45
gotyourothermeat.
FrancieorderedanicebonewithsomemeatonitforSundaysoupforfivecents.Hasslermade
herwaitwhilehetoldthestalejoke:howamanhadboughttwocents'worthofdogmeatand
howHasslerhadasked,shouldhewrapitupordoyouwanttoeatithere?Franciesmiledshyly.
Thepleasedbutcherwentintotheiceboxandreturnedholdingupagleamingwhitebonewith
creamymarrowinitandshredsofredmeatclingingtotheends.HemadeFrancieadmireit.
"Afteryourmamacooksthis,"hesaid,"tellhertotakethemarrowout,spreaditonapieceof
breadwithpepper,salt,andmakeanicesamwishforyou."
"I'lltellmama."
"Youeatitandgetsomemeatonyourbones,ha,ha."
Afterthebonewaswrappedandpaidfor,heslicedoffathickpieceofliver
wurst
andgaveitto
her.Franciewassorrythatshedeceivedthatkindmanbybuyingtheothermeatelsewhere.
Toobadmamadidn'ttrusthimaboutchoppedmeat.
Itwasstillearlyintheeveningandthestreetlightshadnotyetcomeon.Butalready,the
horse-radishladywassittinginfrontofHassler'sgrindingawayatherpungentroots.Francie
heldoutthecupthatshehadbroughtfromhome.Theoldmotherfilledithalfwayupfortwo
cents.Happythatthemeatbusinesswasover,Francieboughttwocentsworthofsoupgreens
fromthegreengrocer's.Shegotanemasculatedcarrot,adroopyleafofcelery,asofttomato
andafreshsprigofparsley.Thesewouldbeboiledwiththebonetomakearichsoupwith
shredsofmeatfloatinginit.Fat,homemadenoodleswouldbeadded.This,withtheseasoned
marrowspreadonbread,wouldmakeagoodSundaydinner.
Afterasupperoffried
fricadellen
,potatoes,smashedpie,andcoffee,Neeleywentdownonthe
streettoplaywithhisfriends.Althoughtherewasnosignalnoragreement,theboysalways
gatheredonthecorneraftersupperwheretheystoodthewholeevening,handsinpockets,
shouldershunchedforward,arguing,laughing,pushingeachotheraroundandjiggingintimeto
whistledtunes.
MaudieDonavancamearoundtogotoconfessionwithFrancie.Maudiewasanorphanwho
livedwithtwomaidenauntswhoworkedathome.Theymadeladies'shroudsforalivingatso
muchperdozenforacasketcompany.Theymadesatintuftedshrouds:whiteonesfordead
virgins,palelavenderfortheyoungmarried,purpleforthemiddle-agedandblackfortheold.
Maudiebroughtsomepieces.ShethoughtFranciemightliketomakesomethingoutofthem.
Franciepretendedtobegladbutshudderedassheputthegleamingscrapsaway.
Thechurchwassmokywithincenseandgutteringcandles.Thenunshadputfreshflowerson
thealtars.TheBlessedMother'saltarhadthenicestflowers.Shewasmorepopularwiththe
sistersthaneitherJesusorJoseph.Peoplewerelinedupoutsidetheconfessionals.Thegirls
andfellowswantedtogetitoverwithbeforetheywentoutontheirdates.Thelinewaslongest
atFatherO'Flynn'scubicle.Hewasyoung,kind,tolerantandeasyonthepenances.
Whenherturncame,Franciepushedasidetheheavycurtainandkneltintheconfessional.The
old,oldmysterytookholdasthepriestslidopenthetinydoorthatseparatedhimfromthe
sinnerandmadethesignofthecrossbeforethegrilledwindow.Hestartedwhisperingrapidly
andmonotonouslyinLatinwithhiseyesclosed.Shecaughtthemingledodorsofincense,
40
candlewax,flowers,andthegoodblackclothandshavinglotionofthepriest.
"Blessme,Father,forIhavesinned...."
Quicklywerehersinsconfessedandquicklyabsolved.Shecameoutwithherheadbowedover
herclaspedhands.Shegenuflectedbeforethealtar,thenkneltattherail.Shesaidher
penanceusinghermother-of-pearlrosarytokeepcountoftheprayers.Maudie,wholiveda
lesscomplicatedlife,hadhadfewersinstoconfessandhadgottenoutsooner.Shewassitting
outsideonthestepswaitingwhenFranciecameout.
