Sugar House (9780991192519) (33 page)

"I'm sorry, Matka. I guess I'm not explaining
myself very well. I meant that we could ask Uncle Feliks to make
the trip. He has no wife or children, and I heard he was having
some trouble at the plant."

"Do you think he'd do it?" Matka asked. "And
what kind of trouble?"

"Oh, just some bad politics with a foremen…
I'll ask him tomorrow."

A short visit to his uncle would be all that
was needed. Joe was sure he'd be happy for a reason to leave the
city for a while. Two thousand dollars was a year and a half salary
to his uncle, and Joe was sure his uncle wouldn't have a tenth of
the debt. The gang wouldn't hold out much longer for payment; Joe's
uncle or not, and the betrayed foremen was just waiting for the
right moment to have him fired, killed, or both.

Matka agreed that Joe should ask his uncle to
make the trip back to Poland, and she grew excited at the prospect
of being reunited with her sister. Joe pulled his wallet out to pay
the bill and they gathered the boys from the lobby and took the car
back home. That evening they played some new records Joe had bought
on his way home from the barbershop, and Joe and Matka laughed as
they watched the boys dance in the living room.

"I'd like to take Frank to Electric Park
today, if that's all right," he asked Matka after breakfast the
next day.

"I'll pack you a lunch," she replied, getting
up from the table to do the dishes.

"I'll buy us lunch, Matka."

"You are not going to waste money on eating
out again," she replied and began to pull out food from the icebox.
Half an hour later Joe and Frank were walking toward Woodward to
catch the bus. Frank was giddy with enthusiasm, making Joe recall
his own excitement when they had walked to Woodward for the first
time to catch the streetcar to the Boblo docks. When the
double-decker bus pulled up to the curb, Joe thought Frank would
burst.

A giant wooden windmill greeted them at the
park entrance, and an electric sign blinked The Boardwalk—Just for
Fun! Joe bought several tickets for the rides at the ticket booth,
and they went inside. The day was cooler, thankfully, and the
breeze from the river cooled the park even more. They walked
through the rides trying to decide which one to go on first.

"Let's go on the Big Dipper, Joe!" Frank ran
toward the line for the rollercoaster. They sat down in a small
car, and Frank grabbed the metal bar in the front of the cart.
Frank screamed as the car climbed up to the pinnacle of the first
hill and started to descend. Joe laughed and grabbed his shoulder,
holding him in the seat.

Next they rode the Ferris wheel, the aerial
swings, and another coaster called the Bobs. Frank pointed
excitedly at ride after ride, saying, "How about that one Joe? Can
we ride it next?" Joe let Frank lead the way, and they rode every
ride in the park. Finally, at two o'clock Frank's growling stomach
overcame his enthusiasm, and they found a place to eat their lunch
near the water. Munching on cold sandwiches and potato chips they
watched the large ships traveling up and down the river.

"What'd you like the best, Joe?" Frank asked.
"I think I liked the Whip Ride the best or maybe the Big
Dipper.

"I liked the swings—it felt like we were
flying over the top of everybody. You sit here, and I'll go grab us
something to drink, all right?" Joe went to the concession area and
purchased two Coca-Colas and two ice cream cones. As he walked back
to where they had been sitting, he saw Frank talking to a scantily
dressed woman. Hurrying his steps, he strode over to his brother
but slowed down as he recognized the young flapper. He couldn't
believe his eyes when he realized who it was. Pauline was with her
but dressed in more modest attire.

"You should go see the flying trapeze man,
Frank-baby," Marya was saying as he walked up. "It's the bees
knees."

"The bees knees, huh?" Joe said, turning
Marya's attention away from Frank.

"Oh hey, Joe," she said, smiling—or was it
sneering—at him. "Nice of you to take Frank out for the day.
However did you manage to get away from your important work?" Her
voice was clipped yet somehow still retained a very feminine
quality.

"Just have a day off, Marya. That's quite a
getup you're wearing… does Uncle Alexy know how you're
dressed?"

Marya pulled at the hem of her dress slightly
and fingered her long lavalier. "Don't worry about my father, Joe.
I'm an adult now, and I don't need no one watching over me. I've
got a date in an hour, and I don't need you for a chaperone." Joe
looked over at Pauline, who rolled her eyes and made a disgusted
face.

