Scene and heard

My first official day at work was Thursday, January 10th. But I met my future colleagues a day early - a lovely bunch of people who were mostly considerably older than me. The two who stand out in my memory were the manager, Ellen English, and Charlie Toker – a very funny man who reminded me of Groucho Marx. Back then, there seemed to be a lot of middle aged Jewish men in New York who had that look. Ellen was probably in her late 30’s, but what would I know about that, me being all of 22. She took me under her wing; obviously felt a motherly protectiveness towards me and I sorely missed her when she moved on some months later. I wish I could meet her again.

One of them advised me to post a notice that I was looking for a roommate. I did this. The next morning I got a call from one of the building janitors, Frank. He was also the Super where he lived, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. If we liked each other, and his 2 roommates liked me, then I could move in at the weekend. There would be no rent, as he didn’t pay any. All I had to do was wash the stairs in the two buildings he looked after, once a week.

I was warned to be careful – young naïve guy fresh to New York, meeting a 34 year old who was offering free rent!! We met for lunch and Frank was really cool. The next day, I went back to Brooklyn after work and met Arline, with whom I am a close friend to this day, and her then boyfriend, who went by the name of Trinity. We talked, we ate, we smoked the peace pipe! And I moved in the next day…..