***The Roots Is The Toots- The Music That Got Them Through The Great Depression And World War II…

 

 

…and memories of sitting after school in Doc’s Drugstore (the one across from the school not the one up in Adamsville Center-that’s for old people who need medicine or something). Sitting at the soda fountain counter (or better, always better, in the “saved” booths, saved for the couples) dreamily throwing nickels into that jukebox, sipping on a Cherry Coca-Cola, watching an odd couple or two, boys and girls, dancing, no that is too staid a word, jitter-bugging to some bop-bop Benny Goodman swing tune as if the world depended on each and every move. This day she sitting, single, at the counter talking to Doris, single, about, well you know about boys, boys the topic of the day from sixteen- year old teenage girl teenage time eternity, and just then the subject of frets. Great Depression table hungers and World War II rationing or not frets about who liked  who in the social pecking order of the school, who was holding hands with who, and most importantly who was “cheating” on who while Johnnie was in CCC camp or Jimmie was in some wasteland sullen boot camp. The life-blood of teen life like the man said, music humming in the background.

Talking to Doris too about what to do about them, boys, you know about how far to go, or to go at all, or how to hold off some sidewalk Lothario while pining away for that certain guy who was making his eyes sore looking her way (at least that is what he told his boys in the locker room) but was too shy to speak a word to her. And, and, too, hold the presses, whether she should go to the North Adamsville Annual Autumn Frolic with Jimmie from across the street. Jimmy with the smooth moves on the dance floor, and off. Or wait until that shy boy gets up his courage or goes blind looking.  

She figures she can hold Jimmy off on the dance floor part but she has two left- feet and only Doris knows that sad fact and is sworn to eternal secrecy. That is why she is holding out a little for shy boy knowing (knowing through that “intelligence” grapevine only the young can figure out the code to) that he too has two left-feet (or two right she forgot which). Then Jimmy comes in, comes gliding in as if on cue to the last beat and asks her, yes her, to dance….and she does not too badly, not too badly at that. He asks again on that upcoming dance. Okay, yeah was her faux sullen reply. Now she wondered as he headed out the door about her resolve on that off floor stuff…