Sugar House (9780991192519) Read online

  Matka observed the incident with a small smile. "Thank goodness the company has the good sense to control these young delinquents. One must watch these youngsters all the time these days."

  An older Polish woman overheard Blanca's comment and joined in. "Dancing like animals! Why, they look like Negroes dancing on a plantation! Can you imagine? They probably snuck some liquor in a flask on board too. Thankfully the island does not allow alcohol on land or on its boats. Makes it free from rowdy and boisterous youths like those two. A place you can take your family and feel at peace."

  The boat began to blow its steam whistle at it approached Boblo Island. Joe looked over the railing and watched as they closed in on their destination. Groves of green trees were interspersed between large buildings, and pretty paths circled the area. A large, white two-story building hovered over the water on stilts, and its many arched windows reflected the sparkling blue of the water. Grassy lawns created a rich carpet on the island's small embankment.

  The boat docked, and the Jopolowskis listened to conversations of their fellow passengers as they waited in line to disembark. German, Italian, Russian, English, Yiddish and Polish conversations mingled. Ojciec laughed and shook his head. "Sounds like the Tower of Babel on this boat!"

  The family stepped off the gangplank and walked down the long dock. A soft breeze blew over the island, and seagulls swooped down, diving into the water. The sky was dotted by only a few white puffy clouds; the weather appeared to be cooperating for the outing. The shore was planted with beds of roses, mums and marigolds. Delicious aromas wafted from the cafeteria. Throughout the park hundreds of rustic seats and hammocks were scattered to allow the patrons a place to sit and rest. Laughter, music and squeals of delight mingled with the sound of the river passing gently by.

  A few hundred yards to the right lay a massive, three-story stone dance hall. Its four corners were anchored by square turrets with tall, arched windows. Covered balconies ran the length of the building on four sides.

  "How about a polka, Blanca? We'll show these kids how to really dance," Ojciec said.

  "Not now, Mikołaj. Let's explore a little."

  Passing by the dance hall, they came to a smaller stone building that housed the carousel.

  "Here's a dime, Joe. Take your brother and watch him close. Get in line over there." Ojciec pointed to a line of children waiting for their turn. The line moved quickly, and Joe lifted Frank over the lower edge of the carousel as they climbed aboard. Colorful chariots and carved horses stood amid the shiny gold poles on the deck. Forty-four white, brown and black horses, two goats and two white-tail deer stood proudly, reins beckoned the young children to grab and hold on for a thrilling ride. Sparkling mirrors positioned above the merry-go-round reflected the electric lights that flashed from the middle of the ride in a dazzling display of white light.

  Frank chose one of the slender deer and Joe gave him a push up onto its back. Joe climbed onto an elegant white horse next to the white-tail and grabbed the reins. Cheerful music flowed out of the steam organ from the middle of the carousel. The ride began to move and the animals rose slowly up and down. Frank's face lit up with joy as his animal began rising toward the ceiling.

  "Let's race!" Joe said to his brother.

  "OK. Mine's faster!" Frank replied.

  Circling around a second time, Joe saw his parents sitting on a wooden bench watching the boys. They were holding hands and smiling, enjoying their sons' good time. When the ride was over, Joe helped his little brother down and walked over to their parents.

  "I won! I won!" called Frank. "My deer beat Joe's horse!"

  "What a fine rider you are, son. Now let's see how you do on a live animal, shall we?" Ojciec replied. "Next stop… the pony rides!" Walking down the stone path they passed many families strolling about the grounds. Children ran through the fields playing made up games and throwing balls in games of catch. Nearing the small stable, Joe looked at a group of children hitting balls on the ground with wooden bats. "Look Ojciec!" he said pointing at the well-dressed group. "What are those children playing?"

  "That's called croquet, Joe. You hit a ball through those wire hoops and the first person to reach the peg wins," he replied.

  Matka sat on a bench under the shade of a large hickory tree while Ojciec took the boys into the stable. The stable hand found a small pony for Frank, but when Ojciec lifted him up to set him on the pony's back, Frank started to cry and said he did not want to ride the "real horse."

