Rose

Copyright 2019

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 978-1-54396-539-1 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-54396-540-7 (eBook)

For my dad, James Joseph Kelly and Rose, his mother, my grandmother

Contents

1963

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1936

1937

1991

1993

Acknowledgements

First to my wife whose support and encouragement got me through this project. Also, for her time and effort in reviewing and editing this work. She taught me that commas and semicolons actually are important in writing.

To Janet Hulstrand, a professional editor, and my wife’s cousin, who graciously offered valuable general editorial advice and guidance. Anyone needing editorial services should look her up at:

www.wingedwordseditorial.wordpress.com

To my daughter-in-law April Kelly, an art teacher and artist who took on the challenge of designing the cover art. Through multiple back and forth emails we hit on this awesome cover.

I have to also give credit to my daughter Julie, who first came up with the idea of having a train on the front cover.

To my granddaughter Payton, who dangled her arm out of a car window in the freezing February cold while her mom sketched her as the model of Rose on the train.

To the friends and family who read my book before it was sent in for publication and offered wonderful comments and encouragement. Thank you all.

1963

I can only remember meeting her once, when I was about ten. My dad had taken me on one of his business trips and we had stopped in Waterloo, Iowa for the night. He said we were going to go visit Cousin Rose who was in a nursing home there. She looked like any other old person I had met before.

Her hair was short and the color of ashes from a long-forgotten campfire. I couldn’t tell how tall she really was because she walked and even sat with a pronounced curvature of her back, making her look like a question mark. Her drab, gray dress covered what was probably a skinny body. She was pleasant toward us, but it was obvious she didn’t know who we were. We talked to her for about a half hour before Dad and I left to go to dinner. He explained to me again that she was his cousin but added once again that he once had a special connection with her.

It was a connection that took me over thirty years to understand.

1925

How much longer? she asked her hapless traveling companion, who once again withdrew his timepiece from his coat pocket and flipped it open.

Should be hitting the city limits in about twenty minutes. Had he only known that sitting next to this pretty young girl would mean hearing a nonstop monologue of who she was, where she was going, why she was going, and what she was going to do when she got there. He was peppered with questions: What was Chicago like, what should she see and do, and of course the ever-repetitive question of when will we get there?

He did smile, though, because she was a very pretty young girl and she was so excited and enthused. He thought back to the first time he came to the great city of Chicago and how excited he was then. Now it was just a place where he worked and lived and the excitement had worn off. He shared with her his infinite wisdom about life in the big city, including all the warnings that he would have given his daughters.

Rose had been on trains before, but this train trip was different. She didn’t mind the noise. She didn’t mind the occasional soot that would infiltrate the train car. She didn’t mind the swaying back and forth as the train rumbled down the worn tracks. It was a hot day in July, but she hardly noticed the sweltering heat inside the crowded car. None of these things mattered to Rose. To her this train was perfect. This magic train was delivering her to her future, her new life.

Rose Kelly was heading to Chicago to fulfill her dream. She was a pretty young girl of 18 and a recent graduate of high school. She stood 5’5" on what some would say a skinny frame. Her long black hair was put up in a tight bun under her hat. She longed to get the short bobbed look that was all the rage and vowed to get that done as soon as she made some money. She had a beautiful complexion, thanks to meticulous washings, morning and night. Her clothes style matched just about every other girl’s style, functional but drab. She had seen some of the latest styles in the catalogs and hoped that someday soon she could afford to buy some of those.

Rose’s dream was to be a star, first on the stage of Chicago, then on to the moving pictures of Hollywood. She had been in plays all through high school and had the lead twice. There was no better thrill than hearing the people clap and applaud at the end of a performance. Her high school director had nothing but praise for young Rose and even suggested that she explore the acting profession full time when she graduated. The idea stuck and Rose set about making that happen.

The biggest hurdle sat across from her at the family dinner table. Pete Kelly was a hard working, no nonsense factory worker. He loved his daughter and was extremely proud of the woman she had become. Every time he looked at her, he saw her mother, Nelly. Rose had acquired her mom’s great looks and wonderful personality. The problem was she also acquired some of his traits, including his stubbornness.

I’m 18 and I am going to Chicago to start my life in acting, Rose exclaimed, looking unblinkingly into her father’s eyes.

You’re my daughter and you will stay here, get yourself a respectable job and hopefully find that special someone and get married. No daughter of mine is going to go into that over rated, scandalous career of acting, Pete said looking right back at her. Nelly knew it was best to let these two combatants duke it out until she, as the official referee in the family, would step in and calmly but forcefully get both sides to cool down. Pete knew, especially if Nelly was in the enemy camp, that he would eventually lose the battle but he had to try. The best he could hope for was to get the both of them to agree to a few compromises.