"I don't want to watch over you, Marya. Why'd
you bring Pauline if you have a date?"

"My mother made me bring her. Supposed to
keep me in line or something… here I am all dolled up, and I gotta
bring a fire extinguisher with me on my date." Marya pulled a
cigarette out of silver case and lit it with a match. She took a
deep drag and looked at Pauline.

"Why don't you have your date and Pauline can
come with Frank and me to see the flying trapeze man? We'll meet
you at eight o'clock at the Old Pier Ballroom, and we'll all go
home together." Pauline smiled at Joe, silently thanking him.

"Well, isn't you the cat's meow, Joe? Thanks
a lot… I'll see you later Pauline-baby," Mayra called, already
headed off in search of her date. Joe took Frank and Pauline to the
boardwalk to see the trapeze show. They stayed for a second show
featuring the Great Chick— a tramp cyclist and comedian. Pauline
and Frank laughed at the cyclist's antics until tears rolled down
their faces. Afterward, Joe bought some more tickets, and the three
rode a few more rides. They decided on hamburgers for supper and
sat back down by the river to eat.

"Let's head over to the ballroom and listen to the
band," Joe suggested when they'd finished. The ballroom was a
beautiful round building built over the water. Detroit's best bands
and orchestras vied to play there, and Joe was eager to see what
band was playing. The ballroom was fiery with light, and they heard
the sound of trumpets and drums as they approached. Joe found a
small table near the front of the dance floor and held out a chair
for his cousin to sit in. Frank, disappointed that they had to come
to a "stupid dance" instead of going on the rides again, was trying
not to pout. A young black waiter brought over three waters and
asked if they wanted anything else to drink. Joe replied they were
fine for now but tipped the young man a dollar anyway.

The Floyd Hickman orchestra was on stage, and
their sound was loud, rambunctious, and fun. The eleven black men,
all dressed alike, rocked, swayed, jumped, and danced as they
played song after song. White couples (black patrons could only
visit the park on Sunday evenings) danced to the foxtrot, the
Charleston, the shimmy, and the tango until sweat poured down their
faces and they had to sit one out. Beads, fringe, feathers, and
sequins fell to the floor from the flappers' costumes, and a
custodian dressed in white swept the floor when the band took a
break so the dancers wouldn't slip on the baubles.

"What's going on with Marya?" Joe asked
Pauline when Frank wasn't listening.

"She's driving my mother crazy! Our father is
always at the plant—did you hear he got promoted to the line?" Joe
shook his head.He hadn't heard, and he was happy for his uncle. But
a pang of sadness hit him as he thought about his father and how he
might have been moving up in the company if he was still here.

"Marya goes out every night, and she won't
even look for a job," Pauline continued, leaning closer. She says
her boyfriends will take care of her, and mother is sick with
worry. Even when our dad tells her she has to stay in, she sneaks
out our bedroom window and doesn't come home till it's almost light
out. I don't think my parents know, but it won't be long till they
figure it out." Pauline seemed relieved to share her troubles about
her sister. Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

"How's she get money to go out?" Joe asked,
sure he didn't want to hear the answer.

"I haven't figured it out, but she's always
got new clothes and shoes. She says the boys like to give her
things, and if they're giving then she's taking."

I wonder what she's giving,
Joe
thought.

"There's Marya now." Pauline pointed to a
corner of the ballroom where Marya was surrounded by three or four
men. Joe watched her pull her dress up to her thigh and grab a
flask from her garter. Marya took a swig and offered it to her
suitors. She looked a little tipsy, and Joe watched the men who
vied for her attention. There was no denying that Marya was
beautiful, but it was a shame she felt she needed to get attention
by acting easy. Joe didn't mind her dress as much as her behavior.
Most young women wore shorter dresses and had bobbed their hair,
but there was a difference between dressing like a flapper and
behaving like a jezebel.

Marya pulled out a cigarette, and the men
competed to light it. When one of them struck a match and held it
near her face, Joe noticed his cousin had put on heavy eye makeup
since she'd left them by the river. The band gathered back on the
stage and started their second set with a lively swing dance. Marya
led one of the men onto the floor to dance. Joe looked across the
table at his two charges. Frank had fallen asleep with his head on
the table, and Pauline looked extremely uncomfortable as she
watched her older sister twist and sashay around the dance floor.
"Pauline, stay here with Frank. Let me see if I can get Marya to
leave." Joe walked over to where his cousin was dancing and tapped
on the shoulder of her partner. "May I cut in?" he asked. Before
the man could answer, Joe grabbed Marya's hand and twirled her
away.

