by June Ahern
Maggie turned to the mirror to brush her hair, letting the bottle pass by her.
June went to Mary’s side. “Here, want some of my candy?” she offered.
“Go back to the movie,” Mary said, brushing her off.
June saw an image of a dark, low energy circle around Mary’s head and cover her face. With a shake of her head, June dismissed the vision. She already decided not to have those visions any longer because they caused her too much trouble. Unfortunately, the effort of trying to stop them gave June sharp headaches and nauseating jitters in her belly. Once again the bottle was at her sister’s lips. Not wanting to see any more, June left.
* * * * *
Chapter 24
THE SURPRISE
AS DISAPPOINTED AS JUNE was at having to leave halfway through “Darby O’Gill and the Little People,” she was also very excited about her surprise. The other girls had already left before Annie, June, and Brian emerged from the Castro Theater. Hands securely clasped together, they ran across the street, dodging a honking car. Annie stopped at the door of The Big Jive Coffee Shop and smiled at June. Awed by the prospect of hanging out with the big kids, she asked, “Is this my birthday surprise?”
“Yep! It’ll be a lot of fun!” said Annie. She bent on one knee to smooth down her little sister’s unruly curls.
Brian chimed in, “Neat surprise, huh?”
The birthday girl was very honored her sisters were finally accepting her as a big kid. Maybe they’d stop bossing her around so much. But looking at Annie, she sighed and knew that wouldn’t happen.
The Big Jive was jumping with teenagers from The Valley (as the neighborhood was called) and friends from nearby districts. June stood sandwiched between Annie and Brian at the entryway of the coffee shop, frozen in place. The sound of boisterous teens shouting above blaring music and the smell of fried foods assaulted June’s senses. She put her hands up to her ears to stop the sharply deafening noise. Afraid she would look silly, she lowered them and tried to steady herself by mouthing the words of her favorite pop tune, “Venus,” playing on the jukebox. Silently she sang, “Venus, Goddess of love that you are.”
Oblivious to her sister’s situation, Annie stepped into the sea of teens. June saw her stop briefly at the counter to talk to Patti and Mickey. Brian bumped June as he moved past her to follow Annie. After that, bodies closed behind them, hiding them from her view.
Taking one step into the dense crowd, she faltered, acutely aware she was so little amongst the tall teens. Determined to get to her sisters, she took a deep breath, lowered her head, and pushed against the crushing restraint of people.
“Angel, if you can hear me, please help!” she prayed. At that very moment, Jeannie’s hand came between the bodies to clasp her wrist, jerking her along.
Before she knew it, she was in front of her gang’s table. Everyone was so busy chattering that they took no notice of her. Suddenly, Maggie and Loretta jumped up from the booth. “Surprise, June!” they sang out in unison. Jeannie told June, “Scoot on down there.” The birthday girl slid across the yellow vinyl booth to the far wall. Brian sat across from her. She was handed a large menu just as a waitress arrived to take their orders. It was a usual fare of cheeseburgers, fries, and Cokes.
“That it, girls?” said the waitress, scooping up the menus in one quick motion.
“I want a cheese sandwich and milk, please,” a squeaky voice shouted out.
The waitress squinted over her jeweled winged eyeglasses to see a small girl squished in the corner. She cocked her ear to the side to hear past the deafening noise, “What’d ya say, doll?”
Annie, sitting on the outside of the booth, repeated the birthday girl’s order. The waitress nodded wearily, confirming it, “Yeah okay, hon. Cheese on white. Milkshake.”
June hadn’t eaten fried food or meat for the past year. She told her sisters it was bad to eat dead animals. At first her mother fretted her youngest wouldn’t grow properly without meat. But she finally accepted nothing would budge the girl’s decision, especially after June had refused the family’s favorite Friday dinner of fish and chips because it was cooked in lard made of animal fat. Besides June’s food dislikes, she had a list of noises, smells, and other things that adversely affected her senses. Her sisters would just roll their eyes and call her a kook.