  "Just one then," Ojciec told the stable man. Joe picked out a tall, handsome chestnut pony, and his father gave him a boost. The man led the pony around a small ring a couple of times while he explained to Joe how to hold the reins and how to steer the pony with his feet. Then he told Joe he could take the pony out for a trail ride for an hour if he promised to follow the rules.

  "Stay clear of the bike track and the baseball diamonds, young man," the caretaker instructed.

  "Yes sir, I will," Joe said.

  Leaving Frank and his parents, Joe trotted off to explore the park. Joe headed south, the pony leading him along the shore of the river. He was on the Canadian side of the island and could look out over the water and see Amherstburg. It was much quieter here. Blue jays and cardinals sang in the trees as his pony clip-clopped along the sandy coast. As it was September, no swimmers had been brave enough to enter the water, and he had the beach to himself. Joe's small animal was gentle and obedient, and he had no trouble directing her toward the lighthouse that loomed ahead. The tower stood over forty feet in height and was flanked on one side by the light keeper's house. Joe steered the pony into a field of cornstalks and traveled down one of the rows to the bottom of the tower.

  "Hey, you!" Joe heard a voice shouting at him. "Hey, you! You can't bring that animal over here!"

  Joe turned toward the angry voice and saw a young boy marching toward him. Dismounting from the pony, Joe faced the hostile youth.

  "Gee, kid. I'm sorry. Didn't mean anything by it. Didn't hurt anything either. I'll take off. Just wanted to take a look at the lighthouse is all,"

  The boy neared. "That's our garden you just rode through, dummy. We don't need a bunch of pony dung fouling up our vegetables."

  "OK, I said sorry. You don't have to have a fit. Here, I'll give you my best marble if you don't tell no one I was here," Joe said and reached into his right pants pocket for one of the glass marbles he always carried. Palming a green one, he reached out to hand it to the boy.

  "Wow, that's a nice one. You sure?"

  "Yeah, don't want any trouble, and didn't mean to cause any. Now take it and I'll leave," Joe replied.

  "Gee, thanks. Sorry I yelled at you. I just get tired of people running around here like they own the place. I'm not supposed to say anything, but by the end of the summer it really wears on me. Name's Jimmy Hackett. My dad runs the lighthouse and me and my ma live here."

  "I'm Joe. Do you live here all year long? Don't you get lonesome in the winter?"

  "No, still gotta go to school. Take our boat over to Amherstburg in the mornings and back again after. When the river freezes I take our horse and sled over the ice. Only time I don't have to go is when it's storming bad or the ice is real thin."

  "You drive a boat by yourself?" Joe asked.

  "Sure. It's just a small thing. Not hard to steer."

  "You ever help your Pa in the lighthouse?"

  "Sure. All the time. He's a sailor too, so Ma and I got to tend the lights ourselves when he is gone. You want to go up and see?"

  "You bet I do!" Joe said excitedly. They tied the pony to the outside of the garden gate and headed toward a wooden door at the bottom of the tower. Jimmy turned the handle and led them into the dark stairwell. As they climbed the stairs Jimmy explained to Joe that his family had been running the lighthouse for over seventy years.

  "My great-grandfather was a ship's captain before he was appointed to operate the lighthouse. My great-grandmother got tired of him being gone all the
time, and she wanted him to apply to run the light when it was being built. But he didn't think he would get picked so he didn't try for the job. Well, she got real irritated and was sitting on her front porch with her dog, just fuming about her lazy husband, when she saw the governor of Upper Canada drive by in his carriage. All of a sudden the carriage stopped and the governor got out and walked up to the porch. He said, 'That's a fine dog you have, madam. Is it for sale?' So my great-grandmother said, 'No, hadn't thought of selling him. But my husband is a lake sailor, and if you appoint him as keeper to the Bois Blanc lighthouse you can have the dog.' So the Governor agreed, and we've been here ever since."

  "Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Too bad she had to give up the dog, though." replied Joe. Reaching the top stair, Joe stepped into the bright glass room and looked out over the water.

  "I can see forever. Hey, I think I can see my house all the way in Detroit."

