A Tree grew in Brooklyn
Posted by Jim on December 19, 2019
It is a cold night on December 24th 1971 as darkness has just fallen in Brooklyn. We are parked at Utica Ave and Ave N in what was up until three weeks ago a used car lot, but this night it is occupied by Christmas trees looking to be chosen to adorn some families living room. Mom is in the passenger seat of our Plymouth Station Wagon with baby Maryann on her lap( no car seat)after making her selection ,as my brother Michael and sister Eileen and myself are leaning against the fold down door in its rear. We stand there listening to Dad state his case as to why he was willing to pay $6 for a tree that was clearly marked $15. Money was especially tight this year in my house ,so Dad specifically waited til Christmas Eve to buy our tree because he knew that he would be able to haggle for a better price. My Dad handed the man $8 and then another $1 for the guy to wrap it and tie it onto the roof of the station wagon.
Dad is now on his back, down on the living room floor under the tree as Mom says just “a little bit to the right” (her very last comment was “a little bit to the left”) Ten minutes later after at least twenty “little bit here little bit there’s” Dad twists the three silver metal prongs as they piece the the trees stem and hold it into place and sturdy in the red and green metal tree stand. Two dinning room chairs immediately appear on each side of the tree and Michael and Eileen stand on them as they pass the tree light strands ( which took Dad 30 minutes to unravel from the year before and the things he said under his breath as he did it was not real Christmas like) to each other as Mom placed them just so. The bulbs were hung , the bunting (skirt)was placed under the tree and the Nativity scene was placed upon it . Michael places the Angel on top of the tree and Dad plugs in the lights. Now there is just one thing still missing…..the Tinsel! To me this was the best part of decorating our Christmas Tree. We would drape a handful in our left hand and throw the tinsel with our right hands , it seemed like 20 lbs of it would wind up covering our tree (the tinsel was lead based and had a very heavy feeling as you held it). The tree as always was magnificent as Moms eyes would tear up just a little bit as she looked it over
It is now just around 10 pm and there was another special happening that would soon be a part of this night. But before we get to that I ask Mom if it was alright if I could go down the block to my friend Eddie Corlonis house for a little bit because he was trying to explain to me something about him getting “seven fishes” for Christmas. Mom says ‘ OK but you better be back in this house by 11:15″ So being an Irish kid I am thinking he got a Fish Tank for Christmas and I was going to see his “seven fishes” swimming around in it. Boy was I surprised when I walked into his house and saw his whole family sitting around the house eating great plates of food . I looked at the fish tank which was already set up (Eddie really did get a tank for Christmas) and noticed it had only two fish in it. Mrs Corloni made me a plate and handed it to me and said welcome to “The Feast of the Seven Fishes”. Now everybody is eating fish and I see only two in the tank………I am a little nervous and to say the least, a little hesitant to eat whats on the plate! I whispered to Eddie “Are we eating the fish that was in your new fish tank?” Eddie bursts into to hysterical laughter and announces to everyone in the room my question which then they joined in the laughter as well. Mrs Corloni seeing me standing there confused ran over to me and hugged me as to shield me from the laughter as she yelled at everyone to stop laughing or get out of her house. Armando (Eddies Dad ) Sat me down and explained to me about The Feast of the Seven Fishes( I am pretty sure be bit a hole in his upper lip to keep from laughing as he did) as Mrs Corloni stood behind him scanning the room at her guests to make sure not one of them was laughing at me .God help them if they did!
It’s now 11:15 and run down the block back to my house. I can see that all the houses on my block have their Christmas Trees all lit up and decorated in the front window of thier homes,. Outside were strings of big yellow green red ., blue and orange bulbs strung around the windows. Pictures on plastic molds of Santas face along with Candy Canes and Dancing Reindeer were taped to the inside window . The inside doors wrapped in festive colors were all open and front storm doors were fogged from the heat inside the homes giving an almost frost like look to anyone passing by.
I come into my house and Mom says go upstairs and get dressed, and by the way ” There is a box on your bed you might as well open it tonight”
I fly up the stairs touching every third step I swing around the Bannister pole as I reach the top and enter my bedroom . Laid out on my bed was a Navy Doubled breasted sport coat ,a white turtle neck sweater and a tan pair of Bell Bottom slacks. On the floor was a box wrapped in shiny aluminum like paper , I tear it open …just what I wanted……all my friends had them……they were the coolest shoes ever………Chukka Boots.
I feel great because I know I look cool and Lori Cook Satriano will definitely notice me now (I had a crush on her ,she didn’t know) I was heading out to Midnight Mass. Yes I was 11 years old and I was leaving my house at 11:45 by myself (Michael and Eileen went with their own friends and Mom and Dad stayed home to prepare for Christmas morning) I am walking to Church as many of my neighbors doors are opening and they join in the procession at this late night hour. They are wearing new coats and scarfs and hats and feeling wonderful like I am in my Chukka Boots. . I can see the crowd gathered in front of Mary Queen of Heaven Church as I near and see all my friends and every kid from my neighborhood. All of stood in the back of the over packed Church and sung the hymns and celebrated the birth of Jesus. Lori did not see me nor did I see her .
Asd per Moms instructions I went right home after Mass . As I think back to that night ,I feel a sense of warmth . I enjoyed the Christmas Tree purchase and decorating, I learned that Italians make the best seafood on this planet from a loving family who lived down the block, I received a wonderful material gift (Chukka Boots) which proved to me that my Mom loved me ( the best gift ever)because she made sure that she got them for me and I got to join my neighborhood and stand in the back of a church watching some of the toughest guys I have ever known singing hymns about a child who was born in a manger.
Had Jesus been born in Brooklyn there would have been room for him in every home from Red Hook to Canarsie to Mill Basin to Bensonhurst to Midwood to Flatbush to Georgetown to Marine Park to Gravesend to Bergen Beach to Flatlands to Dyker Heights to Park Slope to Bedford Stuyvesant to Crown Heights …. he would not have been born in a Manger he would have been welcomed and loved and given whatever we had to make him comfortable. And if he was lucky enough to have been born in Mrs Corlonis house He would have loved the fish and would have been hugged with loving protecting arms of a woman who looked out for all children, Like all Booklyn Moms
Merry Christmas Brooklyn
I would just like to take a moment to thank each and every one who have read my stories and have written kind words and shared memories in return . It is my wish for you and yours to enjoy this wonderful Christmas Season and bask in the love that your families and friends offer you throughout the year. To all my Jewish friends I wish you all a Happy Chanukah and the same blessings
Sincerely
Kevin J. Leddy and Family