Neopolitan Holiday

Chapter 1

A t Yale University, I was a Naval ROTC student. During my four years there, in the fall and spring we went to the playing fields in the afternoons and marched to the commands of a First Class Petty Officer named Gordon. He was short, a little over five feet, but he had a voice on him that carried. When he yelled ATTENSION we Cadets snapped too and braced. FORWARD MARCH! And, off we would go tramping around on the field set up for soccer.

The first class I had at Yale was with a Professor Humid. He was a history professor and taught us about the history of war. That day, I remember taking my seat in the middle of the tiered room and looking down on the short man in tweed jacket, with horn rimmed glasses standing beside the lectern, waiting for the Cadets to settle down. He waited for quiet and began his lecture. He was about half way through the hour long when he stopped, and pointed his finger in my direction.

You there, chewing with gum in your mouth. Get rid of it. There is no gum chewing in my class.

I look around me. Every one is looking at me. Of course, I am the culprit. I pretend to remove the gum from my mouth and stick it under my seat. Humid continues speaking. Humiliated, I slop down in my seat with the gum in my mouth pressed to my teeth at the side of my mouth and busy myself in note taking. No gum chewing in his class! This is horse shit!

We practiced with the mounted gun in the Armory and at night taking sights with sextants on the roof of the building. All the while in Dressed Bleus. In the spring of my senior year I went to J. Press and was fitted for dress whites and tans, now I had a complete wardrobe. After graduation I flew home to Boston and my family for a visit before flying to my ship, the Mattabesset, an oil tanker based in Naples Italy. I taxied to our apartment on 4 Buckingham Place. I open the front door and there were my younger brothers, Jimmy eleven and Tod twelve and Dad, watching the Red Sox on TV. I dump my duffel and suitcases on the floor and greet them. The two rush at me and I shake their hands.

Good to be home. How are you guys?

Great! says Tod.

Okay, says Jimmy.

Dad! I go to him seated in front of the game and hug him. He had a stroke that left him crippled on his right side. His right arm is immobile and at his side and he wears a brace on his right foot. But, most importantly he can’t say much. Hello.

Awsome Red Sos! My Dad says as he points to the television.

You like the Sox? He nods his head up and down. Perhaps we can go to a game, if I can get tickets.

Can we go? asks Tod and Jimmy.

The four of us can. Where is Mom?

At work. Jimmy answers. She is an accountant for a firm here in Boston.

She is excited about you coming home and is stopping after work for a dinner of steaks and mashed potatoes and peas.

My favorite meal, I say. We sit and watch the game between the Cleveland Indians. The Sox win seven to two. We sit memorized watching the tube after the game waiting for Mother. At six thirty she comes in the door with bundles in her hands. I go to greet her with a kiss and relieve her of a paper bags in her arms.

Hi Mom.

Robert! She says as she puts her arms around me crushing the bags between us.

Hello Mom, says Tod and Jimmy.

My Dad turns from the TV and says, Awsome Red Sos!

We are finished with the meal and the five of us are eating apple pie and vanilla ice-cream. I say to the group, I have to leave on Sunday, but between then, I want us to have some fun. What would you like to do?

Go to the beach! Says Jimmy.

I’m for that, says Tod.

Awsome Red Sos! Says my Dad.

I’ll see if I can get tickets for the five of us.

"You boys go to the game if you can get tickets, Robert, I’ll stay home and cook.

You don’t want to see the Sox? You and Dad love them.

Your Dad is the real fan, he should be the one to go, not me.

But… . ,

No buts about it. You four can go, that is you can get tickets.

OK Mom. Can I drive you to work tomorrow and go to Fen way Park and try?

Yes, you can. Now, Tod and Jimmy clear the table and do the dishes.

I drop Mom off at work at quartet to nine and drive to Fen way. I wait in a short line at the Ticket Booth. When it is my turn, I ask for tickets for tomorrows game.

That will be one hundred dollars. I peal five twenty’s from my pocket stash and pay the man in the booth. He hands me the game tickets through the indented slot at the counter and I place them carefully in my coat’s inside pocket. I drive home and find the three watching the tube. They look as I enter.

Did you get lucky? Asks Tod.

I did! I hold out the four tickets in a fan. We are in right field covered. And we are together. I hand three tickets around and the three study them as though they were gold.

It’s for tomorrow at night! Says Jimmy.

