-1-
Nana’s Sewing Lesson
Sharlene climbs the steps to the house on Essex Street. A large over-stuffed shopping bag bulges with the supplies that she just bought at the fabric store in the square. She unlocks the door and steps inside. The aroma of a roasting chicken, in the oven for the Friday night supper, fills the warm cozy kitchen
Her Home Economics class project is due in a few days and she has not even begun. When she had mentioned this to Grandmother Ida on Sunday, Ida offered to help with the project. Sharlene jumped at the chance.
Ida Rubin had been a gifted seamstress all her life working as a tailor in commercial shops before she emigrated from Russia and then in the States, after she arrived here. Even at her advanced age, she still earns extra money as a dressmaker to several long-standing clients that she has gathered over the years.
As Ida sets out the sewing supplies, fabric, pins, scissors. Sharlene pours them both a cup of hot lemon-infused tea and sits beside the table where Ida proceeds to layout the fabric for the floor-length dress. She knows that when her grandmother says she will help with the sewing project, it is another way of saying she will be making the dress for her. Perhaps she should even feel guilty, but this “helping-with-the-sewing-project” has been an excuse for Sharlene and Ida to spend some time together. Sharlene knows that if she struggles for weeks working on this item, it will never approach the quality of what Ida can produce in one or two afternoons. Sharlene watches Ida work the fabric, pattern and pins, sipping her tea.
“It will be our secret,” Ida says, giving Sharlene a hug.
“Nana, tell me that story of how you and Grandpa met”, Sharlene says.
“You’ve heard it so many times,” Ida replied.
“I never get tired of hearing it,” Sharlene persists, “Please.”
As Ida works, her mind wanders back to that first holiday in the States.
############
Ida and Frances
The sounds of footsteps rise from the street, echo through the window, and reach the ears of a new resident in the apartment building on the corner of Henry and Cross Streets, in Malden. A single golden-leafed tree on the corner stands in sharp contrast to the drab, brick buildings and storefronts along the sidewalk. The sky is clear and blue, with the fresh, crisp air promising a perfect late-summer-early-fall day in New England.
Ida Gorfine looks out through the window of her apartment near the busy Suffolk Square. The butcher shops, grocery and drug stores in the busy square stand quietly closed as people scurry by on their way to holiday services. She feels both thrilled and anxious. Ida always enjoys the excitement of the holidays, but this year they will be even more special. This is her very first holiday in her newly adopted country, and the beginning of her new life in America. The beautiful weather enhances her expectations and adds to her warm holiday feelings.
Many of her friends had also traveled here from the old country. Ida hurries to meet Cousin Frances who was also her closest friend in Russia and has now followed her here to the States. Frances and Ida had been almost inseparable back home. When Ida announced that she was coming to America, Frances had begged her own mother to allow her to go with Ida. When her brother, Frank, invited Ida to come live in the States, her premonitions had been strong. She sensed, immediately, the possibilities of the future.
Ida wants everything to look perfect. The new outfit she is wearing comes from the latest Vogue patterns. As a talented seamstress and professional tailor, she can afford an expensive-looking wardrobe by making her own outfits. Wearing a freshly tailored, tan suit, she places a matching hat on her head and pulls the delicately laced veil down over her sharp cheekbones. Primping in the mirror and patting her thick, dark hair into place one final time, she descends the stairs of the apartment building and finds Frances waiting at the door. They will fill the day greeting and becoming reacquainted with happy friends and relatives.
“Oh, Ida, you look so lovely, today. That new hat matches your suit beautifully,” Frances said smiling at Ida.
Ida knows that most people consider her plain looking. Only Frances ever said she was beautiful. Frances had always been her best friend and admirer. Frances, with her light brown hair and twinkling gray eyes, is a contrast to Ida with dark hair and brooding eyes.
The rose-colored suit, matching pink blouse and hat goes with Frances’ sweet disposition and delicate stature, which also highlights Frances’ and Ida’s contrasting personalities. Being a shy and tentative woman, Frances admires the qualities in Ida that she lacks. Frances believes that Ida has a great destiny ahead, because her personality always carries her forward, leading her into situations that her plain looks would have never permitted a less confident woman. Frances hopes some of Ida’s personality will spill over onto her if she stays around long enough.
“Thank you, I hope it looks American. I want to look like I have lived here, always. Do you think I look like an American?” Ida replied.
It is her assertiveness and confidence that intrigue Frances and Ida enjoys the warmth of Frances’ admiration.
“I think you look very American, and all the young men at services will want to know — who is that exciting, American girl?” Frances states emphatically.
############################
-2-
Cousin Frances’ Satchel
The front doorbell rings and Sharlene opens the front door to see Cousin Frances standing on the porch with a large satchel, bursting at the seams and two shopping bags full of groceries at her feet. As Frances pushes her way through the front door, with the shopping bags. Sharlene steps onto the porch to pick up one of the satchels. It was amazingly heavy.
“Cousin Frances, what do you have in this thing?” Sharlene asks, struggling with the heavy overstuffed cloth bag. “It must weigh about twenty-five pounds.”