  "Probably not quite that far, but on a clear day you can see almost seventeen miles," Jimmy replied. After he showed Joe how the light was lit and how it signaled ships in the river, they headed back down the stairs.

  "Wanna go down to the beach?" asked Jimmy. "Sometimes I can find old Indian spearheads that wash up on the shore."

  "Wish I could, but I'd better head back. My family's going to wonder what happened to me. Maybe I could meet you after we eat lunch."

  "Yeah, sounds good. I'll meet you by the north baseball diamond around one o'clock. OK?"

  "All right," Joe called, getting back on his pony and heading toward the stables. Joe found his family buying soft drinks at a small log cabin store that sold refreshments.

  "Have a good time, Joe?" his mother inquired.

  "Yes, ma'am. I met this boy who took me upstairs in the lighthouse, and I could see for miles! Thanks for letting me ride the pony, Matka."

  The foursome headed toward a shady picnic spot near the baseball diamond. "Let's watch the game while we eat our lunch, shall we?" said Matka.

  Ojciec took a blanket out of the basket and spread it on the grass under the trees. Matka handed everyone a ham and cheese sandwich on bread she had baked the day before. Joe took a sip of the lemonade his parents had bought for him and sat down on the blanket. The drink was cool and sweet and he had to sip slowly so he wouldn't drink it down in one gulp. Sitting on a small rise under the trees, they had a perfect view of the game that was already in progress.

  Joe pointed out some of the finer points of the game to his father. "See, Ojciec, that guy on first base starts to lead off when the pitcher is about to throw to the batter. If he gets a real good lead he can steal second base. But he's gotta be real fast, cause the pitcher can throw it to first or second and get him out." Ojciec continued to ask questions as he observed the game and Joe answered with best of his limited knowledge, having learned mostly on the playground and on the street in front of their house.

  The game became slightly heated when one of the players rounded third base and slid into home plate just as the catcher caught the ball coming from the infield. Shouting ensued and both teams stormed the plate and began to argue that the player was out or safe. After several tense moments, the player was deemed safe and the game continued. Joe explained that in professional leagues there were two umpires that determined the close calls.

  When he finished his lunch, Joe asked his parents if he could meet Jimmy down by the baseball field. Agreeing, they told him to meet them at the cafeteria at five o'clock. Joe hadn't known they were going to eat at the restaurant, and he felt as though clouds were riding beneath his small shoes as he ran down the hill toward the game. He found Jimmy already waiting for him behind the bleachers by the first base line.

  "Hi Jimmy. You want to watch the game?"

  "Nah, these guys aren't very good. Let's go try to find some arrowheads on the beach." The boys headed through the trees to cut across the island. The stillness of the grove encouraged a quiet atmosphere, and the two boys walked in friendly silence. Suddenly, Jimmy put his hand up, signaling Joe to stop. With a finger at his lips to let Joe know to be quiet, he moved off the little path into the brush. A mosquito buzzed in Joe's ear as he followed him into the small woods. Then, he heard what Jimmy had heard; the sound of a woman's laugh and a man's mumbled voice coming from within the copse.

  Jimmy led them closer, keeping out of sight of the voices. Hiding being a bush, Jimmy waved Joe over. Joe peered over the shrub and saw a young couple lying on a blanket between two trees. The young woman stood up and pulled on her long skirt over her petticoats; the man sat on the blanket buttoning his shirt. He leaned over and reached for the bottom of the lady's skirt and tried to pull it down in a teasing manner. "Stop Kurt! I have to get back before my mother notices I've been gone so long. Now help me button the back of my dress", the lady admonished, slapping the man's hand away.

  "All right, all right, Rose. Only if you promise to meet me here after supper." The man stood to help with the tiny buttons on the back of her frock.

  Jimmy grabbed Joe's arm and pulled him quietly back toward the path. When they were far away enough to speak safely, Jimmy said, "Well, I guess you can tell it's just not just a family getaway on Boblo Island, huh Joe?"

  Joe wasn't exactly sure what the couple had been doing before the boys had come across the couple's secret spot, but he thought he had an idea. Not wanting Jimmy to think he was immature, he played along. "Yeah, pretty funny. Hope she notices the leaves in her hair before she goes to meet her ma."

