As a child I
grew up in the neighborhood surrounding West Fifth Street in Southie. There
were children of all ages to play with and games ended only because of darkness
or being called in for dinner. We played all of the familiar games and when we got
bored we made up our own. So it was strange when my Mother warned me not to
play with the children of the family recently moved in almost directly across
the street. It was obvious that the other mothers informed their children
likewise. One day when the street was relatively quiet the boy about my age wandered
over and asked if I wanted to play catch. Sure, but heeding my mother’s warning
I suggested his back yard. He seemed normal to me so when he invited me in for
a drink I accepted.
The first
thing I noticed that it was quite dark. It was if there was a deliberate
attempt to close off everything to the outside light. Otherwise all seemed
normal. So what was it that caused this angst among the women on the street. As
we wandered from room to room I searched for any clues. It wasn’t until the
living room that all was revealed. In the middle of the room was a round table
and chairs and in the middle of the table was a crystal ball. “My mother reads
fortunes” is what I heard next.
That
explained the constant flow of traffic in and out of the house at all times of
the day. Fortune telling was considered some sort of witchcraft and of course
was forbidden by the Church. The family didn’t stay long since they sensed they
were being shunned by their neighbors. I met his mother and thought she was
very nice. Maybe if I was a little older she would have read my fortune.