Frances deposits the groceries in the kitchen, returning to the entryway. Carrying the tote bag into the sitting room, she sits down on the sofa across from Joe and begins digging around inside the bag.
“I’ve been doing errands for the people in the nursing home near my apartment building,” she replies, “they can not get out to get things for themselves.”
Cousin Frances is a tiny woman who appears to be growing shorter over the years. She looks as if she cannot weigh more that 90 pounds herself, yet she is carting around shopping bags that appear to be 15 pounds each. The tote bag itself was another 15 pounds.
“Why can’t their families do these errands?” Sharlene asked. “The young people are always so busy. It’s hard for them to get to The Home as often as they would like.”
“These bags are incredibly heavy. I can barely carry one by myself.” Sharlene replies.
“I like to help the old people,” Frances states in all seriousness.
Sharlene laughs when she hears this statement, knowing that Frances approaching seventy-five. Even at this age, Frances is constantly traveling about the city by bus visiting with elderly people and doing errands for anyone who asks.
Sharlene, Frances and Joe head into the kitchen for Friday night supper. Ida Rubin is preparing candles and her lace kerchief for her Sabbath prayers after dinner.
“Cousin Frances, Nana and Gramps have been telling me about how they met,”
Sharlene said as they sat down at the kitchen table.
“I remember that day,” Frances said, gazing thoughtfully at Ida and Joe. “It was our first Holiday in the States together.
#############
-3-
Suffolk Square
Ida and Frances open the door, stepping out onto Cross Street. Although the shops in the Square are closed, the streets are not empty or quiet. Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg stand on the sidewalk, wearing the latest fall finery. Many well-dressed people, wearing new outfits, pass the shops, as Ida and Frances hurry through Suffolk Square. They waved at several other young women that they met and they blushed as several young men walked past. Ida eyes her reflection in a shop window, feeling confident that she looks her best.
Leah Walken, their new American girlfriend, waves at them and hurries across the street. Ida and Frances smile and greet the plump friendly girl. Her curly reddish hair is pinned softly behind her ears and rolled under her navy blue hat. She has been living here with her parents for several years and has adopted as many American customs as her parents will allow her. She is the picture of what they hope to become themselves after a short time in the States.
“I want to invite you to my parents’ home,” Leah says.
They know that she is a very popular girl and are very happy to have this girl as their friend and quickly accept her invitation. There will be many young men and women there, maybe a young man for them.
“My parents like me to have many friends and we have a big house”, “Tell Frank, that he’s invited too,” Leah adds, blushing, revealing her infatuation with Ida’s brother. A plump, rosy-cheeked girl, Leah has an infectious, inviting smile and everyone feels its warmth. They think she will make an excellent addition for their family.
“Okay, we promise we will ask him,” they reply, together and Ida feels even more hopeful than she has before.
She surveys the street again watching young couples walking arm in arm past the park on Ferry Street as they cross the street, entering the Square. They walk past the tenement houses along Bryant Street where all the new arrivals from Europe and Russia are now living. The three young women pass the fish market, the butcher shops, and the drug store where they often meet to gossip, reminisce about the past and share their dreams for the future. Several of their friends call and wave greetings.
They walk past the park with its green grass and lush trees, enjoying the fresh, autumn air that rustles the leaves. Several people are sitting on the benches by the bandstand, catching a moment in the glorious sun before heading off to various locations for holiday services. Ida stares fixedly at a young couple imagining herself beside the well-dressed, successful-looking gentleman on the bench. She eventually notices the clock and realizes that they will be late if they do not hurry. She lingers for another moment and whispers a vow to Frances.
“I will meet an ambitious American man, today, and then, tomorrow–I will marry him,” Ida reassures herself as much as Frances, feeling her growing anticipation.
##################################
-4-
Gramps’ Chair
Sharlene rises from the table and begins clearing the dishes from the table. Ida takes the dinnerware out of her hands.
“Go in the living room and keep Grandpa company for awhile,” Ida says.
“Nana, you never let me help you clean up,” Sharlene protests, “You will have to learn to trust me with the kosher dishes one of these days.”
Sharlene shakes her head and walks into the other room. She is not allowed to wash dishes in her grandmother’s kitchen and she knows there is no use in discussing it.
“Frances will help me. Go visit with your grandfather,” she says. You’ll be going home soon.”
She sits down beside her grandfather in the living room and waits for Joe to light another cigar. He pushes back in his old leather reclining chair and prepares to switch on the TV- set in the corner.
Sharlene sits on the sofa and listening to her grandfather talk about the old days as he has so many times before. She has spent many hours with her grandmother at King’s Beach, hearing about those days when Ida and Frances were young girls in Russia.
-5-
Gramps’ Cigar
A couple of hours pass by as Ida and Sharlene pin pattern pieces to the flowered cotton fabric. The sun hangs lower in the sky when they hear the front door open. Ida gathers up the sewing supplies, putting them back in the bag as Sharlene walks into the living room and greets her grandfather.