Dad, I promise it will be a good thing. I will make you proud of me and you can come and stay at my mansion in Beverly Hills anytime, she said with a huge smile, turning to her mother with a wink.

Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren’t you Greta, Pete responded with a smirk. Okay, it looks like I’ve lost this battle, but I do have some conditions, Pete said in his dad voice again. You will stay with your cousins, that is if I can talk them into it. I expect you to follow their wishes. Chicago’s a rough town and you’re not used to many of the things you’ll be seeing there: gangsters, guns, speakeasies just to name a few. You have to be watchful at all times and be careful who you trust.

Now hold on dear, it’s not as bad as you’re making it out to be, Nelly interceded. John and Millie have lived there for years and we’ve been there, too. Rose is a smart girl and can recognize a bad situation when she sees it. I trust her and I know you trust her, so let her go in peace. Nelly turned to Rose and in a quiet voice whispered to her, Just make sure you stay away from those speakeasies.

The deal was made. Rose would leave for Chicago in one month by train. She would be staying with Pete’s Cousin John and his wife Millie and their five kids. John ran a small diner and said he could hire Rose to work as a waitress while she pursued her dream. She was to write home at least once a week and call home twice a month. Agreement was reached with one side jumping up and down for joy and the other dreading the fact of losing his daughter.

Rose was the first one off the train. She graciously accepted the hand of the smartly uniformed conductor who helped her step on to the platform that was connected to the city of her dreams. The platform was a busy place. Trains from all over the country were producing endless streams of people stepping out onto the massive platform. The noise from trains hissing stream to announce their arrivals or departures was sometimes deafening. A sooty haze hung in the air and along with the hot July day, made the platform an uncomfortable place to be. It didn’t bother Rose, she was taking it all in, looking at all the other people arriving in Chicago and imagining why they were there. Some people had happy smiles and others looked like they would rather be somewhere else. No one could match Rose’s smile and there was no place she would rather be.

She flowed with the current of people into the station and even though she had been there before, she was always amazed by the size and beauty of Union Station. Sunlight streamed in from countless windows giving the inside a heavenly glow. How could the ceilings be so high and who decorated them, she thought turning right, then left, then right again. The flags on the columns were beautiful. Maybe someday she hoped to visit some or all of the countries represented. People, so many people, how could there be this many people in one place? There were many people of other races and she dwelled on the fact that this station was a true melting pot and many journeys, just like hers, began here.

She was so busy admiring all the details of the station that she didn’t hear her cousins yelling to her. The youngest daughter, Patty, ran up and pulled on her skirt. Rose awoke from her trance- like state and looked down at the little six-year-old redhead.

Hi Rose, Patty blurted, Mom and dad are over there, pointing with her non occupied hand.

So good to see you Patty. How are you?

I’m six. Mom and dad are over there. Rose laughed and waved to John and Millie and the other kids. Rose saw her cousins about twice a year. Sometimes they would come to Dubuque and other times Rose and her parents would come to Chicago. They were a great family and being good Catholics had five children. John looked like an Irishman who had just come over from the homeland. He was strong and powerful yet he was one of the kindest, most gentle men Rose had ever met. Millie on the other hand looked somewhat meek and mild, but Rose knew she was more than that. She was a strong, forceful woman who kept both her kids and husband in line. She was the one that Pete had to convince to take in Rose and she was the one who said fine, but only if Rose pulled her own weight and paid rent. Pete agreed because he knew once Rose was under their roof, they would protect and take care of her. Millie liked Rose, everyone liked Rose, she just knew that having another person in their small apartment was going to be inconvenient and this arrangement made it somewhat better.

As Rose approached the brood, she smiled. She watched the twin four-year-old boys fighting with each other. They were oblivious to Rose and for that matter to their entire surroundings. They were in their own private, twin world. The oldest boy Luke, was at that age of awkward-14. He knew Rose was his cousin, but he also saw a pretty girl coming towards him and had thoughts that he knew he would need to confess next week. He meekly said, Hello Rose, glad to have you stay with me, I mean us. Rose saw his face flush and smiled.

Rose looked at all of their faces and proclaimed, I am so happy to be here and you just don’t know what it means to let me stay with you guys. I promise to do my share of the work and you won’t even know that I’m there. That would be close to impossible since they lived in a three bedroom, one bathroom apartment. Rose would have to share a room with Patty and her sister Meg who was 12 and just starting to know that there were two distinct species of humans, boys and girls.

John instructed Luke to get Rose’s bags and the group headed to the doors. Rose knew going through the doors this time would be so different from other times she had been here. This was now home, this was where the rest of her life was about to begin. She did her best to hide the thrill and joy of being here, but the family saw in her face and body movements that she was ready to burst. John looked at Millie and smiled. Luke looked down at the pavement, not wanting to embarrass himself again. Patty looked at Rose as a new playmate and couldn’t wait to show her the doll collection she had in her room. Meg saw an experienced older girl who she could confide in. The twins only saw each other.

