HIS IS A SNEAK PREVIOEW. Just a look beneath the hood as it were!👀👀
Author’s forward: As many of you are aware, these articles were originally written and posted to Facebook Notes during 2016-2017. Subsequently Facebook (in it’s questionable wisdom) arbitrarily terminated it’s Notes app. Having discovered this disaster too late to recover more than two of the sixteen chapters, I decided to rewrite them from scratch. I started with chapter 14 which I had partially recovered. In retrospect, I should have started with chapter 1. I then proceeded to write chapters 1-5 which led chronologically to the events previously detailed in chapter 14. Now come the decision, renumber the existing pages to fit the Chronology, or recount the events from a different perspective. During my first run at this series, my sister , a big fan of Rudy’s adventures, said to me “Hey bro, wouldn’t it be nice if you could write a musical about Rudy’s adventures!” My little sister knows what a huge influence pop music has had, and continues to have, on my life. So I thought why not give it a go. So little sister, this one’s for you.
February 1964, Brooklyn New York. Rudy was home after 3 months exiled in Puerto Rico.
(Daddy's home- Shep & the limelites) -CAST
🎵 It wasn’t on a sunday (monday and tuesday went by) It wasn’t on a tuesday afternoon (all I could do was cry) But I made a promise that you treasured I made it back home to you 🎵
(Dear one) Larry Finnegan -DORA
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.
🎵 dear one, there's somethin' that I have to tell you
Dear one, there’s somethin’ that I have to say, yay-yay Dear one, he’s tall, dark, well you know how it is And dear one, he stole my heart away Ah please don’t cry, (please don’t cry ) try not to be sad (try not to be sad) I tried and I tried (i tried and I tried) not to hurt you bad (not to hurt you bad) I tried so hard (i tried so hard) not to give in (not to give in) But I lost my head and I lost my heart and I lost your love to him 🎵
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. Could be, who knows?
(Something’s Coming-West Side Story) RALPH
🎵 There’s something due any day I will know right away, soon as it shows It may come cannonballing down through the sky Gleam in its eye, bright as a rose Who knows? It’s only just out of reach Down the block, on a beach, under a tree I got a feeling there’s a miracle due Gonna come true, coming to me Could it be? Yes, it could Something’s coming, something good, if I can wait Something’s coming, I don’t know what it is But it is gonna be great 🎵
I can’t say for sure, since I always go with Eileen so I don’t pay any mind to other girls.” 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 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 boring work, but it gave him pocket-money 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 attended a Youth sermon and he found it incredibly boring. The boys and girls had been segregated to separate sides of the church making it difficult to size up the local talent. Finally, it was over and they were released to go to the recreation room and the main event they were all here 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 out rather slowly. Not that he could not find dance partners, just nothing that looked promising. This was how it went for the first two weeks. On the third outing, Rudy was thinking about collecting Ralph and company in order to blow this joint when he suddenly saw her.
(Some Enchanted Evening-Jay & the Amewricans) -CAST
🎵 Some enchanted evening You may see a stranger You may see a stranger Across a crowded room And somehow you know You know even then That somewhere you’ll see her Again and again
Some enchanted evening Someone may be laughing You may hear her laughing Across a crowded room And nite after nite As strange as it seems The sound of her laughter will Sing in your dreams 🎵
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. 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.
🎵 (Some enchanted evening you may see a stranger) Across a crowded room Then run to her arms And make her your own Or all through your life You may dream all alone 🎵
They moved seamlessly into each other’s arms and started dancing. After a few moments she smiled at him and said ““Hi, I’m Gypsy and I am enchanted to make your acquaintance.” Rudy was uncharacteristically tongue-tied as he blurted, I’m Rudy, and you are most beautiful girl I have ever met!” Rudy suddenly noticed the white scarf she wore which did indeed make her look like a Gypsy. He also noticed that she was also of Latin descent. Rudy had never been attracted to girls of his own race before. Gypsy thanked him for the dance and headed back to her bench seat. No way missy thought Rudy I am not letting you get away from me so easily. Gladys took off her scarf and folded it, placing it on the seat next to her where a young Latin boy was sitting. “Rudy,” she said “may I introduce my brother Joey? And please sit for a moment.”
(Stay Awhile-Dusty Springfield) -GYPSY
🎵 Stay awhile, what’s your hurry? Stay awhile, ’cause I worry, oh Any time that you’re out of sight
Treat me right, must you run now? For the night’s just begun now, oh Honey please, won’t you stay awhile with me 🎵
As Rudy sat next to her Ralph came by with Eileen and he introduced them. For the next few minutes, Rudy and Gladys got to know each other. She told him that her name was Gladys Perez. He discovered that like he, she was second generation Puerto Rican with very strict parents. This was her first trip to the weekly dances and she did not know very many people here. She was a student at Erasmus Hall High School and she lived only a few blocks away. 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 and allowed him to lead her out to the dance floor again. Rudy took Gladys in his arms and led her in a 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. All too soon, the song ended and it was announced 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.
(When will I see you again-Three Degrees) – GYPSY
🎵 When will I see you again? When will our hearts beat together? Are we in love or just friends? Is this my beginning or is this the end? (Is this the end?)
When will I see you again. 🎵
They exchanged phone numbers and then 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 smile.
“Not that I know of dude.” Ralph replied.
(I Met Her in Church-The Boxtops)- RUDY
🎵 I met her in church; I met her in church Hallelujah! 🎵
They left the church and walked the one block to Ralph’s house. Rudy invited Gypsy to join his 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 group that our meeting reminded him of the dance at the gym from West Side Story when Tony met Maria. Before long, it became obvious that Rudy and Gypsy were an item. It was not long before the group began meeting at the rec room in her Apartment building where her father was the Superintendent. Rudy spent all of his spare time after work with Gypsy. Gypsy confided in Rudy that she suffered from Epilepsy. This made no difference to him and she suffered no ill effects in all of their time together. She joined his friends for the celebration of his 17th Birthday, where Rudy asked Gypsy if she would be his steady girl and presented her with his ring.
To Be Continued………..