Spring Chapter 27

Friday, March 25, 1977

Today, while I was in class, an announcement came over the loudspeaker. We were reminded that we were off for spring break next week. They also announced that jobs were available at Stanley Park for students who wanted to work while they were off.

As soon as class was over, I hurried to the office to find out how to apply for the job. When school was over, I called about the job. The lady I spoke with asked me to come in at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow to apply in person. Oh, I hope I get the job!

Saturday, March 26, 1977

I took the bus to Stanley Park to see about the job. There were other girls there, too. While there, a woman told us that if we wanted the job, we should call in the morning. Whoever called first would get the job for the day at a concession stand.

If we got the job for the day and they liked us, they would let us know at the end of the shift. Then we could call them again the next day, and they would let us know the hours we would be working. The job was a day-to-day position, nothing permanent. I was going to do my best to be the first one to call in the morning.

Sunday, March 27, 1977

I turned my alarm on so I could wake up early. I was told to be at Stanley Park today at noon sharp. I took the bus and was there just in time! I first took orders from people and had to add up the money on a cash register. When the customer gave me money, I had to figure out how much change to give them. (In those days, the cash register didn’t do that for you.)  Since I was not used to doing that, it was kind of hard. There wasn’t much time to stand still. It made the time go by fast.

The stand is right in the middle of the park, and there were lots of people who wanted food. I had a ten-minute break during which I was allowed eat a hot dog and have a drink.

I got off at 5:00 p.m. I was asked to call tomorrow morning, and if I were one of the first callers again, I would get the job for another day.

When I got back, I asked Nick if he had any money so I could practice giving change back. To my surprise, it didn’t take long for me to catch on, and it was kind of fun. I thought, maybe I’m not as dumb as Mom, Bent, and Sander had always told me I was.

Monday, March 28, 1977

I woke up early again so I would be the first to call. I was told they didn’t feel like working today, so the concession stand was closed. I guess I never know if I will be working.

Tuesday, March 29, 1977

I was able to work today! I am so happy that I was one of the first girls to call so that I can earn some money. The two women who own the concession stand give different orders and want to show they are in charge. It’s hard to know what to do since I can’t do two things at once. Both women are old maids and are hard on all the girls who work here.

Wednesday, March 30, 31, and April 1, 1977

I’ve been able to work every day so far! I like working here, except I have a hard time with the two female managers. It is hard when they both want me to think she is the main person in charge.

Saturday, April 2, 1977

Before I left for work today, one of the bosses asked me if I planned to come in and work the next day. I told her I was. She said, “Okay, we will see you tomorrow.”

Sunday, April 3, 1977

This morning, Nick asked me if I was working today. I told him I was planning on it. Then he told me his mom, sister, and I were invited to a wedding shower for one of his cousins. I told Nick his family probably wouldn’t care whether I was there or not; besides, I would rather go to work.

Nick told me that his mom would be upset if I didn’t go. I didn’t want to upset her, so I called work to let them know I couldn’t come in. The lady responded, “You can have today off, and while you are at it, you can have every day off because it looks like you don’t want to work!” I assured her I needed the job, and I only needed today off. But the lady told me to come in and get my paycheck, and then she hung up the phone.

I felt bad because I liked the job and I needed the money. I had hoped I could work there every weekend. I got ready to go to the shower with Mrs. Petruzzelli and Teresa. While we were at the party, Teresa asked me if I managed to get the day off from work. I told her that since I had asked for the day off, I was told that they didn’t want me to come back and work for them again.

Teresa translated this to her mom. Mrs. Petruzzelli said something in Italian. I couldn’t understand what she was saying, but I did understand, “Sei uno stupido.” I didn’t ask Teresa what her mom was saying because the part about me being stupid was coming across loud and clear.

I was so frustrated! Here I took the day off from work so I wouldn’t upset her, and now she is upset because I have lost my job! It doesn’t matter what I do; I still get in trouble, no matter how hard I try.

Wednesday, April 6, 1977

Now that I am not riding my bike and walking everywhere as I did in Denmark, I have gained weight. My clothes feel tight, it’s terrible because I don’t have the money to buy bigger clothes. After I got back from school today, Nick and I went for a long jog. I feel so out of shape.

When we got back from our jog, Nick’s mom asked where we had been. Nick told her we had been on a job so that I could get into shape again.

Nick’s mom looked at me, then puffed out her cheeks and walked around the room like a monkey. Then she said something in Italian to me. I asked Nick what she was doing. He said, “She is making fun of you because you are fat.” I didn’t say anything, I went downstairs. I don’t understand why she is so mean. I guess I shouldn’t take it personally, but it still hurts.

