February 1964, Brooklyn, New York. Rudy was home after three months exiled in Puerto Rico. It was a bitter-sweet return, not at all what he had expected; his girlfriend, Dora, had called to say she would be over soon to return the ring he had given her. She had hooked up with a new crowd while he was gone, and she was ready to move on.
On the home front, things were not so good. Rudy’s dad and mom had separated with the women folk staying with an old family friend in Jamaica, NY. Rudy had been signed out of school just before his exile, so he now had the days to himself. He had fallen into the daily routine of commuting into Manhattan for work at a store. It was tedious work, but it gave him pocket money.
On the other hand, he still had his core group of friends. The Sinners were still together and overjoyed to have him back. Ralph invited Rudy to the Friday dance at the local Catholic church. All he had to do was sit thru a youth service, and then he could enjoy the dance for a couple of hours. “Who knows?” said Ralph, “maybe you will meet someone new. I can’t say for sure since I always go with Eileen, and I don’t pay any mind to other girls.” He winked.
Rudy was no stranger to Catholic churches; although he had been brought up a Baptist, he thought it would be fun to piss his mother off by attending mass from time to time. However, this was the first time he had participated in a Youth sermon, and he found it incredibly dull. The boys and girls had been segregated to separate sides of the church, making it difficult to size up the local talent. Finally, the service was finished, and they were released to go to the recreation room and the main event they were all there for. As Ralph collected his girlfriend, Eileen. Who was of the Jewish persuasion and
exemplified the Jewish American Princess (JAP) in her every attitude, Rudy could not help but wonder how many Catholics there actually were in attendance. As far as Rudy knew, Ralph, Bobby, and he were the only Latinos in the group. He wondered how the evening would turn out. It was starting rather slowly. Not that he could not find dance partners, just not anything that looked promising. For the first two weeks, things remained uninteresting. Rudy thought about collecting Ralph and company to blow this joint on the third outing when he suddenly saw her.
There, 
On the other side of the recreation room, sat the most beautiful girl he had seen in a very long time. She was a slim, petite, olive-skinned vision in white. Dressed in a white dress with a pleated skirt, she sat with her eyes downcast.
What the hell is she doing sitting there alone? Wondered Rudy.
Suddenly, she looked up and met his eyes. It was as though the entire world had faded out when their eyes met. Rudy was just a little embarrassed to be caught staring, but now that he saw her face full-on, he was pulled into her eyes and across the room. As he crossed the floor and walked towards her, he grew more excited at the prospect of speaking to her. Amazingly he realized that she was also moving across the floor to meet him. They moved seamlessly into each other’s arms and started dancing. After a few moments, she smiled up at him and said, “Hi, I’m Gypsy, and I am enchanted to make your acquaintance.” Rudy was uncharacteristically tongue-tied as he exclaimed, ”
I’m Rudy, and you are the most beautiful girl I have ever met!”
Rudy suddenly noticed the fringed white scarf she wore, which did indeed make her look like a Gypsy. He also noticed that, like him, she was of Latin descent.
Gypsy looked up into his eyes and whispered “¿Eres tú mi amor?” (Is it you may love?}
Rudy had not expected to be addressed in Spanish by this enchanting stranger.
Gypsy’s face broke into the most beautiful smile at his words. And Rudy basked in the warmth of her beauty.
Rudy had never had much luck with girls of his race before, so the exchange really took him by surprise.
Gypsy graciously thanked him for the dance and headed back toward her bench seat.
No way, missy, thought Rudy, I am not letting you get away from me so easily…
Rudy reached out and captured her hand and escorted her back to her seat. He did not miss the delighted smile on her face when he reached for her hand.
Gladys took off and folded her scarf, placing it on the seat next to her where a young Latin boy was sitting. She patted the seat next to her, indicating Rudy should sit, and said, “Rudy,” “may I introduce my brother, Joey? And please, can you sit for a moment.”
As Rudy sat next to her, Ralph came by with Eileen. Rudy made introductions all around.