Theywalkedupanddowntheblock,armsabouteachother'swaists,thewaygirlfriendsdidin
Brooklyn.Maudiehadapenny.SheboughtanicecreamsandwichandtreatedFrancietoabite.
SoonMaudiehadtogoin.Shewasn'tallowedoutonthestreetaftereightatnight.Thegirls
partedaftermutualpromiseswereaskedandgiventogotoconfessiontogetherthefollowing
Saturday.
"Don'tforget,"calledMaudie,walkingbackwardsawayfromFrancie,"Icalledforyouthistime
andit'syourturntocallformenexttime."
"Iwon'tforget,"promisedFrancie.
TherewascompanyinthefrontroomwhenFranciegothome.AuntEvywastherewithher
husband,WillieFlittman.FrancielikedAuntEvy.Shelookedalotlikemama.Shewasfulloffun
andsaidthingstomakeyoulaughlikepeopledidinashowandshecouldmimicanybodyinthe
world.
UncleFlittmanhadbroughthisguitaralong.Hewasplayingitandallweresinging.Flittman
wasathindarkmanwithsmoothblackhairandasilkymustache.Heplayedtheguitarpretty
wellconsideringthatthemiddlefingerofhisrighthandwasn'tthere.Whenhecametowhere
hewassupposedtousethatfinger,he'dgivetheguitarathumpingwhacktodoforthetime
whenthenoteshouldbeplayed.Thisgaveaqueerrhythmtohissongs.Hehadnearlyreached
theendofhisrepertoirewhenFranciecamein.Shewasjustintimetohearhislastselection.
Afterthemusic,hewentoutandgotapitcherofbeer.AuntEvytreatedtoaloafof
pumpernickelbreadandadime'sworthoflimburgercheeseandtheyhadsandwichesandbeer.
UncleFlittmangotconfidentialafterthebeer.
"Lookonme,Kate,"hesaidtomama,"andyoulookonamanthat'safailure."AuntEvyrolled
hereyesupandsighed,pullinginherlowerlip."Mychildrendon'trespectme,"hesaid."My
wifehasnouseformeandDrummer,mymilkwagonhorse,isgotitinforme.Doyouknow
whathedidtomejusttheotherday?"
HeleanedforwardandFranciesawhiseyesbrightenwithunshedtears.
"IwaswashinghiminthestableandIwaswashingunderhisbellyandhewentandweton
me."
KatieandEvylookedateachother.Theireyesweredancingwithhiddenlaughter.Katielooked
suddenlyatFrancie.Thelaughterwasstillinhereyesbuthermouthwasstern.Francielooked
downonthefloorandfrownedalthoughshewaslaughinginside.
"That'swhathedid.Andallthemeninthestablelaughedatme.Everyonelaughsatme."He
drankanotherglassofbeer.
41
"Don'ttalklikethat,Will,"saidhiswife.
"Evydoesn'tloveme,"hesaidtomama.
"Iloveyou,Will,"Evyassuredhiminhersofttendervoicethatwasacaressinitself.
"Youlovedmewhenyoumarriedmebutyoudon'tlovemenow,doyou?"Hewaited.Evysaid
nothing."Yousee,shedon'tloveme"anymore,"hesaidtomama.
"It'stimewewenthome,"saidEvy.
Beforetheywenttobed,FrancieandNeeleyhadtoreadapageoftheBibleandapagefrom
Shakespeare.Thatwasarule.Mamausedtoreadthetwopagestothemeachnightuntilthey
wereoldenoughtoreadforthemselves.Tosavetime,NeeleyreadtheBiblepageandFrancie
readfromShakespeare.Theyhadbeenatthisreadingforsixyearsandwerehalfwaythrough
theBibleandupto
Macbeth
inShakespeare's
CompleteWorks
.Theyracedthroughthe
readingandbyeleven,alltheNolans,exceptingJohnny,whowasworking,wereinbed.