"You did it,’ says Tod.

Awesome Red Sos, says my Dad.

I drop the three off at the entrance and drive around looking for a parking space. Locking the car, I walk to the gate and hand in my ticket. Once inside I follow the signs and soon I see them on the aisle. There is Tod, Jimmy and my Dad sitting with an open seat beside him all munching popcorn. I slip into my seat and Tod reaches across and hands me a bag of corn. I look around. We are almost in left field sheltered from the fans above us. Suddenly, there is a roar of the crowd and the Red Sox take to the field. The Sox win the game seven to two.

Chapter 2

T he next day, Saturday, all of us were up early and driving to Nantaskit Beach. I was driving with Dad in front and Mom, Jimmy and Tod squeezed in the back. I drove into the nearly vacant parking lot and found a spot facing the water. The sun was free of the horizon as we carried our things to where we set up. Tod spread the two blankets with two folding chairs and Jimmy set up the umbrella. Mom caring the picnic basket, helped Dad walk on the sand and placed him in one of the chairs and sat beside him. I handed the keys to Tod and he went back to the car and locked it after retrieving the five towels and the cooler filled with a ice, a six pack of beer, coke, and half a cherry pie. We three stripped off our T-shirts and trousers, underneath we had bathers, and ran to the water and dived into the surf. Mom came after us and waded out to us. The salt water was clean and tasted fresh to me. The three of us dove and splashed each other while Mom watched the shenanigans with a smile on her face. After a while she went ashore and sat with Dad. The three of us soon followed.

What’s to eat? I am starved. I need something! Says Tod.

Me too chimes in Jimmy.

There are sandwiches in the basket, and cokes in the cooler says Mom. Jimmy reaches in and hands Tod one and another for himself.

I would like a beer. I say. He hands me one.

Mom, you and Dad want one?

Later.

We eat and lay in the sun. The beach is filling up with bathers and the parking is beginning to fill. Mom and Dad sit in the shade of the umbrella. Mother reads the book she brought with her.

The sun is setting in the west as we pack up and move to the car. Mom is driving and I sit in the back between my brothers.

Awsome Red Sos, says Dad.

I don’t think there is a game tonight. We can check the papers when we get back to the house. I say leaning forward between the seats.

Awsome Red Sos!

Dad, I will check and see. I sit back. The three of us are red from the sun and quiet as we sit and watch out the window. When we arrive at the house we bring in our gear and I check and see.

Dad, there is a game tonight.

Huf.

What’s for dinner? Asks Tod.

Roast pork, says Mom. Let me go and put it in the oven. What would you like with it?

Roast potatoes and beans. Says Jimmy.

Good choice. She goes into the kitchen. I turn on the television and we four watch the evening news. We are watching the start of the game when we get called to dinner.

Mom, the game is on. Can’t we watch it? I say.

The table is set, come here and eat, Robert, you carve the roast. I turn up the volume on the set and we file into the Dinning Room. The meat and bowl of potatoes is at the head of the table. I stand and carve. Mom is at the other end next to Dad and Jimmy. Tod is on my right. I hand out plates, first to my Mom and Dad. She cuts the pieces of meat into small pieces and mashes the potatoes for him. I pass the beans around.

Jimmy, you say grace please.

God is great. Please thanks for he food.

She stairs at him with a frown on her face. We begin eating.

You three really are pink! Says Mom. We look at each other with grins on our faces.

You and Dad were under sitting under the umbrella the whole day, says Jimmy, while we were lying in the sun.

Jimmy, how many times do I have to tell you, no arms on the table!

Sorry. He sits up straight in the chair and keeps eating.

Mom, can I be excused from the table. I want to watch the game. Says Tod.

Me too, says Jimmy cramming the last bit off pork in his mouth.

Huf, says Dad. His plate is half eaten.

Okay, okay. Go and watch the game. Clear your plates in the kitchen, I’ll bring you in ice cream later. Dad starts for the Living Room and we three take our plates to the kitchen.

Early the next day I drive to Fen way Park and purchase four tickets for the game this afternoon. I drive home and show Dad and the boys what I had done.

Asume Red Sos!

You did it!

WOW

But, what about Mom, asks Tod.

The four of us are he real Red Sox fans, Mom just sits reading to keep Dad company, when the game is on. I say.

"She won’t mind being included?, asks Tod.

Naw, says Jimmy.

