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The Chinese couple in the booth across the crosswalk brought us some Chinese candy. The amish man, that has the wooden toy store, Mr.Zook, was very friendly, and the owner of the Italian restaurant/pizza shop invited us to have our first lunch on him.

“Thank you very much, we’ll be over about noon,” Joyce replies.

We all chatted awhile and described eachothers merchandise but dispersed when customers started showing up. Joyce took my hand as we walked back  “I feel real good about our being here,Roger. The people around us are very nice. It’s a family place.”

“Well, lets see how the public reciieves us. The bottom line will be paying the rent each Friday,”I moved to greet our first customer.

We spent the whole morning waiting on curious people, even made a few sales.  My wif’s  country pillows, and one of my prints. In between I spent the time putting the finishing touches on our presentations.  I was surprised at the never ending stream of people.

I realized at noon there was too much traffic for both of us to leave and take Joe up on his lunch invitation.  Joyce suggested I go over and ask him if he could convert the lunch to take out or sandwiches. I did and Joe readily agreed.

He motioned me into a booth while he gave the order to the kitchen, and slid in opposite me talking very softly. I’m glad to have this chance to talk to you alone. There is something you need to know. We had an art shop, with framing and prints of original works, in here about a year ago. A young Puerto Rican couple, Juan and Marie Martinez.  She was an artist and he did the ftraming. They got a storm of protests, and bad mouthing from Dirk Streitweiser who is the owner of the framing shop at the West end of the marketplace. He complained to the management but got nowhere. He started a whispering campaign against them with the help of his girlfriend who owns the bookstore.

I was surprised by his telling me all this in confidence  but appreciated the heads up. He felt the young couple had been done wrong by Dirk and his girlfriend even though the young people were possible competition.

Our lunch came, and I thanked him for the food and the advise  I got back to our stall and waited for a quiet moment . As we had lunchI told Joyce about Joe’s warning. “ I’m amazed that this Dirk would take such a negative attitude about potential competion in a marketplace with this much traffic.It is disappointing news.”

“I’m disappointed too, honey, but it only proves that there is one in every crowd. We’ll stay out of his way. Let the public decide. There are merchants of many types. The Amish, the Mennonites, Polish, Italian, Chinese all hardworking  people trying to make a living from their businesses. One hundred and twenty mom and pop stores are here under one roof. No franchises , no AAA’s among them.. This is Main Street as I new it as a child.””

Just then, a thin young fellow on roller skates in a lavender shirt, matching shorts, and shoe skates with a lavender parakeet on his left shoulder came rolling up. He slowed down and looled very intently at the pillows, all the paintings, and prints He skated slowly around the corner and then up the walkway to the west.

Startled by the lavender apparition I said to Joyce, “ did you see that? “

“   There are some real colorful people in this marketplace  she replied.

In twenty minutes, he was back after skating around the whole marketplace.

“ How much is this print ““pointing to one of my sea scapes,

“It’s $75, and I’ll frame it for another $95. if you like”.”

“ Will I be able to pick it up next Saturday “?”

I nodded,

“Okay, I’ll pay for it, with framing now and Pick it up Saturday.

I drove the half hour north and came upon an ominous cluster of drab red brick

buildings in a field, high on a hill surrounded by an eight foot high link wirre fence.

The sign said “Training School for Boys”.  The look of the place was foreboding.  It

was obviously designed to keep boys in and away from society.  It made methink of

a neighbor family I’d known as a boy.  They kept the crazy uncle in their attic.  My

mother told me he wasn’t crazy at all, but retarded.  He never went to school and was

an embaressment to the family.  Mother said in those days people thought the family had

sinned in some way and was being punished by God.

I got out my I D as I drove up to the gate and rolled down the window so I could

talk to the guard.  I told him who I was and showed him my I D .  He said, “We’re

expecting you sir” and directed me to one of the buildings.  “ I’ll call ahead and you

will be met.”  I couldn. help shuddering when the heavy gate clanged shot behind me.

I drove into the suggested parking place and half expected a Boris Karloff look

alike to be waiting for me rubbing his hands.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a young man prematurly waiting on the porch.  He

camedown the stepsandheld out his hand as I got out of the car.