Rudy and Gladys got to know each other over the next few minutes. She told him that her name was Gladys Perez. He discovered that, like him, she was a second-generation Puerto Rican with strict parents steeped in old-world customs. This was her first trip to the weekly dances, and she did not know many people here. She was a student at Erasmus Hall High School, and she lived only a few blocks away. She confided she was only permitted here if her brother attended as a chaperone. As they sat there talking, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Patti LaBelle began playing, so Rudy stood up and held his hand out to Gladys. She smiled and took his hand, allowing him to lead her out to the dance floor again. Rudy took Gladys in his arms and led her in the slow dance. He was enchanted by her scent, which reminded him of a mixture of spices. She felt like she belonged in his arms. Rudy had not felt this happy since the days when he and Mary had danced in Lansing, Michigan.
Rudy & Gypsy found that there was nothing that they could not complement each other to on the dance floor. From the pounding “Glad All Over” by the Dave Clark Five to ‘the romantic ‘Til by The Angels, they just could not get enough of each other.
All too soon, an announcement was made that the evening was over. Rudy thanked Gladys for the dance and told her he would like to see her again. Gladys agreed that she would like to get together again as well. They exchanged phone numbers, and Gladys surprised him by kissing him on the cheek. As Ralph joined him, he grinned at Rudy, who was touching his cheek where he had received Gypsy’s kiss.
“I take it the evening was not a total loss,” grinned Ralph. ”
Do you know her?” Rudy asked,
“Gypsy? I have seen her around from time to time. Always with her brother.”
“So, she is not attached?” Asked Rudy with a grin.
“Not that I know of, dude,” Ralph replied.
They left the church and walked one block to Ralph’s house. Rudy walked as though his head was in the clouds and Eileen poked fun at him, never having seen him this way.
When they entered Ralph’s house, Marty took one look at Rudy and shouted “Shit, he found someone at the dance!”
Everyone knew of Marty’s crush on Rudy and how she had actually thought she could fill the void left by Dora.
Ralph’s mother smiled at Rudy and said simply “Is this so?”
To which Rudy simply nodded.
Rudy had invited Gypsy to join their group at Jahn’s Ice Cream Parlor on Flatbush Avenue for their weekly get-together. She was readily accepted by the group and even knew a few of them from school.
As Ralph recounted their meeting on the dance floor the previous night, he told the gang that their meeting reminded him of the dance at the gym from West Side Story when Tony met Maria. He also mentioned how Rudy and Gypsy had monopolized the dance floor. This caused both Rudy and Gypsy to look puzzled as neither one had thought this was so.,
Chris and Marie went out of their way to welcome Gypsy to the group.
Before long, it became evident that Rudy and Gypsy had become an item. Fortunately, it was a mild spring which gave the young lovers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the weather together.
It was not long before the gang began meeting at the basement recreation room in Gypsies’ Apartment building which was normally set aside for social gatherings. Her father was the Superintendent of the building.
Rudy spent all of his spare time after work with Gypsy. Gypsy confided in Rudy that she suffered from Epilepsy. The revelation made no difference to him, and she suffered no ill effects in all of their time together.
Gladys joined his friends to celebrate his 17th Birthday, where Rudy asked Gypsy if she would be his steady girl and presented her with his ring. She was happy to accept the ring and gifted him with a copy of The Crystals LP “He*s A Rebel,” on which she wrote both their names. (He still has it.)
He could not remember a happier birthday celebration. Rudy and Gypsy were so happy, and it was as if they were living in a fairy tale. By day he would go to work, and she would attend school. They would interact with their intimate group of friends in the evening with a frequent time-out to bask solely in each other’s company. Then came that fateful Tuesday in April when The Truant Officer destroyed their lives.
Originally published Jan 31, 2017, 7:17 PM as “Rudy and the Gypsy.”
a related Spotify playlist can be found at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1icZyaUZM4dECVoX87vUFt?si=uxeUc81uSS-o5cyLHiLBHg