As Grandpa’s Tipparillo cigar smolders, lazy puffs of smoke rings flow from the end. This image of her grandfather is hardwired into Sharlene’s brain. Once he offered her a puff, saying that there was a commercial advertisement on television where they asked, “Should a gentlemen offer a lady a Tiparillo?” He had explained, at the time, that he wanted to be a gentleman.
Sharlene leans over him, as he sits in his favorite easy chair and kisses her grandfather on the forehead.
“Gramps, Nana is telling me about when you two met,” Sharlene says as she sits on the ottoman at his feet.
“Is she telling you how she tricked me into standing up my date?” Gramps asked, smiling.
“Well she hasn’t reached that part,” Sharlene replied, “so you can tell me your side of the story”.
It is not quite dusk, the chicken has not finished roasting, and still a few final additions remain for Nana’s Sabbath supper. He glances through the kitchen door at his wife, Ida and notices that she is still busy at the stove.
Grandpa continues enjoying his cigar thinking back to his first days in the United States and remembers the Holiday season when he first entertained the idea that he and Ida might become a couple. Taking a long pull on his cigar, he smiles contentedly as his mind wanders.
A couple of hours pass by as Ida and Sharlene pin pattern pieces to the flowered cotton fabric. The sun hangs lower in the sky when they hear the front door open. Ida gathers up the sewing supplies, putting them back in the bag as Sharlene walks into the living room and greets her grandfather.
As Grandpa’s Tipparillo cigar smolders, lazy puffs of smoke rings flow from the end. This image of her grandfather is hardwired into Sharlene’s brain. Once he offered her a puff, saying that there was a commercial advertisement on television where they asked, “Should a gentlemen offer a lady a Tiparillo?” He had explained, at the time, that he wanted to be a gentleman.
Sharlene leans over him, as he sits in his favorite easy chair and kisses her grandfather on the forehead.
“Gramps, Nana is telling me about when you two met,” Sharlene says as she sits on the ottoman at his feet.
“Is she telling you how she tricked me into standing up my date?” Gramps asked, smiling.
“Well she hasn’t reached that part,” Sharlene replied, “so you can tell me your side of the story”.
Grandpa continues enjoying his cigar thinking back to his first days in the United States and remembers the Holiday season when he first entertained the idea that he and Ida might become a couple. Taking a long pull on his cigar, he smiles contentedly as his mind wanders.
#############################################
-6-
Joe and Sam
Joe Rubin, visiting Malden from his new home in Newburyport with his cousin, Sam Chekoway, has emigrated from Russia recently. Arriving in America, Joe Rubin has confidence that the New World holds a golden future for him. The golden dream will become a reality. He feels positive that “everything is going to be all right”.
One day he will open his own shop and then he will be the boss. Joe has been in the states for two years and things are really going well. He has done some work for the mayor, a customer of Solomon Brothers tailor shop as well as other customers. One day, he knows he will be providing tailoring services in his own establishment — as Joe, The Tailor.
Joe and Sam are invited to a social gathering after services where many young women will be in attendance.. One of them, is Esther Goldman, who Joe has been dating for a couple of months. Esther, with her light hair and blue eyes, was the type of girl that he had dreamed about meeting, Joe’s idea of what an American girl should look like. Sam’s suggestion that she might be a little fast intrigued him even more.
“Esther, a golden-haired girl to share my life in the golden land of America,” Joe says to himself.
He places a few cigars in the inside pocket of his jacket, puts on his hat, straightens his necktie and buttons the jacket of his dark pinstripe suit. Joe hurries to rejoin Sam who is waiting for him outside on the stairway. Looking at his reflection in a storefront window, Joe admires his new suit. He tailored one like it for a lawyer a week ago, and then he made one for himself. It was just right for an ambitious young man, like Joe, with life stretching before him– perfectly tailored with his own hands.
Joe removes a cigar from his inside coat pocket and lights it, taking a few strong puffs. Several young girls pass him on the sidewalk, and one of them smiles at him. When Joe returns the smile and winks a deep mahogany eye at her, she blushes and giggles. Yes, the ladies have always been attracted to Joe Rubin, a handsome man with black wavy hair and always dressed in the latest fashion. In Russia, he developed a reputation as a dangerous young man for a refined girl to be acquainted with. Many of the women he worked with back home had flirted with him hoping for a relationship with the talented and handsome Joe Rubin.
He thinks about the ukulele that he left in his apartment. The minute he had seen it in a store window, Joe knew he wanted it. At the second hand store on Bryant Street, the man told Joe that it was a high quality ukulele, and sold it to him with the promise that the ladies will be impressed by a young man who can play it. Although not a musician, Joe believes he can play well enough to enchant the ladies as the proprietor promised. He hopes that Esther will make the promise a reality and that before long he can entice her into a lifelong relationship.
“Yes, I think I will spend time with Esther today,” he says to Sam.
He enjoys giving the young girls a thrill and having them flirt with him, but Joe’s reputation consists of mostly rumors. Someday a nice girl, like Esther, will be his wife, his business partner — and the mother of his children.
Sam agrees that this is a fine day for meeting young ladies. There will be many at the Holiday services and at the Walken’s home later that afternoon, including Leah’s cousin, Joe’s precious Esther Goldman.