This is a story I’m a bit too proud of. It’s a courting classic. There is a new 3WW two posts below and the post below this is light and very New Yawk.
From now until July I will only be posting Friday Flashbacks and maybe 3WW’s. It depends on how much work I get done. I do want much beach time. Courting might go on hiatus. Haven’t decided yet.
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This is mostly extraneous to the story I’m telling, but good background, for something. We were young and hot though we were the last two to believe that part. Don’t know why; enough people told us, wanted to know us, or marry us. Lucia was a four by 40 girl. This story takes place before the fourth marriage. I was a Maid (or Matron) of Honor more than most women; and I’m only counting Lucia’s weddings. She used to compare herself to Elizabeth Taylor:
“I believe in marrying them, not living with them.”
I’m more the let’s live together, not get married type.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
It was a hot June night. Not hot as in oppressive, I want to die weather like today, but hot enough. In New York, the hottest part of the day is always dusk when the heat’s had time to settle on the cement, and the buildings seem to ooze both heat and drops of hot water from the air conditioners. The steam rises both from the street, and subway gratings, and it can feel as if you’re trapped in a manhole cover or a pot of not quite boiling water. One thing you learn in New York early and never forget: heat rises.
I was wearing a blue with little pink and yellow flowers bustier dress; the skirt flowed like a Marilyn dress. Here comes the big confession: sometimes when I would a dress like that I wouldn’t wear underwear. But, and this is a big but, I had a two piece bathing suit that almost exactly matched the dress; only the flowers were a bit larger. That morning in a burst of clothing creativity, I decided to wear the bottom as underwear. To make the dress work appropriate I had worn a blue silk fitted jacket that I had left at the studio.
Noel was walking to my right, and Lucia to my right. The subway grating was right underneath me. The fire station bells began ringing as it did whenever notable people passed it. I couldn’t understand why suddenly Lucia and Noel were trying to tame my dress that was whirling with the blast of hot air from the subway. Their faces had turned bright red, and not from the heat.
Something made me turn around, and face three very well dressed men who were trying not to smile. Two of the men were young, very good looking; “bodyguards,” I thought before my brain had time to register exactly who they were guarding. Or maybe I really didn’t want to realize this. I thought of something clever to say, but before I could say it I began laughing. Real laughter; not girly giggles or shameful bursts of restrained laughter that turns into coughing fits. I knew that as long as I lived I would never forget this meeting. But I just couldn’t stop laughing; the six of us were standing on Lafayette Street, laughing until tears came.
And that’s how I met the man for whom the bells were tolling; the boss of bosses himself, John Gotti, shortly before he went to prison.
If Lucia comments, and she will, do not believe her version. I wasn’t just wearing underpants, I was wearing a shield of armor, a belly covering bathing suit bottom.
No I don’t approve of him or anything he did. Just getting that out of the way. But it’s a hell of a story.
Sure is.
The armor is new.
Oh to be be young and hot on a hot June night.
That’s a helluva story. Approve or not – he was the Teflon Don. Great story (and I learned something new about the firestation bells).
Could feel the heat rising as I read.
Happy start to the real summer!
What a great flashback post woman. I could just visualize it all. Great writing. Mine is up!
“Taming the dress,” if that had happened to Marilyn, she might have been forgotten by now. Enjoy MB
You asked, are you ready for this………Dustin was born July 19th, 1986. How small a world you know. I always knew we were connected, lol. I cannot believe you two share a birthday, I love it.
Surely its the memory of that day that really killed the Dapper Don in prison.
Great story, Pia — and excellently descriptive of hot Summer days in New York.
BTW, I tagged you AGAIN over at my blog. Don’t shoot me please, lol.
enjoyed it as always.
Flashbacks for me are pretty limited still. Yours are much more interesting.
Yes I remember the John Gotti story! I also remember that redhead reported from NBC that used to exclusively report about them. My sis told me it was 90 in NYC the other day. Happy MEMORIAL DAY! IMPEACH!!
I like how Noel and Lucia were trying to tame your dress. But you, Marilyn, were just what.. flapping in the breeze?