Growing up in the thirties brought movies that were rife with stories of gangsters like Pretty Boy Floyd, Dutch
Schultz, and Scarface Capone. Every Saturday's matinee
told of their evil work and their travails when they were sent up the river to places like Sing Sing prison to serve time or to lose their lives for murdering someone. Actors like Jimmy Cagney always looked tough and defiant as they walked the last mile to the "chair".
Of course the young thugs- just kids, were sent to Reform School to learn their lesson. That's where my story comes in-my Mother was always threatening me with Reform School if I didn't "shape up"- from what I don't know. Oh, I was impish- like trying to cut my aunt's hair while she was asleep-innocent things like that.
My cousin, Susie Eleanor used to visit us often. She was about twelve years older than I was.We were like sisters.I loved her. She was a lenient baby sitter.One day I happened to playfully slap her face. She didn't think it was so playful and told my Mother. Mom asked me about it and I told her "Susie Eleanor's face came down and hit my hand." My mother's face was filled with "this is the last straw"-now I knew I was headed for Reform School.
Sure enough, my Dad got out the car and Mom handed him a suitcase for me. We drove around for a while with me thinking the Reform School was around the next corner.He said it was a shame to have to leave my home and family and I'd better start "shaping up." I Said"yes" and he said,"Do you mean it?" I nodded. Well, he said something about finding a phone in a drug store to tell Mom I was coming back. I suspect now, he went in for cigarettes.
We got back home. I could see my mother had been crying and when the old suitcase fell open-it was empty.