"Hey… what's the big idea, Joe?" Marya
demanded. "The song wasn't over."

"It's time to head home, Marya. Frank is
asleep and Pauline wants to leave. Come on, I'll grab us a
cab."

"I'm not going anywhere yet! It's not even
nine o'clock. Babies stay out till nine. I'm having a good time."
Marya pulled away from Joe and walked to the back of the ballroom.
She reached for her flask again and took another swig. Joe grabbed
the silver plated canteen and took a drink.

"Where the hell did you get this rotgut,
Marya? It's been altered and diluted. Aren't you worried about Jake
leg or going blind?" Jake leg was a disease that was killing or
paralyzing hundreds all over the country. It was the result of
drinking contaminated alcohol made from ginger root.

"Geez Joe, you're such a wet blanket. Why
don't you try and have some fun? You're younger than me for the
love of God. I'll set you up with one of my girlfriends and we can
double date." Marya laughed and hiccupped. She was more than a
little tipsy now, and Joe wanted to get her out of there.

"Sure, sounds good Marya. Why don't we talk
about it on the way home?" Joe tried to grab his cousin's hand but
she pulled away.

"I'm not going home now!" Marya pushed past
Joe and walked back to her group of admirers. Joe returned to the
table where his brother was still asleep despite the loud music. He
sat down hard on the wooden chair trying to figure out his next
move. He could leave her there and take Frank and Pauline home.
After all it wasn't his responsibility to take care of Marya. Or he
could send Frank home with Pauline in a cab and try to get her to
leave in an hour or so. He sat like that for a few minutes,
watching the dancers, as the music grew into a frenzy and they
bobbed and jumped over the dance floor.

Just when he was going to give Pauline some
money to take Frank home he saw a tall, handsome man approach
Marya. It was Ziggie Selbin—newly hired by the Sugar House Gang.
Ziggie's job was to manage some blind pigs and collect extortion
money from local business owners, but he had ventured off on his
own and had been holding up nightclubs and speakeasies up in
Hamtramck. Ziggie was a mean drunk, and Joe could see by the looks
of him that he'd been drinking for a while.

"Here, Pauline. Take Frank and go get a cab,"
he said, handing her a few dollars. "I'll go get Marya. Just tell
the driver to wait at the curb till I come. This is enough to keep
him happy for a few minutes." Pauline woke Frank, and Joe walked
over to his sloshed cousin and Ziggie. The other men had slid away
when Ziggie approached Marya; he pulled her to a dark corner of the
room and was leaning in close as he whispered something in her ear.
Marya laughed nervously, trying not to show her anxiety as her eyes
searched around the room for help.

"Hey Marya, nadszed? czas, aby wróci? do domu
,"(It's time to go home) Joe said, as he approached the couple.
Ziggie turned his head to see who was speaking to his new
fling.

"This here girl is with me, Joe," Ziggie
replied, draping his arm around Marya's shoulder and pulling her
into him.

"That girl there is my cousin, Ziggie. I
promised my aunt I'd have her home by nine and we're late already.
Say goodnight, Marya." Joe reached out and grabbed one of Marya's
hands.

"You're not ready to leave already, doll, are
you?" Ziggie pulled Marya back towards him.

"Umm… I better be heading home" Marya
slurred. Ziggie pulled a flask from his coat pocket, took a swig,
and offered it to Joe.

"I'll get her home, Joe. Don't worry 'about
nothing. We's just about to have us a dance, aren't we, doll?"
Ziggie faltered a step and grabbed Marya's shoulder to steady
himself. "Woops! Looks like I'm dancing already." He laughed
uproariously.

"It'll have to be another time, Ziggie. My
aunt can be a real mean woman if you make her angry. Then she'll
tell my mother I got Marya home late, and I'll have
her
down
my throat. I just don't need the heat. I only got a couple of days
off, and I don't want the hassle of dealing with a bunch of irate
women. There's plenty of pretty women here—whadda ya say?"