OnSaturdaynightsFranciewasallowedtosleepinthefrontroom.Shemadeabedbypushing
twochairstogetherinfrontofthewindowwhereshecouldwatchthepeopleonthestreet.Lying
there,shewasawareofthenighttimenoisesinthehouse.Peoplecameinandwenttotheir
flats.Someweretiredanddraggedtheirfeet.Othersranupthestairslightly.Onestumbled,
cursingthetornlinoleuminthehall.Ababycriedhalf-heartedlyandadrunkenmaninoneof
thedownstairsflatssynopsizedthewickedlifeheclaimedhiswifehadled.
Attwointhemorning,Francieheardpapasingingsoftlyashecameupthestairs.
…sweetMollyMalone.
Shedroveherwheelbarrow,
Throughstreetswideandnarrow,
Crying...
Mamahadthedooropenon"crying."Itwasagamepapahad.Iftheygotthedooropened
beforehefinishedtheverse,theywon.Ifhewasabletofinishitoutinthehall,hewon.
FrancieandNeeleygotoutofbedandtheyallsataroundthetableandateafterpapahadput
threedollarsdownonthetableandgiventhechildreneachanickelwhichmamamadethem
putinthetin-canbankexplainingtheyhadalreadyreceivedmoneythatdayfromthejunk.Papa
hadbroughthomeapaperbagfuloffoodnotusedattheweddingbecausesomeoftheguests
hadn'tcome.Thebridehaddividedtheunconsumedfoodamongthewaiters.Therewashalfof
acoldbroiledlobster,fivestone-coldfriedoysters,aninchjarofcaviarandawedgeof
Roquefortcheese.Thechildrendidn'tlikethelobsterandthecoldoystershadnotasteandthe
caviarseemedtoosalty.Buttheyweresohungrythattheyateeverythingonthetableand
digestedittoo,duringthenight.Theycouldhavedigestednailshadtheybeenabletochew
them.
Aftershehadeaten,Francieatlastfacedthefactthatshehadbrokenthefastwhichstartedat
midnightandwastohavelasteduntilaftermassnextmorning.Nowshecouldnotreceive
44
communion.Herewasarealsintoconfesstothepriestnextweek.
Neeleywentbacktobedandresumedhissoundsleep.Franciewentintothedarkfrontroom
andsatbythewindow.Shedidn'tfeellikesleeping.Mamaandpapasatinthekitchen.They
wouldsitthereandtalkuntildaybreak.Papawastellingaboutthenight'swork;thepeoplehe
hadseen,whattheyhadlookedlikeandhowtheyspoke.TheNolansjustcouldn'tgetenough
oflife.Theylivedtheirownlivesuptothehiltbutthatwasn'tenough.Theyhadtofillinonthe
livesofallthepeopletheymadecontactwith.
SoJohnnyandKatietalkedawaythenightandtheriseandfalloftheirvoiceswasasafeand
soothingsoundinthedark.Nowitwasthreeinthemorningandthestreetwasveryquiet.
Franciesawagirlwholivedinaflatacrossthestreetcomehomefromadancewithherfeller.
Theystoodpressedclosetogetherinhervestibule.Theystoodembracingwithouttalkinguntil
thegirlleanedbackandunknowinglypressedthebells.Thenherfathercamedowninhislong
underdrawersand,withquietbutintenseprofanity,toldthefellowwhathecouldgoanddoto
himself.Thegirlranupstairsgigglinghystericallywhiletheboyfriendwalkedawaydownthe
streetwhistling,"WhenIGetYouAlone,Tonight."
Mr.Tomonywhoownedthepawnshopcamehomeinahansomcabfromhisspendthrift
eveninginNewYork.Hehadneversetfootinsidehispawnshopwhichhehadinheritedalong
withanefficientmanager.NooneknewwhyMr.Tomonylivedintheroomsabovetheshop-a
manwithhismoney.HelivedthelifeofanaristocraticNewYorkerinthesqualorof
Williamsburg.Aplastererwhohadbeeninhisroomsreportedthemfurnishedwithstatues,oil
paintings,andwhitefurrugs.Mr.Tomonywasabachelor.Noonesawhimallweek.Noone
sawhimleaveSaturdayevenings.OnlyFrancieandthecoponthebeatsawhimcomehome.
Franciewatchedhim,feelinglikeaspectatorinatheaterbox.
