Halstead Street, Chapter 55
by Simahoyo
Hugh's stomach dropped. He had been the knight in shining armor, riding on a flying horse, and he had to face the one person who with a word could turn him into a rosary toting, Pope worshiper with wild Irish tendencies. And no doubt guns in the church basement.
Hans ran through the grocery door, shouting, "Father, Mother–Kate was nearly killed and Hugh rescued her. I have to call the policeman!"
The next thing Hugh knew both Father and Mother were running out to them. Both parents enveloped their daughter with hugs and kisses. They were jabbering in German. He heard Kate say, "Sigfried", and she looked at him, after a lot more German talk, Father and Mother came over to look at Hugh.
"You saved our daughter. Thank you!", then Father hugged him. Mother replaced Father with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You are a good young man."
Hugh felt himself blush. "Like Sigfried?", he asked.
He had expected laughter, but both nodded enthusiastically. Hugh decided to strike while the gratitude was still hot.
"In the fairy tales, whoever rescues the princess may ask the King and Queen for a boon."
Mother stiffened slightly. Father was still all smiles.
"And what is the boon you would ask, young Sigfried?", said Father.
"The hand of your daughter in marriage."
Mother held her hand up and every eye was on her. "I have questions. First of all, do you plan to be married in the Catholic church?"
"No ma'am, I do not. I do not attend church."
"Are you planning to be married in the Lutheran church?"
"I will not lie to you. No, I do not plan to be married in the Lutheran church. I have yet to discuss this with your daughter, but I thought a Justice of the Peace."
Silence greeted his confession. Hugh looked to Kate for help.
"Since neither of us goes to church, I think that makes the most sense.", said Kate.
Both parents looked at her, surprised.
"How long since you have attended church?"
Kate smiled, "Since I moved out."
Mother eyebrows rose as high as her voice.
"You what? Mein Gott. Well, I don't worry about my grandchildren becoming Roman Catholic–just Heathens."
Hugh's stomach dropped even more. Kate came and stood beside him, and took him by the hand.
Mother smiled. "Ah, I see how it is. The princess had already chosen her Sigfried." She looked at Father a certain way.
"Thus say the king and queen. The princess' hand in marriage is yours."
"Thank you!," shouted Hugh and Kate together.
Planning the wedding took far less time than Pasquale and Giovanna's. They were able to use the big room at Hull House. They found a Justice of the Peace, Kate was able to fit into her mother's wedding dress, while Kate's brothers took Hugh to help him tone down his clothing. His Father was in complete agreement and paid for the shopping excursion as a wedding gift.
The pot luck from the whole neighborhood worked its magic again and they posted a notice of the wedding at Hull House, spread the word on the Lower 19th grapevine and even discovered that the wedding was announced in the Chicago Tribune. Suddenly, Kate remembered to ask their newsboy friends too. After work, she mentioned the omission to Hugh.
"I can't believe how fast everything is going. It's all such a whirl. I can't believe I forgot to invite them especially. It's a chance for them to have a good meal."
"Well then, let's both go, so they can see their presence is wanted and important to us."
The wind was pushing them at their backs, as if hurrying their steps. When they got to the tenement, the newsboys were sharing two cans of beans. Kate was angry with herself for not bringing them something to eat.
"Hello fellows.", said Hugh.
"Hey, if it ain't the bride and groom.", said Rudolfo.
"Not yet, Dummy. First they gotta get married., " said Tony.
Kate tried to cover her smile. "Hugh and I wanted to make sure you know that all of you are invited to our wedding."
"Is there good grub?", more than one asked together.
"Pot luck like Giovanna's and my mother is baking. I think even you will have plenty to eat."
"Do we hafta find a musician? Cuz we did good last time, din'd we.", Carlo had his mouth full.
"Hugh nodded. "You did."
"But you ain't Italian. What kinda music you want?"
"We like Ragtime, but our parents will be there, so some slow stuff needs to be played for them.", Hugh had noticed they seemed proud of their ability to procure music for these events, and he determined to pay this musician and the said procuerers.
"Huh, well, there is one guy. He's a Negro. Do you care?" Rudulfo's tone was challenging.
"We care if the music in good. Oh, and no cigars, please. I hate the smell–that doesn't just apply to the musician–Tony."
"I promise Kate.", Tony hung his head.
"Just for the wedding and party after. Okay?", asked Hugh.
Tyony grinned, showing some rotten teeth., "Okay."
Hugh indicated to Kate that he wanted to talk to the newsboys alone. Kate shrugged and walked out of earshot.