“ I’m Tom Martin a resident leader and I’ll serve as your host and guide.”

“I’m Chris Holbrook the district executive for the N.Y.O. Nd I’m here in response

to your directors request.”

He said he was familiar with our program having been a member as a boy. “ I hope

you can find a way to helpour boys.”

Prologue

“ I’ll do the best I can, Tom.  How many of your boys are goingto participate?”

“  We have over two hundre boys here.  I’ve selected fifty that I think could be

successful.  Others may join as we getmore experience with your program.

“ Tom, it sounds like you’ve done your homework.  Let’smeet the boys.’

Tom lead me into a large gymnasium that also served as ameeting hall.  There were

about fifty boys seated there and talking quietly among themselves.  It a moment after

we entered there was silence.

Tom lead me to a table and helped me get seated before he turned to address the

boys.  “  This afternoo we have a special guest from the National Youth Organization.

His name is Chris Holbrook and he’s hear to tell you about their  program and ask

you whether or not you want to join,”

I studied those young faces while he was talking to see if I could get a clue about

what would apeal to them.  I had deliberatelykept my coat on so I knew I’d make a

colorful entrance but what should I say? How much would they comprehend ?

Tom finished his introductory remarks and gave the stage tome.  “Thank you Tom.”

I slowly sliped the coat off my shoulders andl et it dropped to the chair.  The effect

was immediate all of the colorfull badges,patches, the gold cordaroundmy left shoulder caused an audible gasp from the boys.

“ I am wearing the uniform of the N.Y.O. which all of can wear if you chose to join

our program.”

The Foreman came out of the office with an armed guard carrying a cash box.  They

set up a table and a chair, the foreman  opened the cash box, took out a list and started

calling out names alphabetically.  Each person came up, was handed five one dollar

bills and signed for them.   He included the goof offs.

On the way home on the truck I said to my friend Gerry, “ I don’t think it was fair

for the boss to pay those goof offs the same as the rest of us.”

“ Did the boss tell you he’d pay you five dollars a day ?

“Yes he did.”

“Then your complaining about those others getting five dollars for only working half

as much as you/”

“Yes I am,”  I said.

“ He’s the boss and has the right to run the farm anyway he wants to, doesn’t  he?”

Putting his arm around my shoulders, That’s the way it is.  The only real answer is a

parable in the gospel,  Look it up.”

I didn’t really understand, but I was determined to look it up.  I was also curious about

what happened to the tobacco we picked after it left the fields  on the trucks heading for

those big sheds.

The girl, Mary, that spoke to me at lunch, worked in one of those sheds.  She’s on the

truck with us and looks about my age.  I’ll ask Gerry to introduce us tomorrow,  I’ve

never seen her at school.  She must go to a different school.  Maybe the catholic school.

When I arrived home my mom asked, “How was your first day on the job?’

Cigar Wrappers  – Prologue

I followed her around the kitchen for a hour telling her every detail. I remembered

what Mary had said at lunch.  “ By the way that was a great lunch you put together.”

“ I’m glad you liked it.  Now go take your shower and put those clothes in the

hamper you smell like a tobacco barn.”

“ Okay mom,” and ran upstairs.

At supper I toldmy father and younger sister all about again, hung around the living

room listening to the radio but started to get drowsy.  I realized how tired I was after my

first day of work, so I went up to bed and didn’t know anything until my mom was

shakingme at five A.M.

“ Another day and another dollar, “ as my dad would say.

I met the other kids at the green and looked for Gerry.  Whwn I didn’t see him Iasked.

Mary toldme , ‘sometimes his older brother, who drives him, oversleeps and he has to

walk and it takes  him a little longer.”  She had on a gray pair of slacks and a maroon

blouse with a sweater over her shoulders, just butoned at the top.  I was a little shy talking

to her but I said, “thanks Mary.

I liked the way she said, “youre welcome Sean.

Sure enough Gerry came running and just ahead of the truck, too.

The usual routine with the driver, the horn and climbing the ladder onto the back of the

stack body truck.  We stood up and watched the Towns roll by like yesterday and I saw

Mary and a couple of other girls standing close by.  Gerry noticed it too and gave me a

knowing look but said nothing.  I guess this job is going to have other benefits.