Hishighsilkhatwastippedoveranear.Thestreetlightpickedupthegleamofhis
silver-knobbedcaneashetuckeditunderhisarm.HeswungbackhiswhitesatinInverness
capetogetsomemoney.Thedrivertookthebill,touchedthebuttofhiswhiptotherimofhis
plughatandshookthehorse'sreins.Mr.Tomonywatchedhimdriveawayasthoughthecab
werethelastlinkinalifethathehadfoundgood.Thenhewentupstairstohisfabulous
apartment.
HewassupposedtofrequentsuchlegendaryplacesasReisenweber'sandtheWaldorf.
Franciedecidedtoseetheseplacessomeday.SomedayshewouldgoacrossWilliamsburg
Bridge,whichwasonlyafewblocksawayandfindherwayuptowninNewYorktowherethese
fineplaceswereandtakeagoodlookattheoutside.Thenshe'dbeabletoplaceMr.Tomony
moreaccurately.
AfreshbreezeblewinoverBrooklynfromthesea.Fromfarawayonthenorthsidewherethe
Italianslivedandkeptchickensintheiryards,camethecrowingofarooster.Itwasanswered
bythedistantbarkingofadogandaninquiringwhinnyfromthehorse,Bob,comfortably
beddedinhisstable.
FranciewasgladforSaturdayandhatedtoenditbygoingtosleep.Alreadythedreadofthe
weektocomemadeheruneasy.ShefixedthememoryofthisSaturdayinhermind.Itwas
withoutfaultexceptfortheoldmanwaitingforbread.
Othernightsintheweekshewouldhavetolieonhercotandfromtheairshafthearthe
indistinctvoicesofthechildlikebridewholivedinoneoftheotherflatswithherape-like
truck-driverhusband.Thebride'svoicewouldbesoftandpleading,his,roughanddemanding.
19
Thentherewouldbeashortsilence.Thenhewouldstartsnoringandthewifewouldcry
piteouslyuntilnearlymorning.
Recallingthesobs,Francietrembledandinstinctivelyherhandsflewtocoverherears.Then
sheremembereditwasSaturday;shewasinthefrontroomwhereshecouldn'thearsounds
fromtheairshaft.Yes,itwasstillSaturdayanditwaswonderful.Mondaywasalongtimeaway.
PeacefulSundaywouldcomein-betweenwhenshewouldthinklongthoughtsaboutthe
nasturtiumsinthebrownbowlandthewaythehorsehadlookedbeingwashedwhilestanding
insunshineandshadow.Shewasgrowingdrowsy.ShelistenedamomenttoKatieandJohnny
talkinginthekitchen.Theywerereminiscing.
"IwasseventeenwhenIfirstmetyou,"Katiewassaying,"andIwasworkingintheCastleBraid
Factory."
"Iwasnineteenthen,"recalledJohnny,"andkeepingcompanywithyourbestfriend,Hildy
O'Dair."
"Oh,
her
,"sniffedKatie.
Thesweet-smellingwarmwindmovedgentlyinFrancie'shair.Shefoldedherarmsonthe
windowsillandlaidhercheekonthem.Shecouldlookupandseethestarshighabovethe
tenementroofs.Afterawhileshewenttosleep.
48
BOOK
BOOK
BOOK
BOOKTWO
TTWWOO
TWO
VII
ITwasinanotherBrooklynsummerbuttwelveyearsearlierinnineteenhundred,thatJohnny
NolanfirstmetKatieRommely.Hewasnineteenandshewasseventeen.Katieworkedinthe
CastleBraidFactory.SodidHildyO'Dair,herbestfriend.TheygotalongwellalthoughHildy
wasIrishandKatiecamefromparentswhohadbeenborninAustria.Katiewasprettierbut
Hildywasbolder.Hildyhadbrassyblondhair,woreagarnet-coloredchiffonbowaroundher
neck,chewedsen-sen,knewallthelatestsongsandwasagooddancer.
Hildyhadafeller,abeauwhotookherdancingSaturdaynights.HisnamewasJohnnyNolan.
SometimeshewaitedforHildyoutsidethefactory.Healwaysbroughtsomeoftheboysalong
towaitwithhim.Theystoodloafingonthecorner,tellingjokesandlaughing.
