Summer Entertainment

The years went by rapidly. During summer vacations I would play mostly at Vera's house, and sometimes with other friends of mine. Occasionally I would visit girls from out of town at their hosts' house. These would always welcome me (except for one occasion - about that a bit later).

Once, I joined some girls to visit Vera Rosenbaum, a guest from Debrecen of the Herskowits family. One of the girls' family owned Puspokladany's only theater hall, and we decided to present a play of our own. I wrote one of the verses. Each of us recruited friends who were willing to pay to see us perform, and a small audience turned up to watch our play - on stage at a real theater! When we divided our income, we each had about enough to buy an ice-cream cone.

Some time later, I organized a performance together with one friend, Alice Weis. A capacity crowd of friends and some grown-up neighbors filled our small courtyard. Of those who attended, I most remember Mrs. Karoby, who always treated us kindly. Everybody enjoyed the performance, and both us "actors" received our fair share.

Now about the rude reception I once received during summer vacation. I made friends with a fine, attractive girl visiting from Hajdunanas. Together with some other girl friends we set a time to visit her one afternoon, but she asked me to also visit her in the morning. As her relatives owned a grocery store, I had to overcome my bashfulness and go there first to ask if I could see her. The proud old lady who tended the store scrutinized me thoroughly, her eyes staring disgustedly at a wound I had on my leg. Then she told me my friend is not home. I felt ashamed and insulted. My pride hurt very much because I knew the old lady lied to me.

© David Muskal, 2001