Sugar House (9780991192519)

by Scheffler, Jean

  "Yes sir. Owned and operated by yours personally for three decades, but I don't know for how much longer. I'm looking to rent a space in Black Bottom. White men won't come in here anymore, and I need to make a living. Don't make no sense. I've given some of the biggest and most powerful men of this city their first shaves. They'd come in here every day, and now they pass by and don't even look in my window. I've listened about their families, their jobs, and the women they want and the women they got for thirty years, and they look right through me now." The old man shook his head and tilted Joe's head slightly so he could trim near his ear without cutting him.

  "I thought most barbers were colored," Joe responded.

  "Used to be… now everybody wants to go to fancy barbershops in the hotels and the train station. Don't help King Gillette invented that safety razor and any old chump can give a shave. Nobody appreciates a close shave anymore. I'm the last Negro-owned shop that's not in Black Bottom. Ha! I thought the Fifteenth Amendment was gonna change my life. Boy was I right… just not how I thought." Henry finished Joe's haircut and grabbed a hot towel. Laying the chair back he placed it on Joe's face. The moist heat warmed Joe skin, and he relaxed into the chair. Henry whipped the towel off and started foaming up Joe's face.

  "First shave?" Henry asked with a twinkle in his eye.

  "Yes," Joe responded, slightly embarrassed.

  "Well, by the looks of it you couldn't have waited another day." Henry was stroking Joe's fifteen-year-old psyche, and Joe knew Henry was just being kind. But he appreciated the comment.

  "Henry… you remember when they ratified the Fifteenth Amendment? How old are you?" Joe asked, enjoying the feel of the cool razor on his young skin.

  "Not sure. I was born on a plantation down south. Got sold when I was just a toddler to another master, and I hitched a ride on the underground railroad to Detroit when I was just about your age. I figure I'm somewhere in my late seventies." Henry patted Joe's cheeks with a cooling liquid and sat him back up in the chair. "All done, sir. That'll be a dollar for the haircut and fifty cents for the shave." Joe handed Henry three dollars and thanked him.

  "Best shave I ever had, Henry," he said as he exited the barbershop. Joe's eyes now opened from his conversation with Henry, he noted a Whites Only sign that hung in a retail shop window on his walk back home. How had he missed that, he wondered.

  The car arrived in front of their house at the appointed time. Joe held the door open for his mother as his brothers pushed past, excited for a ride in a private car. They drove to the thirteen-story Penobscot building, and a black doorman opened the door for his mother when they pulled up to the curb. Matka had worn a pretty lavender dress and her hair was pulled up high on her head. Joe's brothers wore their best suits and had been warned several times that they must be on their best behavior. The Penobscot was one of the first restaurants in the city to have "cold washed air" blown into its dining room. Slabs of ice were placed near the windows, and fans pushed air over the top, cooling the room.

  "I wish I'd brought my shawl," Matka teased Joe. Joe laughed, picked up Stephan, and followed the hostess to their table.

  They dined on green sea turtle soup, roast veal, halibut, and lobster. Matka tried to argue that the menu was too expensive, but Joe ordered for the table when the waiter came, ending her protests. He also ordered Yoo-Hoos for Frank and Stephan, a beer for himself, and a raspberry fizz for his mother. When she took a sip of her drink her eyes widened, and she looked around the restaurant.

  "Joe, this has vodka in it!" she whispered.

  "It's all right, Matka. Look. That lady at the next table is drinking one too. The cops won't bust up a fancy joint like this." He ordered bananas with cream and chocolate cake for dessert and drank another beer while Matka sipped coffee from a fine china cup. The cool air felt incredible after the heat of the day and they lingered to avoid going back out into the heat. Matka sent the little boys to the lobby to play with a small toy car Frank had brought in his pocket, while they finished their after dinner drinks.

  "Matka," Joe began, "I've been meaning to bring up something for a while now and I hope you'll agree to it."

  "Yes Joe?" Matka leaned forward in her chair, giving him her undivided attention. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the raspberry fizz and she looked very pretty in the candlelight.

  "I've been thinking about your sister in Poland lately. Whenever I get home to see Frank and Stephan I think how lucky I am to have brothers… especially with Ojciec gone."