Oneday,HildyaskedJohnnytobringsomeoneforKatie,hergirlfriend,thenexttimetheywent
dancing.Johnnyobliged.ThefourofthemrodeouttoCanarsieonthetrolley.Theboyswore
strawkatieswithacordattachedtothebrimandtheotherendtotheircoatlapel.Thestiff
oceanbreezeblewthehatsoffandtherewasmuchlaughterwhentheboyspulledthe
skimmersbackbythecords.
Johnnydancedwithhisgirl,Hildy.Katierefusedtodancewiththefellerprovidedforher,a
vacuousvulgarboygiventoremarkslike:"Ithoughtyoumustafallenin,"whenKatiereturned
fromatriptotheladies'room.However,shelethimbuyherabeer,andshesatatthetable
watchingJohnnydancingwithHildyandthinkingthatinalltheworld,therewasnobodylike
Johnny.
Johnny'sfeetwerelongandslenderandhisshoeswereshiny.Hedancedwithhistoespointed
inandrockedfromheeltotoewithbeautifulrhythm.Itwashot,dancing.Johnnyhunghiscoat
overthebackofhischair.Histrouserssettledwellonhishipsandhiswhiteshirtblousedover
hisbelt.Heworeahighstiffcollarandapolka-dottedtie(whichmatchedthebandonhisstraw
hat),baby-bluesleevegartersofsatinribbonshirredontoelasticwhichKatiejealously
suspectedHildyhadmadeforhim.Sojealouswasshethatfortherestofherlifeshehatedthat
color.
Katiecouldn'tstoplookingathim.Hewasyoung,slenderandshiningwithblondcurlyhairand
deepblueeyes.Hisnosewasstraightandhisshouldersbroadandsquare.Sheheardthegirls
atthenexttablesaythathewasaniftydresser.Theirescortssaidhewasaniftydancer,too.
Althoughhedidnotbelongtoher,Katiewasproudofhim.
Johnnygaveheracourtesydancewhentheorchestraplayed"SweetRosieO'Grady."Feeling
hisarmsaroundherandinstinctivelyadjustingherselftohisrhythm,Katieknewthathewasthe
manshewanted.She'dasknothingmorethantolookathimandtolistentohimfortherestof
herlife.Thenandthere,shedecidedthatthoseprivilegeswereworthslavingforallherlife.
Maybethatdecisionwashergreatmistake.Sheshouldhavewaiteduntilsomemancame
alongwhofeltthatwayabout
her
.Thenherchildrenwouldnothavegonehungry;shewould
nothavehadtoscrubfloorsfortheirlivingandhermemoryofhimwouldhaveremaineda
tendershiningthing.ButshewantedJohnnyNolanandnooneelseandshesetouttogethim.
HercampaignstartedthefollowingMonday.Whenthewhistleblewdismissal,sheranoutof
40
thefactory,reachedthecornerbeforeHildydidandsangout,
"Hello,JohnnyNolan."
"Hello,Katie,dear,"heanswered.
Afterthat,she'dmanagetogetafewwordswithhimeachday.Johnnyfoundthathewas
waitingaroundonthecornerforthosefewwords.
OnedayKatie,fallingbackonawoman'salways-respectedexcuse,toldherforeladythatitwas
thetimeofthemonth;shedidn'tfeelsogood.Shegotoutfifteenminutesbeforeclosingtime.
Johnnywaswaitingonthecornerwithhisfriends.Theywerewhistling"AnnieRooney"topass
thetimeaway.Johnnycockedhisskimmeroveroneeye,puthishandsinhispocketsanddida
waltzclogthereonthesidewalk.Passers-bystoppedtoadmire.Thecop,walkinghisbeat,
calledout,
"You'relosingtime,Sport.Yououghttobeonthestage."
JohnnysawKatiecomingalongandstoppedperformingandgrinnedather.Shelookedmighty
fetchinginatight-fittinggraysuit,trimmedwithblackbraidfromthefactory.Intricatelywhorled
andsquirled,thebraidtrimmingwasdesignedtocallattentiontohermodestbustalready
helpedoutbytworowsofrufflespinnedtohercorsetcover.Withthegraysuit,sheworea
cherry-coloredtampulledoveroneeyeandvici-kidhighbuttonedshoeswithspoolheels.Her
browneyessparkledandhercheeksglowedwithexcitementandshameasshethoughthow
freshshemustlook-runningafterafellerlikethat.
