, it seemed, had some place to go, and they were all walking there, past her window! Being on the second floor also allowed her to look without anyone being able to look back at her. When her mother would send her out to the grocer or meat market or drugstore, she enjoyed being able to do these errands, to walk among so many others. Mostly, she loved going to the meat market, with the sawdust on the floor, and the huge pickle barrels set out. Sometimes, mother would allow her to spend two cents and buy one of those huge dill pickles! Her mother told her how when she was young, she and her friends would stick peppermint or...