I drive. Dad is in front and my brothers are in back. I stop at the entrance and let the three out with their tickets.

Go in, I will find a parking space, and meet you. Walk slow with Dad. OK?

Yes.

We will.

There is a parking garage not to far away and I walk back and enter the Ball Park, handing in my ticket. I look at the stub and follow the crowd of people heading in my direction. I see entrance tunnel and walk up it, and am in the ball field off to the left, it’s green grass and brown dirt glowing in the bright afternoon sunlight. I walk down the steps and there is my Dad sitting with a seat on the aisle next to him. Jimmy and Tod are adjacent. We are seated at ground level half way up from the field but under the beams of the fans above us. There is a support column splitting the view from where I am sitting. I can see the pitchers’ mound and first base, but the column blocks my vision between first and second base. A vender passes by and I order four hotdogs, passing them to my Dad and brothers, keeping one to myself. As we are eating, the Sox take the field as the crowd roars. The game is on! The Red Sox win seven to two. Dad with his cane is slow getting to the curb outside the Stadium. When we finally get there, I say Wait here, it’s a long walk to where I parked. I will get the car and pick you guys up here.

Okay

Sure

Ugh

I bring the car to the three and they get in, Tod helping Dad get in and closing the door. I start driving home.

"What did you think of the game? I ask.

Great, we won, says Jimmy.

Ugh, ugh, say Dad.

"The double play in the eight inning was awesome!, says Tod.

I agree with you, Tod, I say.

Chapter 3

M other greets us at the door when we arrive along with the smell of a cooking roast wafting from the kitchen.

There you are! She takes Dad’s right arm and walks him to his chair in front of the TV and helps him sit.

What time is dinner, asks Tod.

I am hungry also, says Jimmy.

We can eat any time. Everything is ready, says Mom. Boys, go set the table and we will eat. The two race to the Dining Room and begin with place mats and then utensils, and plates. Mother goes to the Kitchen. I help my Dad stand and walk him to the room and assist his seating next to Mom. Tod and Jimmy take seats opposite. Mother brings two bowls of peas and mashed potatoes to the table and returns to the Kitchen. She comes and places a platter of roast beef in front of me at the head of the table.

Robert, you can do the carving honors. She returns to the Kitchen and brings out a serving bowl of gravy and sits next to Dad. Tod, please say the grace.

God is great. God is good. And we thank him for this food.

Amen. Says Jimmy.

Praise the Lord, says Mother.

Ugh. Says Dad.

I am silent and pick up the serving fork and knife and cut into the roast. I serve Mother first, then my Dad, the boys and me last. Mother passes the bowls of peas and potatoes and I dish out some for Dad and me. Dad, do you want some gravy?

Ugh, ugh.

Mom, please pass the pitcher. I cut Dad’s meat in little pieces. We all begin eating. There is little talk as the five of us dig into the wonderful meal. Mother breaks the silence as we are finishing.

Did you boys enjoy the game? Asks Mom.

Yes, says Jimmy.

I did indeed, says Tod.

Did you thank your brother?

No, says Tod.

I didn’t either, says Jimmy.

Shame on you both! He spends his good money to take you to the game and you don’t have the decency to thank him!

I am sorry Mom. Robert, thank you for taking us to the Ball Park. Says Tod.

Me too, echoes Jimmy.

You two are ungrateful children, and you should be ashamed of your selves. The two boys hang their heads at Mom’s anger. I break the silence at the table, Their grins at the Game was all the thanks I could wish. Mother won’t leave my brother’s lack of manners alone.

Tod and Jimmy, I have brought you up better than that.

I am sorry Robert. I apologize for not being appreciative for taking us to the Game. Says Tod.

I am sorry also, Robert, says Jimmy.

Boys, enough already! You are more than welcome. Mother please, let’s drop the subject.

But, the two are ungrateful!

UGH UGH, grunts Dad very loudly. That quiets Mother. She gets up from the table and takes the depleted roast to the Kitchen. She returns and asks the boys to clear the rest of the table.

Robert, there is chocolate ice cream for dessert. Do you want some?

I will have some later, thank you.

Jim, do you want any? He nods in accent and smiles. The boys return from the Kitchen.

We would like some, please, says Tod for the two of them. She makes two trips to the Kitchen and hands the bowls of ice cream to the three and sits down again. All begin digging in. They are busy eating. It is quiet. There is