"Fellas, this is just between us. I know you have your pride, and I've been broke a time of two. The day of the wedding , come over to Mrs. Wilson's. I know you've been there before to help Pasquale with some projects. So if you want to take a bath. Just show up and knock at the door."
"Yeah. That's good. It costs for baths and, well, sometimes its better to eat, you know?" Renaldo was very interested in eating.
"I sure do. I'll bet you already knew and where for the wedding."
"Oh yeah. Tomaso tole us, and Mrs. Amari, and Mrs. Frenchman...lots of folks." Carlo ticked the names off on his fingers.
"We wanted to make sure you knew we want you there." Hugh's voice carried just enough for Kate to make out the words.
Tony nodded soberly. "So did you find a nice place to live?"
Hugh's face went white."What?"
"For after the weddin'. Pasquale and Giovanna got a real nice place–a whole house. Don't tell me you forgot? Hugh?"
Hugh tried to work his jaw. His mouth was dry and an inner voice that sounded a lot like his father shouted, "Eejit!"
"Good lord, I plumb forgot."
"Need help?", asked Rudolfo. Hugh nodded his head.
"We'll ask around. Put something at al Hull House.", offered Mario.
"I really need to do this, or Kate will kill me.", Hugh turned, smiling and waving at Kate.
"We ain't gunna tell her. Good luck.", Georgio smirked.
As Kate and Hugh started to walk back, Kate took his arm.
"What was that all about?"
"I invited them over for baths before the wedding."
Kate burst out laughing. "That was a good idea. They are wonderful boys with good hearts, but they really need a bath. Have you asked Mrs. Wilson? Or do you plan on heating the water yourself?"
Hugh looked around conspiratorially. "Mrs. Wilson has a small boiler in her basement."
Kate stopped, thunderstruck. "That's amazing. I never heard of such a thing. Wouldn't that be amazing to have?"
Half panicked, Hugh asked for a few days off from work as he frantically searched the neighborhood for a place to live. He worked his way all the way down to Greektown. Hugh wasn't sure they would outsiders, but desperation forced his hand.
As he went past a row a little shops, it started to rain. After a while, Hugh was starting to feel his shirt getting wet under his jacket, so he darted into a shop with Greek letters above it.
It was a cobbler's shop. A white haired man with a moustache was bent over a last while he used a sewing machine with a big needle, to stitch soles to a pair of shoes. Hugh watched, fascinated.
"You want the shoes, or you want the dry?'
"Dry, if you don't mind."
"Not fit for doks in that. You stay as lonk as you need."
"Thank you. I also have a question. "I'm getting married soon, and we need a place to live. Do you know of any place around here?"
The cobbler pulled on his moustache. "Maybe. You need vary cheap, like the tenement?"
"Well, we can afford a little more than some tenements."
"How much you think?"
"Maybe fifteen dollars a month."
"Oh, fifteen is better than the tenement. I know a place. Is over a shop. What do you think?"
"We have friends who live over their dry cleaning store, It's nice up there."
"So, come with me..."and the cobbler lead him up some stairs to a small kitchen, with a cooking stove, sink, running water and a small wooden box Hugh didn't recognize."
"Excuse me, but what is that?"
"Ice box. See inside., " The cobbler opened the box and there was a shelf on top with room for a big block of ice. "Ice goes here and below is the food. Better than the cold room. Works in the summer."
Hugh's eyes were locked on the marvelous invention. "That's amazing."
The cobbler showed him a sitting room with a pot bellied stove, and then one big room and a small one. Hugh was begining to fear there was nothing else with the cobbler pulled a curtain aside to reveal a bath tub, with running water, a sink and a water closet.
""Is good?"
"It's very good. No furniture?"
"Is why it is only fifteen dollars a month. You want it?"
The wave of relief that hit Hugh almost made him fall over. "Yes, please. How soon can we move in?"
"Tomorrow, after you pay the rent. Okay?"
"Okay!"
They made the deal, and the cobbler made out a contract. Hugh paid the first month's rent and had to resist hugging the cobbler.
"Is is your key. You make sure it still workink good."
Hugh tried the key, and it worked very well.
"Is there any other way in?"
"Yes, but it's not so nice. Here." The cobbler took him through a closet, and in the back was a door, which Hugh's key opened. The stairs leading down to the outside were steeper, but they were firm and steady.
"That's fine." He made a note of the address, and made a little map on his way to the streetcar stop.