  "That was nothing. I've caught three different couples this summer. Pretty cheeky, if ya ask me. Their mothers think they are going off to have a sweet old time—get away from the city for a day—and then they meet their boyfriends in the woods and do all kinds of immodest things. This one time I was walking back from the cafeteria and saw two of them stark naked rolling around in the grass like two rabbits."

  The two boys walked out of the shade of the trees onto the breezy beach. "Come on, Joe. Let's go down toward the back docks. I found an arrowhead there last week." Running over the sand, they quickly came to a small dock at the back of the island and started searching the sand for Indian relics. Joe took his shoes off and set them in the grass so he could wade in the shallow water.

  "Ouch!" Joe yelled, grabbing his bare foot in his hand. "Something bit me!"

  "Let me see," said Jimmy coming over to take a look. "You didn't get bit, Joe! You stepped on an arrowhead in the sand. See?" he said, picking up the sharp stone and putting it in Joe's hand. Joe sat down on the grass and looked at the arrowhead. Carved to a point, it was shiny gray in color with jagged edges down the sides.

  "That's a really good one, Joe. Your feet make good spotters."

  "Ha, very funny. Well, the cut isn't too bad, I'll be all right. Can't wait to show the guys at school. They'll be so jealous." The boys sat looking at the arrowhead together until a small boat pulled up to the back dock.

  "That's the Papoose," Jimmy said. "She runs from here to Amherstburg."

  "How come there's only men getting on?" asked Joe.

  "They sneak over to the city to grab a pint of beer or two. They only stay an hour or so, while the women rest at the Women's Cottage. They get back before they're even missed."

  Joe watched the men board the Papoose. They were laughing and joking, clapping one another on the back as they headed out into the river. Then, a familiar face caught Joe's eye, and he realized his father was on board. Ojciec recognized his son, too, as the boat pulled away. A startled look crossed his face and then changed to a smile as he winked at Joe and waved goodbye. Joe realized that his father was inducting him into a secret man's world and understood that Ojciec trusted him not to tell his mother.

  "Hey, Joe, look at this dead walleye that washed up on the shore." Jimmy had wandered down the beach about twenty yards and Joe ran to catch up. The fish was lying on its side, and one of its eyes had been pulled out by a seagull.

  "Ewww… disgusting," said Joe as he touched the
scales of the smelly fish with his fingertips. Jimmy turned it over with a stick and insects climbed out of the hole where the fish had been bitten. Joe pushed the fish back into the water with the stick and they walked farther down the beach. The boys spent the rest of the afternoon together; they lay on the beach for a while talking about school, family and friends. Later they walked over to the playground and went down the slides and played on the swings. The boys pushed each other so hard on the small merry go-round they fell off laughing into the dirt.

  Jimmy lent Joe his bicycle and taught him how to ride. Joe got the hang of it pretty quickly, and they headed over to the bicycle track. The oval track was built to insure a slight angle at the turns and Joe was soon peddling around with the other cyclists. He was too small to give much of a challenge in any of the races, but he enjoyed himself just the same. After a while they walked to a second ball field and joined a game with several boys. Before long, Joe had to say goodbye to Jimmy.

  "Hey, Joe, sorry I was such a sourpuss when you were in the garden. I don't want to take your best marble. Here, I wanna give it back to you."

  "Keep it, Jimmy. It wasn't my best marble. I just told you that. I always carry a couple of old ones in my pocket just in case." Joe winked and smiled at his new friend. Turning away, he headed off toward supper.

  Joe found his family seated at a small wooden table in the sunlit dining room. His father was there, looking no worse for wear; and Matka and Frank were well rested from an afternoon nap at the Women's Cottage. They ordered perch dinners with potatoes and carrots. The menu advertised that the fish had been caught from the Detroit River that morning. While they waited, Joe told his family about his adventures with Jimmy, careful to leave out seeing the Papoose ride off to Canada. Matka said she had found a lovely lounge chair to take a rest in on the porch of the Women's Cottage and Frank had taken a nap in one of the baby hammocks that hung in the shade near there.