  Tears began to brim in Matka's eyes and Joe worried he had ruined the perfect evening but he pushed forward with his idea. "I've save up quite a bit of money in the last year, and I think it's time we go and look for your sister. The war is over and you still haven't heard from her, and now we have the funds to go and find her and bring her back."

  "Oh Joe, I don't know… would you leave your job? And I can't leave your brothers for such a long time and I don't know how safe it would be for a woman to travel that far by herself." Matka took another sip of coffee, and Joe noticed her hand trembling slightly. "Not that I wouldn't give my right arm to go and find her. Perhaps I could ask Aunt Hattie if she would take care of the boys…"

  "I'm sorry, Matka. I guess I'm not explaining myself very well. I meant that we could ask Uncle Feliks to make the trip. He has no wife or children, and I heard he was having some trouble at the plant."

  "Do you think he'd do it?" Matka asked. "And what kind of trouble?"

  "Oh, just some bad politics with a foremen… I'll ask him tomorrow."

  A short visit to his uncle would be all that was needed. Joe was sure he'd be happy for a reason to leave the city for a while. Two thousand dollars was a year and a half salary to his uncle, and Joe was sure his uncle wouldn't have a tenth of the debt. The gang wouldn't hold out much longer for payment; Joe's uncle or not, and the betrayed foremen was just waiting for the right moment to have him fired, killed, or both.

  Matka agreed that Joe should ask his uncle to make the trip back to Poland, and she grew excited at the prospect of being reunited with her sister. Joe pulled his wallet out to pay the bill and they gathered the boys from the lobby and took the car back home. That evening they played some new records Joe had bought on his way home from the barbershop, and Joe and Matka laughed as they watched the boys dance in the living room.

  "I'd like to take Frank to Electric Park today, if that's all right," he asked Matka after breakfast the next day.

  "I'll pack you a lunch," she replied, getting up from the table to do the dishes.

  "I'll buy us lunch, Matka."

  "You are not going to waste money on eating out again," she replied and began to pull out food from the icebox. Half an hour later Joe and Frank were walking toward Woodward to catch the bus. Frank was giddy with enthusiasm, making Joe recall his own excitement when they had walked to Woodward for the first time to catch the streetcar to the Boblo docks. When the double-decker bus pulled up to the curb, Joe thought Frank would burst.

  A giant wooden windmill greeted them at the park entrance, and an electric sign blinked The Boardwalk—Just for Fun! Joe bought several tickets for the rides at the ticket booth, and they went inside. The day was cooler, thankfully, and the breeze from the river cooled the park even more. They walked through the rides trying to decide which one to go on first.

  "Let's go on the Big Dipper, Joe!" Frank ran toward the line for the rollercoaster. They sat down in a small car, and Frank grabbed the metal bar in the front of the cart. Frank screamed as the car climbed up to the pinnacle of the first hill and started to descend. Joe laughed and grabbed his shoulder, holding him in the seat.

  Next they rode the Ferris wheel, the aerial swings, and another coaster called the Bobs. Frank pointed excitedly at ride after ride, saying, "How about that one Joe? Can we ride it next?" Joe let Frank lead the way, and they rode every ride in the park. Finally, at two o'clock Frank's growling stomach overcame his enthusiasm, and they found a place to eat their lunch
near the water. Munching on cold sandwiches and potato chips they watched the large ships traveling up and down the river.

  "What'd you like the best, Joe?" Frank asked. "I think I liked the Whip Ride the best or maybe the Big Dipper.

  "I liked the swings—it felt like we were flying over the top of everybody. You sit here, and I'll go grab us something to drink, all right?" Joe went to the concession area and purchased two Coca-Colas and two ice cream cones. As he walked back to where they had been sitting, he saw Frank talking to a scantily dressed woman. Hurrying his steps, he strode over to his brother but slowed down as he recognized the young flapper. He couldn't believe his eyes when he realized who it was. Pauline was with her but dressed in more modest attire.

  "You should go see the flying trapeze man, Frank-baby," Marya was saying as he walked up. "It's the bees knees."

  "The bees knees, huh?" Joe said, turning Marya's attention away from Frank.

  "Oh hey, Joe," she said, smiling—or was it sneering—at him. "Nice of you to take Frank out for the day. However did you manage to get away from your important work?" Her voice was clipped yet somehow still retained a very feminine quality.

