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If Dad Was A Doll

by 04/09/2017
Neighborhood: Coney Island

My father took me to the Coney Island Freak Show every summer growing up. My artist Dad seemed unfettered from his day job as a social worker, sketching subway riders on the hour train ride from the Lower East Side, where we lived surrounded by junkies and prostitutes wandering derelict streets. On the boardwalk, he […]

Homeward

by 03/12/2017
Neighborhood: Manhattan, Washington Heights

“Lemuel,” my mother cried out to me. “No puedo ver.” I looked up. Her eyes were shut, her grip was tight around my hand, and she was telling me she couldn’t see. We had been walking home, enjoying the lull that comes over Washington Heights at the end of the day. I was six and […]

Christmas Eve

by 12/24/2010
Neighborhood: Windsor Terrace

On Sundays, we had a big roast beef or pot roast or leg of lamb which we ate Monday as leftovers. Tuesday was meat loaf or roast chicken with my Mom’s tasty gravy. Wednesday a lamb or pork chop. Thursday’s was Italian–spaghetti with meat sauce, not bad considering we were dopey Irish. Friday was Mrs. […]

That’s So Sad

by 11/24/2010
Neighborhood: Staten Island

This week I had dinner at my parents’ house. Afterwards, my father shuffled off to the couch to lie down. My mother and I watched him go. He looked old and tired. By no coincidence my mother began to talk about how they’ve started to look at burial plots. My father was born on Staten […]

Some Light, Some Don’t

by 03/10/2005
Neighborhood: Chinatown

We are in Chinatown looking for a good price on a Zippo lighter. My son wants one with with no logo, no Elvis face, no Mets, no #1 Stunner in fancy script. Just plain silver, the size of a matchbox, when matchboxes were the size of matchboxes. He’s fourteen and still looks nervous striking a […]