Johnnyhailedher.Theotherboysdriftedaway.WhatKatieandJohnnysaidtoeachotheron
thatspecialday,theyneverremembered.Somehowduringtheiraimlessbutoh-so-significant
conversationwithitsdeliciouspausesandthrillingundercurrentsofemotion,theycametoknow
thattheylovedeachotherpassionately.
ThefactorywhistleblewandthegirlsstreamedoutoftheCastleBraid.Hildycamealongina
mud-coloredbrownsuitandablacksailorskeweredontoherrattedbrassypompadourwithan
evil-lookinghatpin.ShesmiledpossessivelywhenshesawJohnny.Butthesmilechangedtoa
spasmofhurt,fearandthenhatewhenshesawKatiewithhim.Sherusheddownonthem
pullingherlonghatpinfromhersailor.
"He'smyfeller,KatieRommely,"shescreamed,"andyoucan'tstealhimaway."
"Hildy,Hildy,"saidJohnnyinhissoftunhurriedvoice.
"Iguessthisisafreecountry,"saidKatietossingherhead.
"Notfreeforrobbers,"yelledHildyasshelungedatKatiewithherhatpin.
Johnnysteppedbetweenthegirlsandgotthescratchdownhischeek.Bythistime,acrowdof
CastleBraidgirlshadgatheredandwerewatchingthemwithdelightedcluckings.Johnnytook
eachgirlbythearmandsteeredthemaroundthecorner.Hecrowdedthemintoadoorwayand
imprisonedthemtherewithhisarmwhilehetalkedtothem.
"Hildy,"hesaid,"I'mnotmuchgood.Ishouldn'thaveledyouonbecauseIseenowthatIcan't
marryyou."
"It'sallherfault,"wetHildy.
"Mine,"acknowledgedJohnnyhandsomely."IneverknewwhattruelovewastillImetKatie."
45
"Butshe'smybestfriend,"saidHildypiteouslyasthoughJohnnywerecommittingakindof
incest.
"She'smybestgirlnowandthere'snothingmoretosayaboutit."
Hildyweptandargued.FinallyJohnnyquietedherdownandexplainedhowitwaswithhimand
Katie.Heendedby sayingthatHildywastogoherwayandhe'dgohis.Helikedthesoundof
hiswords.Herepeatedthemagain,enjoyingthedramaofthemoment.
"SoyougoyourwayandI'llgomine."
"Youmean,Igomywayandyougo
herway
,"saidHildybitterly.
FinallyHildywentherway.Shewalkeddownthestreetwithhershoulderssagging.Johnnyran
afterher,andthereonthestreetheputhisarmsaboutherandkissedhertenderlyinfarewell.
"Iwishitcouldhavebeendifferentwithus,"hesaidsadly.
Youwishnosuchthing,"snappedHildy."Ifyoudid"-shestartedcryingagain-"you'djustgive
herthegateandstartgoingoutwithmeagain."
Katiewascryingtoo.Afterall,HildyO'Dairhadbeenherbestfriend.ShetookissedHildy.She
lookedawaywhenshesawHildy'stear-wettedeyessoclosetohers,growsmallwithhate.
SoHildywentherwayandJohnnywentKatie'sway.
Theykeptcompanyforalittlewhile,becameengaged,andweremarriedinKatie'schurchon
NewYear'sDay,nineteenhundredandone.Theyhadknowneachothernotquitefourmonths
whentheymarried.
ThomasRommelyneverforgavehisdaughter.Infactheneverforgaveanyofhisdaughtersfor
marrying.Hisphilosophyaboutchildrenwassimpleandprofitable:amanenjoyedhimself
begettingthem,putinaslittlemoneyandeffortintotheirupbringingaswaspossible,andthen
putthemtoworkearningmoneyforthefatherassoonastheygotintotheirteens.Katie,at
seventeen,hadonlybeenworkingfouryearswhenshemarried.Hefiguredthatsheowedhim
money.
