9# More teen years

Summer evenings when we were out of school, we (Mary Mac and I) would walk around the neighborhood and hang out with other kids. Most people called her Mac because her last name was Mc Atee. We had another good girlfriend, who was Mary Collopy.  It seemed Mary C. and I were always vying for Mary Mac's attention. We were kind of jealous of each other because we each wanted to be her best friend.  Mary Mac was an only child and she was spoiled by her Dad. She always had spending money, when we did not! She had a telephone at her house (we didn't for a long time).  Best of all, she had a record player in her home! We would hang out at her house to listen and dance to 45's. Jitterbug and Cha Cha were all the rage back then!  (Remember, there was no TV yet, at least at most of our homes.) Playing the piano was another diversion at her house. Her Dad's hobby was making rings out of lead ( they looked like silver)! He had a mold in the shape of an Indian face. All the boys wanted to make them and wear them. So there was always a few boys at her house - making rings or playing cards. That, -of course- added to the fun and excitement! The boys were always respectful of us because of her Mom & Dad!.

The summer after I saw your Dad that one time, (later Mary used to love to repeat this story) she called me.  We had just gotten our first telephone. (I still remember the number (Englewood 0408). I had begged for it for the longest time and promised to pay 1/2 the bill.) It was a "party line" so it was less money than a single line. That is, where another party has the same number; so sometimes you would go to make a call and would have to wait because they were using the line. Ha!

Anyway when she called, I was giving myself a "home permanent called a Toni". She said "you will never guess who is over here? It's that guy you liked last summer- Gene Kennedy! Get over here, he is asking about you!" So I washed out the perm and walked over!

Should I say "the rest is history" or should I tell more? I have to think about that for a while.---