HAPPY BIRTHDAY

THE Rat Cop
Happy Birthday

“Come on, Dickie hurry up; we need to get to the Ferry, it’s your special day. Your God Mother Dorothea is taking you to a movie in Boston for your Birthday. Aren’t you excited?” ‘Yes, Mommie, what’s a Ferry?” “It’s the boat that takes cars and people from East Boston where Logan Airport is, to Boston across the Boston Harbor. We could also go through the Sumner Tunnel if we had a car or use the MTA at Maverick Station. Dotty works at the Coast Guard Building near the Ferry so you get a special treat and it only cost a penny. Cars have to pay ten cents. Sailing across the Harbor to Boston was very exciting for a five year old. “Ma, look we can see our house and the candy factory.” “You see all those big ships, that’s the Charlestown Navy Yard where your father works. Now see those ships behind us, that’s Bethlehem Steel where you Dad used to work.” “how come Dad’s not in the Navy like Tommy and Johnnies Father’s.” “When your Father was little, like you, his Dad was entertaining the kids on the fourth of July. He was lighting off little firecrackers and the kids loved it. When one didn’t explode his older brothers would run to I bring it back to Grandpa. It became a contest. Your Dad pushed both boys to win the prize dud. As he held it up to claim victory; the slow wick was still smoldering and exploded in his left eye. He has a partial sight problem and it kept him out of the war. That’s why you must never trust fireworks.” “Look Ma, we’re going to crash.” The huge ferry slows, turns in place and is now backing in between the pylons. “Come on Mom, hurry, hurry.” “Slow down dear, we can’t get off until the gates open.” Up the cobble stoned street and around the corner we go spotting the Flags outside the Navel Building. We walk into the busy office and see my beautiful Aunt. “Oh my God Mary, he’s beautiful. Come here darling, give me a kiss.” Dick flies into her arms as the entire office girls clamor around. “He’s so cute,” says one girl. “Let me hold him,” says another. “Come here,” says Ruthie Dottie’s best friend; “I have something for you, sweetie.” “All right, settle down girls, there’s a war on you know,” says someone in charge. “Give me a kiss,” says Mom; I have to get home to the kids. I know you’ll have a beautiful day with your Aunt. Thanks Dot, have a great day. See you later, honey.” The twenty minutes seems forever as Dick amuses himself with paper and pencil with a few crayons. The peppy walk up town is exciting after all the “Good byes’ and “Have fun’ and wishes to “Please come back another day, cutie”. Downtown Boston was a trip in it self back then, there were no Malls and everyone and his brother came in town to shop. People here and there, people every where, it was magic squeezing through the throngs of bodies. “Here we are, the beautiful Metropolitan Theater,” announces Dotty; are you excited?” Certainly a question she didn’t need to ask. “Look at all the kids,” said Dick “What’s going on?” “oh I didn’t tell you, the surprise is Walt Disney’s newest arrival, Pinocchio.” “Thank you, thank you Dotty; all my friends are talking about it.” “Lets see, we’ll get some popcorn, a drink and what kind of candy is your favorite Darling?” “Baby Ruth,” shouts Dick in all his excitement. Hustling down the aisle we get a seat before the mobs of kids pour in. Not able to reach the floor his feet dangle and he starts kicking them in the air, rubbing his thighs together, a form of male masturbation. Suddenly all the noisy chatter dies down as the lights dim and the screen lights up with Previews of Coming Attractions. A loud simultaneous cheer strikes the walls of the beautifully adorned theater more elaborate than any of our shows back in Eastie. Following the previews is a News Reel and shock and terror strike little Dicks’ heart. All the excitement ends as the propaganda on the screen shows a huge German tank, rumbling over a small baby crawling in the road. The little boy is traumatized for life. Screaming and sobbing uncontrollably, Dotty tries to console the child but the ugly scene will not go away. “Come on, we’ll go out in the lobby for a few minutes.” “Sob, sob, I want to go home. I want my Mommy,” cries the little boy. Watching all the excited lucky late arrivals serves to calm Dick, somewhat. He is still whimpering. “How about some ice cream?” suggests Dotty, I’m sure the Pinocchio movie is going to make you forget the news, don’t you think?” “I want to go home,” Dick sobs. “Oh Honey we probably won’t get another opportunity to celebrate your birthday because I’m so busy with the holidays. Let’s give it a big boy try?” “OK, I’ll try.” We walk back in as the credits are musically orchestrated in fantasy and fable. Dick settles in and enjoys the little bug, ‘Jimney Cricket”
Things go smoothly until the evil Stromboli kidnaps the wooden headed mannequin and enslaves him to perform against his wishes. All the puppet wants to do; is return to Geppetto his creator. As the wagon rumbles in the smashing, crashing violent storm; the red and yellow lightening flashes cause minor brain seizures throughout the children in the theater. Years later in an article in the New York Times it was reported that 600 Japanese children viewing a movie were affected by the red flashes across the screen.
Still twenty years later than the news article; while assisting in a child care program in Canada; two of the children were again affected by Stromboli’s flash scene. Both children were already being clinically treated for Autism. At the time of the red flash, both children would start screaming; throwing things and just carrying on.
I think with this resulting information over the years; the impact could very well have caused me permanent trauma. Added to the baby crushing incident; it was a very ‘RED’ letter birthday.