Thursday, April 7, 1977

This morning, while the Petruzzelli family was away from the house, Cosmo packed up his things and moved out. When I got back from school, I saw him carry out one of his last boxes. I asked him where he was going. He told me he was moving in with a friend. He said he has been dying to get away from home for a long time. Now that he was 18, he could finally make his dream come true. He said, “I don’t like how my mom always has to yell when she is upset about things.” I thought it was my fault, so I apologized to him for all the contention I had caused.

To my surprise, Cosmo said, “No, before you came, it used to always be me she would yell at. I can never be as good as Nick at anything I do. I am just sorry it is you she is picking on now.” As Cosmo left, he said, “I will still be helping out the band, so I will see you soon.” Then he left.

As he shut the door, I knew I would miss him. He is such a funny guy. He always made me laugh. Every Friday, he used to go steal gas, and then every Saturday, he would confess to the priest what he had done. All Saturday morning, he would be a basket case because he hated going to confession.

One Saturday, I asked him, “If you dread going to see the priest so much, why do you steal gas in the first place?” He answered, “Because it’s a lot cheaper to give the priest $2.00 and then be forgiven than it is to pay $10.00 at the gas station. I thought it was strange that the priest had the power to forgive him when he planned to turn around and do the same thing again the next week.

Nick and Cosmo have shared a bedroom ever since Cosmo was born. Now Nick will have the bedroom to himself. However, he seems sad that his brother is gone.

Monday, April 11, 1977

At Britannia High School, it is tradition for 12th-grade boys to dress up as girls. They then have a talent show to see who looks most like a girl, and he will be crowned “Miss Britannia.” The boys only enter the contest if they want to. Including Nick, 14 boys have signed up this year. The school takes it very seriously. For the past month, the students participating have been practicing a dance they will perform together.

Saturday, April 16, 1977

This morning, after Nick and I got back from our daily jog, I went into my room to get changed. There was a plastic bag by my bed. I picked it up to see what was in it. Nick’s mom bakes her own bread. When it gets hard, she throws it out and bakes some more. But instead of throwing it out, she had put it in my room. I just don’t understand her!

Later in the day, I made a banner that Nick will wear in the contest he is entering tomorrow at school. The banner says “Miss Nickey.” Nick and his friends all seem excited about the contest. After I had finished the banner, Nick asked me if I could sew some patches on his work jeans, so I did.

When I was done sewing on the patches, I went upstairs to give Nick the pants. He was so impressed with the work I had done. Since his mom was home, I went back up to my room.

All of a sudden, his mom came stomping down the stairs into my room with the pants in her hands. She was screaming and yelling at me. I asked Nick what was wrong. He said, “She is just upset because she doesn’t know how to sew on patches. It made her mad that you know how.” I don’t know why she can’t just be grateful I sewed them on. 

Sunday, April 17, 1977

I went to church with Nick today. His family doesn’t always go to church, but they still consider themselves very strong Catholics. They mostly go to confession when they have stolen something. They want to make sure their sins are forgiven before they die.

I have never been to a Catholic Church before. When we walked in, I saw everyone kneeling before a statue of Mary. They kiss their hands, make the cross on their chest, and then kneelt at her feet. Nick did the same.

When I walked past the statue, Nick whispered, “Kiss your hand, make the sign of the cross, and kneel.” Even though I had never been active in the Mormon Church, I still remember being taught that making the sign of the cross was wrong.

I hurried past Mary and sat down. Nick wanted to know what my problem was. I told him I didn’t feel comfortable doing what he had asked.

As we sat and listened to the priest speak in Latin, a man held out a long stick with a basket at the end for people to throw money into. It went smoothly as everyone put money in the basket, that is, until the basket was held in front of me.

When the basket got to me, the man holding the stick paused. I got uncomfortable because I had no money, and if I did, I didn’t want to put it in the basket.

Finally, when he moved the basket in front of Nick, Nick threw in a couple of dollars.

When we left, Nick told me I had to get used to making the sign of the cross since I was going to become Catholic. I asked him why he assumed that. He said, “Because that is what I am, and I am expected to marry in my religion. Besides, then my mom will like you.” I had not thought about religion for a long time. I knew God was there! I figured we all worshiped the same God, so I agreed to join their church.

That night, I had a hard time falling asleep. I thought about when I was little, and Grandma had told me about the Mormon Church. I had always felt it was true. I reasoned with myself that there are so many churches. What were the chances I happened to be born into just the right one? Surely God didn’t care which church I belonged to.

Monday, April 18, 1977

Today at school, the 14 boys who were entering the talent show performed their dance for the judges. When they had finished their dance, it was time for the judges to pick five boys for the final show tomorrow.

