Joyce

September 15, 1962.

Chantilly Paris. That was meant to be the big seller this week; we were supposed to push it in the face of every customer who happened to be unfortunate enough to walk through the perfume department, which was anybody who wanted to cut across to cosmetics or lingerie. I stood there in the most uncomfortable heels and navy blue, pencil skirt uniform with my head resting against my hand, looking down at all the different colors and shapes of perfumes thinking that there was over a billion dollars of fragrance in this case alone and how I would gladly sell all of them just for one more day back in Belleville.

Coming back to Monterey had been so different then I had thought it would have been. I had thought that it would be like I had never left. That I could walk down the street to the five and dime with the same gaggle of girls who I had grown up with. But, somewhere in the year I was gone something had changed, they had changed, I had changed; it really didn't matter which, just that there was a change.

Suddenly the annual Ms. Monterey Pageants and who was going with who seemed so trivial to me. Sitting down and gossiping was not something I could do anymore; I needed to be up and moving. I had done more, I had seen more than any of my old friends. It seemed as if they still lived in the dark ages of afternoon tea and dolls, and waiting to get married so their lives could begin. And they could be so cruel and petty; smile in your face and then happily stab you in the back and spread nasty rumors and lies. At least back in Jersey people were honestly dishonest; they didn't hide behind masks.

Oh I missed it! I missed the bustle of the diner at lunch; this one yelling at that one, blunt conversations that made you laugh despite the underlying insults, not knowing what or who was around the corner, trying to figure out how to survive, people telling you to eat when you were full. I missed Nick constantly getting in my space. I missed Cynthia yelling orders at me from across the diner and Frankie telling me to keep my hands out of my hair until he was finished styling it. I missed Chino and Joey, and Gyp, even Mary.

And I missed Tommy. Those all too real conversations about life and conquests and money that played over and over in my head. After the Rahway incident we had decided to be totally candid with each other about almost every detail of our lives. It wasn't often that we did this, we mostly were out for a good time; but sometimes when we were leaning against his car having a beer or an orange soda one of us would let a problem or a profound idea slip out and the other would try and put it into prospective. He could offer me blunt reality on things and I could provide him a more sensitive view. It was a great friendship, if I didn't find him so attractive it would be perfect.

"Ms. Giordano." I looked up to see my boss Lesley Hoon standing a few feet away and I knew this couldn't be good news. "Yes Mrs. Hoon?" I answered.

"Could I see you in the store-room please?"

"Yes, Mrs. Hoon."

I left my department and started back towards the shoe department where the store room was. as I got closer I heard giggling; which was uncharacteristic, but then again it was the only part of the store that had a radio stashed in it so…

Nearly everyone in the shoe department was in the stuffy little storeroom huddled around the radio, sneaking a smoke or drink. "Mrs. Hoon is coming." I warned only to be ignored. I shrugged and nestled myself up against one of the shelves where I could find space.

I decided to tune my ears in to whatever everyone was listening to…

"Sherry, Sherry baby

(Come, come, come out tonight)

Sherry, Sherry baby

(Come, come, come out tonight)

Sherry."

I thought nothing of it at first, only that it was a catchy tune. The girl next to me was elated and pointed to the radio and nodded. "fantastic song!"

"Sounds like it." I admit. "I wish I could have heard the whole thing."

The girl giggled. "No worries, it's a lock in, the station has been playing it for hours, listen!"

And so I did.

"This is KLVM your local station, Hellooo Monterey! This is Drew Moore giving all you cool guys and cute chicks the best of beats! We are on our 17th hour with the same song and it gets better and better each time we play it! So lend an ear because I'm playing it again! Straight from the horses' mouths I give you the lead singer Frankie Valli and his band The Four Seasons."

My heart stopped. "Valli?" I choked grabbing the girl by the arm to steady myself. "Did he just say Valli?"

The girl nodded.

"With an I? " I pressed, practically shaking in recognition of Nick's deep voice, the girl next to me shrugged and losing my senses for a moment I twirled myself around. "They did it!" I cried. "They really did! HE really did it! Oh I told him he would! Mary must be so proud! CYNTHIA must be so proud! He must be over the moon, how could I not be there? " I just felt a whole new burst of life enter my entire being as I practically went from person to person, beaming. "I cant even imagine! I-"

"What do you think I am running here? A dance hall?" Mrs. Hoon entered the storeroom and everyone got lost and went back to their post. She cleared her throat. "Ms. Giordano, as you know-" she stopped in midsentence realizing that my attention was still lost to the radio as I stood there, basking like a fool in pride and overwhelming happiness. She flipped the radio off and sent me crashing back to reality.

"As I was saying Ms. Giordano!" She began again, and I felt life weighing heavy on me again. "Here at Sears department store we all have a quota we are required to meet by a certain deadline."

I lowered my eyes. "Yes ma'am, I know this." I say quietly.

"You are not meeting your quota Ms. Giordano, why is this so?"

I swallowed and rang my hands behind my back. "With all due respect ma'am, our prices are a little outlandish for smelly water in pretty bottles." I answer honestly and it takes her aback. She parts her lips to continue, but sighs. "Do you see were I'm getting at with this Ms. Giordano?"

"Yes ma'am, I think I do."

Her eyes are empathetic as she brushes my arm. "Are you in school yet Ms. Giordano?"

I shook my head in shame. "No ma'am, the math classes I wanted to take to become an accountant were too much of a load for me to carry."

"How old are you? Do you have family in Monterey?" she asks.

"I'll be 19 in November, and all my remaining relatives in Monterey died when I was 16 ma'am."

"Where are you staying dear?" concern laced her voice now.

"In an apartment with four other girls. We all barely make enough to get by." I stay calm as I say this. she bits her lip debating on what to do with me and I manage a smile. "I am not looking for any charity ma'am, I admit I am not well suited for this job I have some money in an account to go off of for a while." I hold my hand out and she shakes it after a moments hesitation. "You are truly a woman of charm and grace Ms. Giordano. I will have your final paycheck in the mail on Thursday"

I start to go and she calls out to me as I reach the storeroom door. "Forgive me for prying Ms. Giordano but; what will you do? Where will you go?"

I know in my heart that there is only one right answer. "Home, home to Jersey."

I love how this came out