PITKIN AVENUE

It was a fall afternoon, in the early 1950’s. The air was getting colder as the afternoon wore on. Mom and Aunt Marie strolled down the crowded street, with it’s heavy traffic and crowded sidewalks, teeming with merchants, a baby carriage for each, in control.

Like most women of the era, the two sisters were looking for bargains, and the Jewish merchants that inhabited the stores and stands, were just the guys to give them the deals. Mom was a little more outspoken than my aunt, and never missed an opportunity to be so, so protocol was: “Let’s make a deal.”

The stores themselves were either walk-ins, or you stepped down a couple of steps to enter, and when you did, the places were filled with merchandise, all being hawked by the merchants.

The air although crisp and cool, smelled of knishes and roasted chestnuts, there were frankfurter wagons that competed with the chestnuts and knishes. The knishes were my favorite! Hot, salted and delicious on a fall afternoon. One of life’s real pleasures; I do not see anymore.

Coming to a shop, we descended the small steps and Mom approached a dress rack. Looking at the dresses, the owner of the store followed her as she looked. Picking out a dress, she inquired:

“How much?”

Aunt Marie stood off to the side to watch a deal go down. The merchant, looking both to his left and then his right, responded:

“For you lady, $12.00!”

“Is that the best you can do?”

“Lady, I have to make a living! I’ll tell you what, being you are a nice lady… $10.00!”

TEN DOLLARS! TSK, TSK, TSK, MAKE YOUR WIFE WEAR IT!”

Yes, Mom was indeed, ‘outspoken!’


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This is the first second from my book, Tolik's Odyssey. Next week: the third chapter.