  "Just have a day off, Marya. That's quite a getup you're wearing… does Uncle Alexy know how you're dressed?"

  Marya pulled at the hem of her dress slightly and fingered her long lavalier. "Don't worry about my father, Joe. I'm an adult now, and I don't need no one watching over me. I've got a date in an hour, and I don't need you for a chaperone." Joe looked over at Pauline, who rolled her eyes and made a disgusted face.

  "I don't want to watch over you, Marya. Why'd you bring Pauline if you have a date?"

  "My mother made me bring her. Supposed to keep me in line or something… here I am all dolled up, and I gotta bring a fire extinguisher with me on my date." Marya pulled a cigarette out of silver case and lit it with a match. She took a deep drag and looked at Pauline.

  "Why don't you have your date and Pauline can come with Frank and me to see the flying trapeze man? We'll meet you at eight o'clock at the Old Pier Ballroom, and we'll all go home together." Pauline smiled at Joe, silently thanking him.

  "Well, isn't you the cat's meow, Joe? Thanks a lot… I'll see you later Pauline-baby," Mayra called, already headed off in search of her date. Joe took Frank and Pauline to the boardwalk to see the trapeze show. They stayed for a second show featuring the Great Chick— a tramp cyclist and comedian. Pauline and Frank laughed at the cyclist's antics until tears rolled down their faces. Afterward, Joe bought some more tickets, and the three rode a few more rides. They decided on hamburgers for supper and sat back down by the river to eat.

  Chapter Thirty

  "Let's head over to the ballroom and listen to the band," Joe suggested when they'd finished. The ballroom was a beautiful round building built over the water. Detroit's best bands and orchestras vied to play there, and Joe was eager to see what band was playing. The ballroom was fiery with light, and they heard the sound of trumpets and drums as they approached. Joe found a small table near the front of the dance floor and held out a chair for his cousin to sit in. Frank, disappointed that they had to come to a "stupid dance" instead of going on the rides again, was trying not to pout. A young black waiter brought over three waters and asked if they wanted anything else to drink. Joe replied they were fine for now but tipped the young man a dollar anyway.

  The Floyd Hickman orchestra was on stage, and their sound was loud, rambunctious, and fun. The eleven black men, all dressed alike, rocked, swayed, jumped, and danced as they played song after song. White couples (black patrons could only visit the park on Sunday evenings) danced to the foxtrot, the Charleston, the shimmy, and the tango until sweat poured down their faces and they had to sit one out. Beads, fringe, feathers, and sequins fell to the floor from the flappers' costumes, and a custodian dressed in white swept the floor when the band took a break so the dancers wouldn't slip on the baubles.

  "What's going on with Marya?" Joe asked Pauline when Frank wasn't listening.

  "She's driving my mother crazy! Our father is always at the plant—did you hear he got promoted to the line?" Joe shook his head.He hadn't heard, and he was happy for his uncle. But a pang of sadness hit him as he thought about his father and how he might have been moving up in the company if he was still here.

  "Marya goes out every night, and she won't even look for a job," Pauline continued, leaning closer. She says her boyfriends will take care of her, and mother is sick with worry. Even when our dad tells her she has to stay in, she sneaks out our bedroom window and doesn't come home till it's almost light out. I don't think my parents know, but it won't be long till they figure it out." Pauline seemed relieved to share her troubles about her sister. Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

  "How's she get money to go out?" Joe asked, sure he didn't want to hear the answer.

  "I haven't figured it out, but she's always got new clothes and shoes. She says the boys like to give her things, and if they're giving then she's taking."

  I wonder what she's giving, Joe thought.

  "There's Marya now." Pauline pointed to a corner of the ballroom where Marya was surrounded by three or four men. Joe watched her pull her dress up to her thigh and grab a flask from her garter. Marya took a swig and offered it to her suitors. She looked a little tipsy, and Joe watched the men who vied for her attention. There was no denying that Marya was beautiful, but it was a shame she felt she needed to get attention by acting easy. Joe didn't mind her dress as much as her behavior. Most young women wore shorter dresses and had bobbed their hair, but there was a difference between dressing like a flapper and behaving like a jezebel.