Settling down in the booth, June began to enjoy her birthday surprise. She took in the exciting fun around her. Their booth was like a beehive, buzzing with laughter and talking. Teens in booths on either side leaned over the plump stuffed seats, adding to the hubbub. Maggie told everyone it was her little sister’s birthday party. Rounds of “Happy Birthday” were sung until the words swam in June’s head. Loretta handed her some coins and told her what songs to play on the small jukebox attached to the wall next to their booth. When Loretta turned away, Brian and June read over the list and picked what they liked. The others really didn’t notice because they knew all the songs on the jukebox and would sing a few lines from each.
Giddy from all the attention, June felt as though she were floating above the group. She thought this had to be the best day of her life!
When Dave sauntered through the door, June immediately focused on him as though her eyes were beams beckoning to him. He looked directly at their booth with an expression of sheer joy lasting only a moment. He quickly dropped his hooded eyes and slicked back the sides of his blond hair. Casually, the tall youth slipped into the crowd. Although girls grabbed at him, he never let anyone stop him as he moved forward to their booth. June snuck a peek at Annie, who still hadn’t noticed he was only a few feet away from her.
Maggie was the first to begin singing when the Fleetwood’s’ song “Come Softly to Me” began to play. Their booth became quiet as she sang on with her beautiful voice rising above the ruckus of the restaurant. Annie joined in. She closed her eyes and sang, “I’ve waited so long for your kisses.
Come to me from up, from up above.”
The group of teen girls sang the chorus. At the end of the song, Annie opened her eyes to see Dave standing above her. She flushed a deep crimson and trembled.
Seeing Annie and Dave locked in a gaze, June experienced a sensation of lightness. Her breath became shallow and her eyelids half closed. Suddenly, a sound like a shrill whistle pierced her ears. For a moment, she felt dizzy. A voice within her said, “Let your feelings show you a picture.” She remembered how Mrs. G had taught her to let her feelings form an image. She closed her eyes and saw a picture of her mother looking up adoringly at the shadowy outline of a very tall man whose hair was red, like her own.
A sharp kick on her shin beneath the table broke her trance. Brian was frowning at her. She heard a deep voice saying, “Happy Birthday.” She looked up to see Dave lean across the table and let go of a crumbled brown paper bag. His hips had rested briefly against Annie’s shoulder. He slowly eased off her and drew back his six-foot-two frame. Then he lightly laid a hand on her shoulder and said “See ya later,” before leaving their booth.
Perspiration popped out on Annie’s upper lip. Her body flushed hot. Her heart thumped, her nipples hardened against her sweater and her pelvis tingled. This unusual feeling invading her body frightened her. She couldn’t say a word; neither did anyone else. In stunned silence, everyone at the table stared at her until Maggie, with an eyebrow raised and tongue flickering across her full lips, inquired devilishly, “Did it feel good?”
June leaned an elbow into the center of the table to get a bird’s eye view of the moonstruck Annie.
With eyes downcast and a small smile on her lips, Annie answered, “Really good,” stretching out the last word before hiding her giggles in her hands.
Amazed at Annie’s candor Loretta gasped in shock. “You felt it?” The older kids around the table erupted in peals of laughter.
“Let’s see what Dave got you,” Brian said enthusiastically, ignoring the girls’ silliness.
Too busy jabbering about boys, the girls took no n
otice as June unfolded the bag and peeked inside. Shoving in her hand, she pulled out a 45 record. Her very first one! Excitedly, she announced the title, “Little Space Girl.”
Seeing the record, the others quieted down. “What the heck is that song? I never heard of it,” Mary said disparagingly.
Brian looked at her as though she was from Mars. “It’s really funny. Like the Chipmunk song. You never heard it?” he asked, surprised.
“Kid stuff,” Mary snorted.
“Yeah, like you’re sooo cool. What’s the word?” Maggie taunted her, remembering the Thunderbird song they had sung in the Ladies Room at the Castro Theater.
“Shut up,” Mary snarled and tossed a straw at her.
Annie raised a hand to end the bantering. “June, that’s really nice.”
