Caroline-My Friend Chapter One

My family moved to Waltham Massachusetts& lt;/st1:place> when I was but two years old. The house next door was separated by just a few feet. It was a two story apartment house and on the second floor lived a little girl named Caroline who at the time was only one year of age.

We lived next door to each other for the next twelve years and became very close friends. I had other friends that lived on our street as well but for some reason they didn’t care for Caroline. I believe it was because she had such strict parents that kept her busy in the house doing chores. But she and I had our own special times together when we played with our dolls, dressing up in our mother’s old clothes pretending we were mothers ourselves. We played hop-scotch and marble games in our dirt yard. We shared a pair of roller skates and sailed down the street pretending we were ice skating stars.

There was no such thing as staying in the house unless it was raining outside and then it had to be pouring rain.

Caroline came to my house on one of the rainy days. We had a piano. My mother could play and taught me a few chords. They were just enough to sing along with so Caroline and I would sing our hearts out for hours. They were such innocent years.

Her mother was very selective about whom she invited into her house so on the day that Caroline announced that her mother had invited me to dinner on the following night came as a big surprise. I considered it such a privilege and so happy to go.

Caroline’s parents immigrated to the United States from Italy and many nights I enjoyed the smell of her mother’s spaghetti sauce cooking as I played in my yard.

My mother gave me the permission to be there at six o’clock sharp. Here is what I experienced at the dinner.

Caroline’s father sat alone at the table while she and I waited to be called.

Her mother first put a platter of meatballs and sausages in front of her husband. I thought, “He’s not going to eat all of that”. I was wrong.

Next came a large bowl of spaghetti. He ate that too! By this time I was salivating.

Oh yes, a large glass of Chianti accompanied the dinner.

Then I watched the last of the meal that this not so large man was to consume. It was a large tossed salad and homemade bread. ARE YOU HUNGRY YET?!!!!!

Let me tell you that by the time we were called to the table I thought I could easily eat everything that man devoured. It was a challenge for an eleven year old but I gave it my best shot and couldn’t wait for my next invitation to Caroline’s for dinner.