He was nearly floating on air when he got off at City Hall. He took the elevator to his father's office and found the same self-important gatekeeper.
"I'd like the see my father, please."
The gatekeeper frowned at him. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but please tell him I'm here."
"Who shall I say...?"
Hugh had had enough. "His one and only son."
After much fiddling with the speaking tube, he said, "Mr. Martin, there is someone here claiming to be your one and only son. Should I allow him in?"
The door opened, and Finn's face was a dangerous red. The popinjay didn't know what was comming.
"You have tried my patience enough, Boyo. Pack up yer stuff and out you go. I don't need yer father that much."
The popinjays face flamed as he got his stuff and left.
"Wow. Dad, I never expected that."
"It's one thing to be trading favors. That's politics. It's another when he disrespects my only son."
"Thank you. I'm kind of flummoxed."
"Don't be. I was hard on you to see what way you would go. I don't agree with it all, but you are your own man. And you picked out the right woman."
Hugh was grinning. "I also came to tell you I found a place for Kate and me to live."
Finn grinned from ear to ear. "And where is this palace?"
"Greektown. It's no palace, but it's no shanty either. Only one problem–no furniture. So, I was hoping..."
Finn laughed. "Yes, there's something thing in my attic at home. Wait a bit and we can leave together. I have to advertize for a new deskman,."
Between the attic and a few odds and ends from the cart peddlers, Hugh was able to produce a bed, a table and chairs for the kitchen and a few chairs for the sitting room. Nothing was fancy, but it worked well enough. He finally felt safe in bringing Kate to see it.
When they entered the cobbler's shop, she seemed fascinated with his work, and Hugh nearly had to drag her away.
Once upstairs, she stopped an stared at the kitchen. She was looking all over, opening in cupboards, turning on the water, then off again, running her hand over the table top, and tinkering with the cookstove.
She stopped in front of the icebox. "What is it?"
"An ice box. We buy ice and..."Hugh opened the door, "Put food down here and ice on top and it keeps the food cold."
"I've read about these, but I never saw one before. I love it." She closed the door.
The sitting room made her smile. "This is nice. Two chairs. We'll have a find a soapbox for visitors."
The two bedrooms made Kate give him a look and a smirk. "Planning ahead?"
Hugh laughed. "Yes. Our bedroom and our nursery."
Kate pulled the curtain aside without having to be told. "Oh. Running water, a tub, a water closet?" She turned, suspicious in seconds. "How much is this?"
"Only fifteen dollars a month."
Hugh was bumped backward when she threw herself into his arms. "It's perfect."
The day of the wedding arrived, and at 9 sharp the was a rap on Mrs. Wilson's door. She opened it to find five dirty newsboys on her front step.
"Hugh tole us to come for baths.", said Tony.
"Yes, he has been preparing for you. The kitchen is right there."
They went into the kitchen with a minimum of noise.
Hugh and Joseph were pouring hot water into a galvanized tub which sat on the floor, while Emil held a blanket in one hand and a towel in the other. More towels sat on the kitchen table.
"I will fill it now, but don't jump in until we add cold water so you don't scald yourselves.
The process worked like women canning fruit together. Hugh got hot water, Joseph added it to the tub. Hugh added cold and Emil offered privacy to anyone who wanted it. The bar of lye soap started big and got smaller as each boy bathed, dried himself and dressed, while Emil emptied the tub outside in back and well away from Mrs. Wilson's garden. As each towel could no longer dry anyone, a dry one was provided. Soon they were lined up clean and grinning. Dressed in less than clean clothing, but still...'
"This is dandy ain't it boys?", asked Mario. Carlo and the rest nodded and voiced agreement. Meanwhile the men worked to keep Mrs. Wilson from fainting when she saw the state of her kitchen. A spill was mopped up. Tubs and so forth went down to the cellar and wet towels added to the laundry basket. Finally, Emil opened the door. "Mrs. Wilson, it's safe for you to come in now."
She walked in carefully, expecting a mess and finding none.
"It's clean!" She turned to the newsboys. "You're clean." She hugged Hugh, Joseph and Emil, opened the door to the cold room, and brought forth three bottles of milk. She put them in the middle of the table, added mugs from the cupboard, then brought out a big plate of bread and butter.
"Sit down, young men. I'm sure you are all hungry and it's a long time until dinner."
The scramble for chairs brought a smile to the grown people's faces. Milk was gulped and the bread was as a field of grain before locusts. Five heads turned to Mrs. Wilson.
"Thanks for the grub!", was nearly simultaneous.