John held the door of the station open for the family and they set foot out onto the streets of Chicago. Rose broke into a smile that could have lit up a dark room. She looked up the street, down the street, to the tops of the tall buildings; she took in the sights as if she was looking at them for the first time. She saw people everywhere: police on horseback, men in suits, and women in clothes Rose could only dream to have. There were families like the one she was now part of, walking down the streets with shopping bags and street workers doing their maintenance of the city, oblivious to all the people around them.

Rose’s sense of smell was overwhelmed by vendors selling coffee, hot dogs, and pretzels. Everyone get what you want to eat, the treat’s on me, she proclaimed with a satisfied look on her face.

Millie looked at her and said, That’s not necessary Rose, you need to save your money for other things. Besides we will be eating in the apartment later.

The twins stopped their constant jostling and pleaded with their mom in unison, Please Momma, we want a hotdog. Please, please, please, please.

Before Millie could object, Rose stated, I planned to do this when I got here. I’m just so happy you let me stay with you. Please let me do this. John and Millie exchanged glances and then nodded their okay. Eight hot dogs and eight pretzels cost more than Rose had anticipated, but she proudly took her money from her purse and paid for the meal.

They walked slowly back to the apartment talking about family and current events and even though Rose appeared to be in the conversation, she was letting her mind soak in all the sights, sounds and smells she was experiencing. The apartment was only ten blocks away from the station and it only took the group thirty minutes to get there, but Rose wanted to keep on walking and see all of Chicago.

Rose had been to this apartment before, but never really paid much attention to it. Now, however, this was home. She looked at it with totally different eyes. It was much smaller than she remembered. There was a tiny living area with one well-worn couch and two easy chairs that blended in to the dining area. The dining table had seven chairs and as she looked around the room she did not see an eighth chair. Maybe I have to eat out in the kitchen, she thought. The kitchen was very small but had a homey, functional look.

Rose, I’ll show you where you will be sleeping, Millie said, pointing down the hallway. You will share a room with the girls. It will be tight, but I think it will work okay.

Oh my gosh, I know it will be okay, Rose exclaimed and continued, I am just so happy you’re letting me stay here. I promise to make it seem like I’m not even here. Give me any chores you want me to do. Patty, Meg we’ll have a blast being roommates. I never had a sister, now I’ve got two. Her smile confirmed her statements.

Millie continued, I know you have two bathrooms back in Dubuque; sorry we only have the one. We’ve found that scheduling was the best way to avoid conflicts in the mornings so you will share the 7:15 to 7:30 slot with the girls. Of course emergencies take priority.

The parade headed back to the living room and the parents sat in the two chairs with the kids jostling for the four spots on the couch. Rose didn’t yet know the first come, first seat rule for the couch and was left standing beside it. John didn’t say anything, he just looked at the kids on the couch and all four stood up to give Rose their seat.

No, it’s okay, really I don’t mind standing, Rose stated as she looked at her cousins who had given up their seats. John continued his stare, which was as powerful as any words he could say.

Luke said, pointing to the cushion he had just left, Rose, and he sat down on the throw rug between the couch and chairs. The twins were already bored with the new person in their house and went to play in their bedroom. That left the three girls spots on the couch and they sat down. There was an open spot next to Rose and she pointed to it while looking at Luke. He shook his head and declined the offer. Rose just smiled.

John looked at Rose as he set forth the rules. I know you are eighteen now, but while you are living here, I must insist that you follow our family rules.

Of course, Rose nodded.

John continued, I know we have the diner downstairs but I insist that we all eat at least breakfast and dinner up here as a family. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but I feel it is an important part of family, so we work hard to make it happen. Everybody has chores up here, including the twins, to make this place neat and tidy; I’ll expect you to do the same. Rose nodded her head in the affirmative. The kids all have to be in their rooms with lights out by nine, but I don’t think you have to follow that. I just ask that you be quiet after nine. Millie and I are kind of into new territory here, having someone as old as you living here. We’re going to give you a key, but we kind of hope you don’t stay out past midnight.

A slight smile came over Luke’s face as he thought to himself that in four years his curfew was going to be midnight.

I have a job for you down in the diner, John continued, as he reached over to turn up the speed of the fan on the table. You will start early getting the diner ready for our breakfast customers and then waitress till six thirty. I know it’s a long day but I can’t afford more help. You will actually be covering some of Millie’s times.

Sincerely, Rose looked first at John, then at Millie, I’m so grateful to both of you. Thanks.

"Well you might not want to thank me just