Clattering Sparrows by Marilyn Land Read Free Book Online Page A

different teacher for each subject. And unlike elementary, we now had physical education and home economics classes. Our beautiful homeroom teacher was Celia Dail, who also taught Science. Although quite unusual, we remained in her homeroom for the entire three years of junior high. We rode public transportation buses to Eliot, but since it was only a little over a mile to the school, on nice days we walked home stopping at People’s Drug Store on Benning Road for a cherry Coke or ice cream soda from their fountain.
    We traveled by bus to the Kalorama Roller Rink for roller skating and to the Chevy Chase Ice Palace for ice skating. We learned how to play tennis on the courts at 16 th and Kennedy, and Glen Echo Amusement Park was a frequent weekend destination when it opened for the season each April. We often went swimming in the Park’s pool when it opened from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year.
    Whenever my cousins came to visit, my father would take us sightseeing downtown where we visited the seemingly endless monuments and museums. In season we never failed to take a ride on the Swan Boat or rent a pedal boat from Fletcher’s Boat House. Miniature golf at East Potomac was also a favorite of ours. But a must see each year were the Cherry Blossoms along the Tidal Basin when they exploded into full bloom in early April.
    Most Saturday afternoons would find us at the Beverly Movie Theatre where for twelve cents we could see a double feature, news of the day, and the current week’s episode of the Oater Serial. There was no popcorn, but we purchased candy from a machine by inserting a nickel in the slot.
    We only “dated” for special dances which were far and few between, but rather “hung out” with our friends attending sports events and parties in groups. However, that did not deter us from having a “crush” on any particular boy at any particular time. I went through periodic crushes all through junior high, but Judy only had eyes for Tony Russo. Tony was drawn to her as well and she adored him.
    The years seemed to fly by, and as June 1951 approached, we were impatiently looking forward to graduation and attending Eastern Senior High School in the fall.
    In early May, as Judy and I walked to Su Ling’s house for our regular Wednesday afternoon Mahjong game, we were busy talking about our graduation dresses and our gowns for our first big formal dance that was coming up. “Have you told your parents that Tony asked you to the Prom?” I asked.
    Judy shook her head, “No, I haven’t. I don’t know what I’ll do if they won’t let me go with him. I know he’s not Jewish, but we’re only going to a dance. We’re not getting married! They would have a fit if they knew he is the only person I dance with at the Friday night dances in the gym.”
    As we approached the Columbia Laundry on the way to Su Ling’s house, there were several police cars in front of the building, and the handcuffed employees of the laundry were being ushered into a large police van. Unable to pass the police barricade of the laundry and the crowd that had gathered, Judy and I crossed Bladensburg Road and walked up the street on the other side, allowing us to cross back over to Su Ling’s house. We rang the doorbell and waited.
    After a short while, An Lei answered the door and said, “Today is not a good day. We will have our game another time.” She quickly closed the door.
    The next morning, the newspaper headlines screamed, “DIRTY LAUNDRY HUNG OUT TO DRY!” Beneath the bold headlines there was a picture of Hu Chen and his wife being led to the police van in handcuffs. The story went on to say that for years, the laundry had been a front for smuggling illegal drugs and workers into the United States. The sudden collapse and death of two underage workers brought the laundry’s operations to the attention of health officials, whose early findings prompted them to turn over the investigation to the FBI.
    After World War II,