7# Moving again around 1940

Yes, we moved again, when I was about 11 years old. At least it was still in the same school district; so I was able to keep my same friends and teachers.  Also it was still within 3 blocks of Ma. I was still in need of her spiritual support and her chicken soup. Ha! We moved to 62nd and Halsted St. where we  lived over a furniture store. There were 4 flats (front and back) on each side of the building.  The "streetcars" ran on Halsted St. However, our flat was in the back overlooking the back alley, so the noisy streetcars were not in sight! I was not happy living there at first because, I thought we should at least be on a residential street. 63rd and Halsted was the business and shopping hub of the south side! There were 6 theaters and several restaurants and department stores, one of them was Sears, which, as you know, is still around today. All of this within a radius of 1/2 mile.  It was great for shopping and in my case just "hanging out" as you kids say today.  We walked everywhere and saved our pennies for the shows, as much as we could. Early on, the cost of a ticket was 5 or 10 cents, depending on the better theater. I and my friends used to take the empty beer bottles from the back porches and return them to the stores.  A whole nickel, wow !

Aside from my work at home and school- I could pretty much "go out" when I wanted; as long as I took my little sister.

One time, Mary and I took Jeanie and we rode the streetcar to the beach at Jackson Park.  It was a long way, about 4 miles. Then when you got off the streetcar - you had to walk about a mile to the beach.  We either lost or spent our money for the ride back home and had to walk back, practically dragging my poor little sister who was very slow and dragged one foot! Remember we were only about 12. We were never afraid or warned of danger. I was in a lot of trouble that time!  My Mama never really punished us - she just yelled a lot and threatened.

Before my friendship with Mary, I never really had any close friends those days.  Once I tried to make friends with a group of kids jumping rope.  Double Dutch!  I am sure you have played that!  Anyway this girl with what we called a "butch" haircut decided she wanted to beat me up. They chased me up and down the alleys until they caught me. She punched me a few times, while I was crying and they were all laughing.  For a long time after, I would have to sneak around to go back and forth to school.  I decided that I should just stay in my own little dream world! Which I always liked anyway.

When Mary and I finally became close friends - in about the 5th grade- we used to spend our free time playing with cut-outs  and pretending that we were grown up girls with boyfriends.  It was fun!  We used to sleep over at her house whenever my mother would let me.  Never at my house because I was ashamed of our home for obvious reasons. Then too, it was usually untidy and  of course the drinking!  Still, I always felt loved at home, just longed for something better.  We didn't eat the way we do today but also, we never went hungry.  Mama would try to always put some kind of supper on the table.