The judges were teachers who worked at the school. The judges called out four names. There was still one more name to be picked. I was hoping they would call out Nick’s name because I knew how much this contest meant to him.  One of the judges asked, “Can you guess who the fifth winner is?”  All Nick’s friends yelled out, “Miss Nickie!” The teacher then said, “Yes, Miss Nickie!” Nick’s friends all cheered.

After the contest, we stopped by Sander’s place because I wanted to take a picture of him to send to Mom and Elisabeth, but to my disappointment, he was not home.

Tuesday, April 19, 1977

After school, Nick and I went over to his cousin’s house so that he could borrow a long evening dress. When we got back, Nick practiced the song he would be singing in the talent show. He practiced singing it in a high voice; it was funny.

Later in the evening, we went to Nick’s school for the second segment of the beauty contest. The five finalists performed their talents.

The judge called out who had come in fifth, then fourth, and then third. The final two contestants were Nick and this other skinny Chinese guy who had just walked in circles on the stage, as if he were doing ballet, as his talent.  

The students in the audience began chanting “Nickie, Nickie, Nickie.”  Before we knew it, most of the students stood up and shouted, “Nickie, Nickie, Nickie!”  The teacher called out, “Miss Nickie is in second place!”

The winner was the little skinny Chinese guy. I was so sure Nick was going to win. A lot of the students started to yell, “BOO, we want Nickie!” Someone from the audience threw a raw egg. One of the five finalists got the egg right in the face. The teachers tried to figure out where it came from, but they didn’t have any luck.

After the contest, we stopped by Sander’s place again. I asked one of the boys who lives there if he knew where my brother was. He said, “I think he is going to be in the hospital for the next few days.” I asked him if he knew why. He told me he was having an operation.

When I got back to Nick’s house, I called the hospital, but they couldn’t find anyone by that name. I called up Sander’s girlfriend’s house. A recording came on saying the number I had called had been disconnected. I don’t understand why Sander has not called me to let me know what is going on. He knows I worry about him.

Wednesday, April 20, 1977

As soon as I got home from school, I called Sander’s place, but he was still not there. At 4:30 p.m. Sander stopped by because he said he had something sent to this address for him. Sander didn’t say much; he just wanted his mail. I asked him where he had been. He said, “I can’t talk, my girlfriend is waiting for me in the car.”

I told Sander I had been worried sick about him; at least he could tell me where he had been these past few days. He lifted his shirt to show me his chest. It was all bandaged up, he said, “I have 18 stitches on the right side.” I asked him what happened. Then he told me that the right side of his chest was starting to grow a breast, just like girls have. The doctor removed it so that his chest would look normal again. Sander seemed embarrassed about it.

I wanted to talk some more, but it was clear Sander had only stopped by to see if there was mail for him and didn’t want to discuss the operation further. It made me sad that he didn’t seem to care that I had worried about him.

Sunday, April 24, 1977

Nick’s cousin, Tommy, came over to visit today. He has just arrived from Italy. He doesn’t speak a word of English. He is going to be living with Nick’s other cousin until he finds a job and a place of his own.

Tommy is a nice guy. He gave me a gift. He said it was from his mom. On the gift, it said, “To Nick’s future wife. From: Nick’s Aunt.” I was surprised he had a present for me because I had never heard of him or his family.

I opened up the gift, and inside the box were two beautiful charms for a bracelet. I thanked him for them, and Nick translated for me. I wrote to Nick’s Aunt to thank her. Nick translated the letter for me, then I rewrote it in Italian so they could understand it.

Monday, April 25, 1977

On my way home from school, I walked to Sander’s place. He showed me the 18 stitches he had on his chest. He said he felt fine and would be going back to the doctor in a few days to have the stitches removed.

When I got back to Nick’s place, I found a letter from Mom. She still asks me to tell Sander to write her. I wrote back to tell her I don’t see much of him. That is, unless he wants money. I don’t have much, so I can only “lend” him $3.00 to $5.00 at a time. I go back to his place to see if he can pay it back, but he always tells me he doesn’t have it. I don’t know why I bother asking for it.

It looks like Mom is still thinking about coming this summer, and wants me to find a room she can rent while they are here. I wrote Mom and said that I would help her find something. Before I went to bed, I went on the scale. I am so excited that I have lost almost all of the weight I had gained since I got here. Now my clothes aren’t so tight anymore!

Sunday, May 1, 1977

This evening, when I was in my room downstairs, no one called to let me know it was time to eat. I knew it had to be dinnertime, so I came upstairs. Everyone had already eaten, even Nick. I asked him why no one had called me. He just shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know, I didn’t think you wanted any.” I wished there was a place I could call home. A place where someone wants me around.