  Marya pulled out a cigarette, and the men competed to light it. When one of them struck a match and held it near her face, Joe noticed his cousin had put on heavy eye makeup since she'd left them by the river. The band gathered back on the stage and started their second set with a lively swing dance. Marya led one of the men onto the floor to dance. Joe looked across the table at his two charges. Frank had fallen asleep with his head on the table, and Pauline looked extremely uncomfortable as she watched her older sister twist and sashay around the dance floor. "Pauline, stay here with Frank. Let me see if I can get Marya to leave." Joe walked over to where his cousin was dancing and tapped on the shoulder of her partner. "May I cut in?" he asked. Before the man could answer, Joe grabbed Marya's hand and twirled her away.

  "Hey… what's the big idea, Joe?" Marya demanded. "The song wasn't over."

  "It's time to head home, Marya. Frank is asleep and Pauline wants to leave. Come on, I'll grab us a cab."

  "I'm not going anywhere yet! It's not even nine o'clock. Babies stay out till nine. I'm having a good time." Marya pulled away from Joe and walked to the back of the ballroom. She reached for her flask again and took another swig. Joe grabbed the silver plated canteen and took a drink.

  "Where the hell did you get this rotgut, Marya? It's been altered and diluted. Aren't you worried about Jake leg or going blind?" Jake leg was a disease that was killing or paralyzing hundreds all over the country. It was the result of drinking contaminated alcohol made from ginger root.

  "Geez Joe, you're such a wet blanket. Why don't you try and have some fun? You're younger than me for the love of God. I'll set you up with one of my girlfriends and we can double date." Marya laughed and hiccupped. She was more than a little tipsy now, and Joe wanted to get her out of there.

  "Sure, sounds good Marya. Why don't we talk about it on the way home?" Joe tried to grab his cousin's hand but she pulled away.

  "I'm not going home now!" Marya pushed past Joe and walked back to her group of admirers. Joe returned to the table where his brother was still asleep despite the loud music. He sat down hard on the wooden chair trying to figure out his next move. He could leave her there and take Frank and Pauline home. After all it wasn't his responsibility to take care of Marya. Or he could send Frank home with Pauline in a cab and try to get her to leave in an hour or so. He
sat like that for a few minutes, watching the dancers, as the music grew into a frenzy and they bobbed and jumped over the dance floor.

  Just when he was going to give Pauline some money to take Frank home he saw a tall, handsome man approach Marya. It was Ziggie Selbin—newly hired by the Sugar House Gang. Ziggie's job was to manage some blind pigs and collect extortion money from local business owners, but he had ventured off on his own and had been holding up nightclubs and speakeasies up in Hamtramck. Ziggie was a mean drunk, and Joe could see by the looks of him that he'd been drinking for a while.

  "Here, Pauline. Take Frank and go get a cab," he said, handing her a few dollars. "I'll go get Marya. Just tell the driver to wait at the curb till I come. This is enough to keep him happy for a few minutes." Pauline woke Frank, and Joe walked over to his sloshed cousin and Ziggie. The other men had slid away when Ziggie approached Marya; he pulled her to a dark corner of the room and was leaning in close as he whispered something in her ear. Marya laughed nervously, trying not to show her anxiety as her eyes searched around the room for help.

  "Hey Marya, nadszed? czas, aby wróci? do domu ,"(It's time to go home) Joe said, as he approached the couple. Ziggie turned his head to see who was speaking to his new fling.

  "This here girl is with me, Joe," Ziggie replied, draping his arm around Marya's shoulder and pulling her into him.

  "That girl there is my cousin, Ziggie. I promised my aunt I'd have her home by nine and we're late already. Say goodnight, Marya." Joe reached out and grabbed one of Marya's hands.

  "You're not ready to leave already, doll, are you?" Ziggie pulled Marya back towards him.

  "Umm… I better be heading home" Marya slurred. Ziggie pulled a flask from his coat pocket, took a swig, and offered it to Joe.

  "I'll get her home, Joe. Don't worry 'about nothing. We's just about to have us a dance, aren't we, doll?" Ziggie faltered a step and grabbed Marya's shoulder to steady himself. "Woops! Looks like I'm dancing already." He laughed uproariously.