Skip to main content

THE BATHTUB AT 808 NORTH WILLOW - SHERMAN, TEXAS


     In the early 50’s my family moved to 808 N. Willow Street in Sherman.   This was a house, converted into a duplex with remarkably thin walls.   The kindly Mexican-American Aleman family lived on the other side and included the parents, Pete and Helen, along their children Abraham, Abel, Rebecca, Israel (Izzie) and David.  All older than me.  The Aleman’s and we were all packed into close quarters and tight sleeping arrangements.  

     In the mornings, we could hear through the thin walls and the daily rousing, scratching, body noises and exclamations of Abel as he arose for another day.    He would sigh, groan,  mutter expletives 4 or 5 times before I would hear his feet hit the floor.    The wall might as well have not been there and I realized they could hear everything in our household as well.    

     When the home was divided, the Aleman side got the bathroom so our back porch was converted to the bath.  The windows to the outside and adjacent bedroom were painted green to provide privacy.   A single gas stove served to heat the room.  My two brothers and I shared the room on the other side of the window from the bathroom. 

     After we were put to bed, my father would fill the tub, smoke his pipe full of Sir Walter Raleigh tobacco and soak, while reading a copy or “True” or “Argosy” magazine.  He could hear us and and we had to remain very still or he would arise in his nakedness and threaten to “beat the mortal hell out of anyone not asleep”.  One evening my brother Bob and I were attempting to quietly wrestle, while brother Bill was asleep in an adjacent bed.    Bob jumped, I dodged and he crashed through the green window in a shower of glass onto my father in the tub.  Dad quickly checked Bob and himself for cuts, miraculously found none, carefully put Bob on the floor, dried him off, changed his pajamas and proceed to “beat the mortal hell” out of all us, including Bill who was asleep.  The  Alemans, who heard everything…glass breaking, children screaming and my father yelling… were banging on our front door to see if we were all dead.


     Even after the beating, I thought we got off pretty light.  As soon as Bob went flying through the window everything went into slow motion.  My 6 year old life passed in front of me and I knew I was going to be stomped into a small greasy spot on the floor.    We all lived and I considered it a major victory.     The next morning, I thanked God for letting us see another sunrise and even hearing Abel Aleman’s morning ritual was somehow comforting.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

MY ADVENTURE WITH BILLY CARTER or HOW I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY THE SECRET SERVICE

     I moved from Sherman, Texas to Indiana and Melvin Simon and Associates in the fall of 1972.   In the mid-70’s we were opening new regional malls at an amazing rate.  Each opening had to be bigger and splashier than the last and my employer was gaining a well-earned reputation for doing it better than anyone.      A colleague, Sandra Brock (now Sandra Cline) came up with the idea of having Ed McMahon as the spokesman for an ad and publicity campaign for a new center in Wichita, Kansas.  It was so successful, the Simons hired Ed for the ongoing openings, corporate advertising and as our corporate spokesman.  We became adept at each new opening to plan events utilizing Ed and other celebrities to generate publicity, to complement the ad campaigns.          In the mid-70’s, as Jimmy Carter was securing his nomination and then election for the presidency, his younger brother Billy was in the news every d...

“DANDY” DON MEREDITH, SHERMAN HIGH FOOTBALL AND A $19 GRAYSON BANK “HOT” CHECK

      I have endured a number of embarrassing moments in my life, usually brought on by myself.   I hit an all-time low point in the early 70’s, when I actually wrote a “hot” check to Dallas Cowboy legend, Don Meredith.       I was attending Austin College in Sherman, Texas, while reading the news on the local NBC affiliate, KXII-TV - Channel 12 in the evenings.   I would also fill in occasionally and assist my old compadre, Commodore Wood, as he broadcast the Sherman High Football games on KRRV radio on Friday nights.   I provided “color” commentary and always enjoyed an opportunity to work with Commodore.          One Friday evening, we were broadcasting from Bearcat Stadium, as the Sherman Bearcat’s were  doing battle with the Highland Park Scots.    Someone came into the booth and said they had just spoken with Don Meredith, who was with friends from Dallas and they were all taking in the g...

FRAN DISTEFANO AND THE CHRISTMAS ANGELS ALL AROUND US

      I have always been comforted by the scripture in Hebrews 13:2…”Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.”   I DO believe there are angels and spirits all around us.   We do not always see them, but they are here and I believe they are   placed by the grace of God to look after us.   I know this to be true because I have encountered them and have felt their presence in my life.      Throughout my life I have prayed for intersession and have received help.  My first marriage was very difficult and my wife insisted on a divorce.  We had two young children and I was desperate about the impact this would have on them.  With Christmas approaching, I was alone in my apartment bed, despondent, teary and praying, when I literally felt a strong, reassuring hand press down on my chest, and rub…like you would reassure a small child.  I felt a pre...