“Here’s another one,” Loretta said. She handed the birthday girl a small, neatly wrapped package. Carefully removing the wrapping, June found two white hankies with small yellow daisies embroidered on them.
“I heard they’re your favorite flowers,” Loretta said.
“They are. Thanks,” June said shyly and kissed Loretta’s cheek.
Over the mess of plates and tall malt glasses, Jeannie handed June a rolled scroll with a tartan ribbon tied around it.
“We made it for you. Happy Birthday,” Brian said proudly.
June tugged off the ribbon and slowly rolled out the scroll. On the top of the page was a pen and ink drawing of a stately woman dressed in Roman clothing with a wreath of flowers around her head. A full moon was behind her. Beneath the drawing was the word “Juno” written in calligraphic writing. Below that read, “Optima Maxima. The Great Mother. The best and greatest of the Goddesses.”
Happily surprised with the Callaghans’ gift, June exclaimed, “Wow! Is this about me?”
“It’s where your name came from. I looked it up,” Brian said, happy with his best friend’s reaction. “Bernice has got plenty of books about goddesses.” Bernice had a collection of books on many cultures and religions the little kids had often poured through to giggle at the pictures of naked tribes people.
“Yeah, you’re named after a really tough goddess. She’s like the most powerful of the Roman goddesses,” Jeannie said proudly.
“I know about goddesses,” Loretta giggled between slurps of her Coke. “When I went to Italy to see my grandparents, I saw statues of them. A lot were naked. You saw everything.”
“The Romans and Greeks had goddesses and gods to help them in life. Like you Catholics have saints,” said Jeannie.
“They were superstitious,” Annie said prissily.
Jeannie guffawed, “And you guys aren’t? What about believing in a saint to watch over your travels and another to help you find stuff you lose? Isn’t that superstitious?”
“People prayed to the goddesses like you do to God’s Mother,” Brian told June.
“Maybe I’ll pray to the goddess Juno too.” June studied the scroll thoughtfully.
“Ooh, pagan stuff! Daddy was right, you are a pagan!” Mary kidded her sister.
“A pagan? How come she’s at Catholic school?” Loretta asked looking bewildered.
“If it was up to St. Pius, she wouldn’t be there. She said June’s a witch,” Maggie added.
“Yeah. Better be careful, Loretta. She’ll put a spell on you,” Mary said and made a scary face at their puzzled friend.
“How’d that old nun know if you’re a witch?” Loretta asked.
“Probably one herself,” Jeannie said sneeringly.
“No, she’s a bitch,” Mary laughed loudly at her own comment. June looked at her sister puzzled why she seemed so giddy.
“Swearing again? Cut it out or I’ll tell Daddy,” Annie scolded her disobedient sister.
Mary folded her arms across her chest and slumped down. “I’ll tell Daddy about Dave,” she retorted.
Jeannie interrupted Annie’s response. “No jiving? She really called you a witch?” she asked June.
Not wanting to ruin her birthday celebration by talking about the mean nun, the birthday girl kept her eyes on her scroll and ignored the question.
Jeannie didn’t wait long for an answer. “Do you know that the Catholics took most of their major holidays from the pagans? Did you ever ask St. Pius what bunnies and eggs have to do with Easter?
Annie said testily, “You think you know so much about religious history, but you don’t even go to church.”
“Sadie and Bernice know all about that kind of stuff and about witches too,” said Brian.
“Are witches as wicked as they say?” Loretta inquired, narrowing her dark Sicilian eyes.
“That’s bullshit!” Jeannie said hotly. In a calmer voice she said, “Witches do a lot of good things. They can heal with plants and stuff. And they have special powers. Some can see things others can’t.”
June thought about Mrs. G and wondered if she had been a witch.
“June can be a good witch, huh, Jeannie?” Brian said.
“May as well. She’s a bad Catholic,” Mary suggested mischievously.
“And they dance like crazy people around a fire and cast spells,” Annie added mockingly.