Rommelyhatedeverybodyandeverything.Nooneeverfoundoutwhy.Hewasamassive
handsomemanwithiron-graycurlyhaircoveringaleoninehead.HehadrunawayfromAustria
withhisbridetoavoidbeingconscriptedintothearmy.Althoughhehatedtheoldcountry,he
stubbornlyrefusedtolikethenewcountry.HeunderstoodandcouldspeakEnglishifhewanted
to.ButherefusedtoanswerwhenaddressedinEnglishandforbadethespeakingofEnglishin
hishome.HisdaughtersunderstoodverylittleGerman.(Theirmotherinsistedthatthegirls
speakonlyEnglishinthehome.ShereasonedthatthelesstheyunderstoodGerman,theless
theywouldfindoutaboutthecrueltyoftheirfather.)Consequently,thefourdaughtersgrewup
havinglittlecommunionwiththeirfather.Heneverspoketothemexcepttocursethem.His
Gottverdammte
cametoberegardedashelloandgoodbye.Whenveryangry,he'dcallthe
objectofhistemper,
DuRusse!
Thisheconsideredhismostobsceneexpletive.Hehated
Austria.HehatedAmerica.MostofallhehatedRussia.Hehadneverbeentothatcountryand
hadneverlaideyesonaRussian.Nooneunderstoodhishatredofthatdimly-knowncountry
anditsvaguely-knownpeople.ThiswasthemanwhowasFrancie'smaternalgrandfather.She
hatedhimthewayhisdaughtershatedhim.
43
MaryRommely,hiswifeandFrancie'sgrandmother,wasasaint.Shehadnoeducation;she
couldnotreadorwriteherownname,butshehadinhermemoryoverathousandstoriesand
legends.Someshehadinventedtoentertainherchildren;otherswereoldfolktalestoldtoher
byherownmotherandhergrandmother.Sheknewmanyold-countrysongsandunderstoodall
thewisesayings.
ShewasintenselyreligiousandknewthelifestoryofeveryCatholicsaint.Shebelievedin
ghostsandfairiesandallsupernaturalfolk.Sheknewallaboutherbsandcouldbrewyoueither
amedicineoracharm-providedyouintendednoevilwiththecharm.Backintheoldcountry
shehadbeenhonoredforherwisdomandmuchsoughtoutforadvice.Shewasablameless
sinlesswoman,yetsheunderstoodhowitwaswithpeoplewhosinned.Inflexiblyrigidinher
ownmoralconduct,shecondonedweaknessesinothers.ShereveredGodandlovedJesus,
butsheunderstoodwhypeopleoftenturnedawayfromtheseTwo.
Shehadbeenvirginwhenshemarriedandhadhumblysubmittedtoherhusband'sbrutallove.
Hisbrutalityearlykilledallofherlatentdesires.Yetshecouldunderstandthefiercelovehunger
thatmadegirls-aspeopleputit-gowrong.Sheunderstoodhowaboywhohadbeendrivenfrom
theneighborhoodforrapecouldstillbeagoodboyatheart.Sheunderstoodwhypeoplehadto
lieandstealandharmoneanother.Sheknewofallpitifulhumanweaknessesandofmany
cruelstrengths.
Yetshecouldnotreadorwrite.
Hereyesweresoftbrown,limpidandinnocent.Sheworehershiningbrownhairpartedinthe
middleanddrawndownoverherears.Herskinwaspaleandtranslucentandhermouthwas
tender.Shespokeinalow,soft,warmlymelodiousvoicethatsoothedthosewholistened.Allof
herdaughtersandgranddaughtersinheritedthisqualityofvoicefromher.
Marywasconvincedthatbecauseofsomesinshehadunwittinglycommittedinherlife,she
wasmatedwiththedevilhimself.Shereallybelievedthisbecauseherhusbandtoldherso."I
amthedevil,himself,"hetoldherfrequently.
Sheoftenlookedathim-thewaytwolocksofhishairstooduponeithersideofhishead,the
wayhiscoldgrayeyesslantedupwardattheoutercorners,andshesighedandsaidtoherself,
"Yes,heisthedevil."
Hehadawayoflookingfullintohersaintly,faceandinafalselycaressingtonehewould
accuseChristofunspeakablethings.Thisalwaysterrifiedhersomuchthatshe'dtakeher
shawlfromthenailbehindthedoor,throwitoverherheadandrushforthintothestreetwhere
shewouldwalkandwalkuntilconcernforherchildrendroveherbackintothehouse.