“Yep. They do spells. We read how to do one,” Brian said, getting the full attention of the girls.
“Zip it.” His sister pulled her finger across her lips.
June looked up from the scroll and asked Jeannie, “Can you do a spell?”
Aware the other girls were waiting to hear more, Jeannie said, “I shouldn’t say too much, with you guys being Catholics and all.”
“We can keep a secret. Tell us, Jeannie,” Maggie said in a hushed voice.
“Yeah, okay. When you cast a spell you have to be careful and follow a ritual.”
“What’s that mean?” Maggie’s green eyes shone with excitement.
Jeannie pushed dishes aside and spread her arms across the table to pull the group closer. All heads, including Annie’s, leaned into the center of the table.
“You know how you guys have rituals at your church?” Jeannie said. They nodded, eyes wide. “Well, they use candles and incense and stuff and say magical words, like the special things you say at Mass in that strange language.”
“Latin,” Annie said.
“Yeah, okay. Witches have special ceremonies at special times of the year. You know, like Halloween.”
“It means holy eve. It’s before All Saints Day,” Annie said, giving her helpful input.
“What other holidays are pagan?” Maggie asked, playing with the cold fries on her plate.
“Tell her about the May one. I heard Sadie say they use a stag,” Brian snickered.
Jeannie said, “Maybe I shouldn’t say any more.”
“Come on, tell us some more. Please,” Loretta begged.
June knew why Jeannie wanted to keep the witch stuff secret. The Callaghans were judged in The Valley. The neighbors snickered about Sadie and Bernice being odd and most kids in the neighborhood were not allowed to go to the Callaghan house. Jeannie and Brain were the MacDonald girls’ friends, and even though their father wasn’t always happy about them going to the Callaghan’s house, they did.
Jeannie continued. “Well, in the old religion for the pagan people, May Day was a big deal. The prettiest girl in the town was picked to be Mother Earth. She got all dressed up and wore a crown of flowers and went all over the place with everyone throwing flowers at her feet. Then a bunch of people danced around a big pole called a Maypole in honor of Mother Earth. The pagans were always celebrating some goddess’ special day. They all had some kind of special powers and influence over people’s lives and were mostly beautiful women.”
Some teens started to file past their booth on their way to the front door. One said, “Ya comin’?”
Maggie took a lipstick and a mirror from her purse. She asked, “So, the coolest and prettiest girl gets to be the goddess on May Day?”
“Yup,” answered Jeannie as she exited the booth.
; As Annie followed behind her, she reminded June not to forget her presents.
“Let’s beat it,” said Mary.
“Let’s make like peanut butter and jam,” Brian said. Only the two little kids laughed and followed the others out of the booth and The Big Jive.
A pool of teens formed outside the coffee shop to make plans for the night. A boy with a crew cut and bug eyes stuck his head between Maggie and Loretta. “Hiya girls. See ya at the park?” he asked.
Both girls put their noses up in the air and turned away. Maggie turned to Annie and with a big eager grin said, “Hey, we’re going to the park. Okay?”
Annie started to protest the idea. June tugged at her arm, gesturing for her sister to bend over. “If they go, we’ll have more fun without them,” she whispered.
“Yeah, okay. Make sure you’re home before nine so we don’t get in trouble,” Annie warned her sisters.
“Sure thing!” they answered.
“Swear to God and cross your hearts,” Annie demanded.
They did, grinning and headed toward Eureka Valley Park.
Forlornly, Annie watched the gang of kids walk up Eighteenth Street toward the park.
“Is my surprise over?” June asked.
“Heck no! We’ll stop at the comic book store,” said Annie. She reached into her pocketbook, pulled out a handful of loose change and handed it to June, smiling.
“Swell!” June and Brian shouted together and skipped ahead of Annie.
On the warm San Francisco night, Castro Street was especially busy with couples and groups of young people strolling past Annie, the lone teen.
Eager to get to the comic book store, the little kids turned around and waved for her to hurry up. Concentrating on the kids, Annie didn’t see Dave come up from behind. He fell into step with her.