ShewenttothepublicschoolthatthethreeyoungestgirlsattendedandinhaltingEnglishtold
theteacherthatthechildrenmustbeencouragedtospeakonlyEnglish;theywerenottousea
Germanwordorphraseever.Inthatway,sheprotectedthemagainsttheirfather.Shegrieved
whenherchildrenhadtoleaveschoolafterthesixthgradeandgooutworking.Shegrieved
whentheymarriedno-accountmen.Sheweptwhentheygavebirthtodaughters,knowingthat
tobebornawomanmeantalifeofhumblehardship.
EachtimeFranciebegantheprayer,
Hail,Mary,fullofgrace,theLordiswiththee
,her
grandmother'sfacecamebeforeher.
42
SissywastheoldestchildofThomasandMaryRommely.Shehadbeenbornthreemonths
afterherparentslandedinAmerica.Shehadnevergonetoschool.Atthetimewhenshe
shouldhavestarted,Marydidnotunderstandthatfreeeducationwasavailableforpeoplelike
them.Therewerelawsaboutsendingchildrentoschoolbutnoonesoughtouttheseignorant
peopleinordertoenforcethelaw.Bythetimetheothergirlsreachedschoolage,Maryhad
learnedaboutfreeeducation.ButSissywasthentoobigtostartinwiththesix-year-olds.She
stayedhomeandhelpedhermother.
Atten,SissywasasfullydevelopedasawomanofthirtyandalltheboyswereafterSissyand
Sissywasafteralltheboys.Attwelve,shestartedkeepingsteadycompanywithaladoftwenty.
Herfathernippedthatromancebybeatinguptheboy.Atfourteen,shewasgoingwitha
firemanoftwenty-five.Becausehelickedherfather,insteadoftheotherwayaround,this
romanceendedinthefiremanmarryingSissy.
TheywenttoCityHall,whereSissysworethatshewaseighteenandweremarriedby oneof
theclerks.TheneighborswereshockedbutMaryknewthatmarriagewasthebestthingthat
couldhappentoherhighlysexeddaughter.
Jim,thefireman,wasagoodman.Hewasconsiderededucated,havinggraduatedfrom
grammarschool.Hemadegoodmoneyandwasn'thomemuch.Hewasanidealhusband.
Theywereveryhappy.Sissydemandedlittlefromhimexceptalotoflove-making,whichmade
himveryhappy.Sometimeshewasalittleashamedbecausehiswifecouldn'treadorwrite.But
shewassowittyandcleverandwarmheartedthatshemadeoflivingahighjoyousthingandin
timehebegantooverlookherilliteracy.Sissywasverygoodtohermotherandheryounger
sisters.Jimgaveherafairhouseholdallowance.Shewasverycarefulwithitandusuallyhad
moneyleftovertogivehermother.
Shebecamepregnantamonthaftermarriage.Shewasstillahoydengirloffourteeninspiteof
herwomanlystatus.Theneighborswerehorrifiedwhentheywatchedherskippingropeonthe
streetwithotherchildren,heedlessoftheyet-to-be-bornbabywhowasnowanalmostunwieldy
bulge.
Inthehoursnotdevotedtocooking,cleaning,lovemaking,ropeskippingandtryingtogetinto
thebaseballgamewiththeboys,Sissymadeplansforthecomingbaby.Ifitwereagirl,she
wasgoingtocallitMaryafterhermother.Ifaboy,itwouldbenamedJohn.Forsomeunknown
reason,shehadagreataffectionforthenameJohn.ShebegancallingJimby thenameof
John.Shesaidshewantedtonamehimafterthebaby.Atfirst,itwasanaffectionatenickname
butsooneveryonegottocallinghimJohnandmanypeoplebelievedthatthatwashisreal
name.
Thebabywasborn.Itwasagirlandaveryeasybirth.Themidwifedowntheblockwascalled
in.Everythingwentfine.Sissywasinlaboronlytwenty-fiveminutes.Itwasawonderfuldelivery.
Theonlythingwrongwiththewholebusinesswasthatthebabywasborndead.Coincidently,
thebabywasbornanddiedonSissy'sfifteenthbirthday.
Shegrievedawhileandhergriefchangedher.Sheworkedharderatkeepingherhouse
spotlessandclean.Shebecameevenmorethoughtfulofhermother.Shestoppedbeinga
tomboy.Shewasconvincedthattheropeskippinghadcostherthechild.Asshequieteddown,
sheseemedyoungerandmorechild-like.
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