Pee-Shy
Page 34
Taking my cue, I opened one of the china closet doors so that he could see the beveled glass. “See,” I said, pointing to the counters. “It’s genuine Beverly glass.”
Then everyone erupted with laughter, everyone except my mother. “Are you done making fun of me? You say beveled, I say Beverly. I can’t help that I have an accent!”
Josephine took her seat next to her husband. “Chad, now you know the story of my mother’s china closet with the famous Beverly glass.”
“Thank you,” said Chad. “I’ll never forget that story. And for what it’s worth, your mom was very smart to buy something so unique.”
“See,” said my mother. “Chad understands. I bought that china closet because it’s a collector’s item.”
“Exactly, what does it mean when you say it’s a collector’s item?” asked Josephine. “Who the hell is this collector issuing limited-edition china closets anyway?”
“Josephine, I’m telling you, that’s what the man said when he sold it to me.”
“He’d tell you anything to get you to buy it,” said my brother-in-law.
Watching my family around the table filled me with such joy. Closing the door to my mother’s infamous china closet, I caught a glimpse of myself in the beveled glass. There I was. Not some fractured, mirrored reflection of my former self, but me: short, pee-shy, a man able to make the future better than the past.
Acknowledgments
Pee-Shy is a memoir, but most names, as well as certain locations, have been changed.
I owe an enthusiastic thank-you to my agent, David Forrer, and everyone at Inkwell Management who helped me get this book published, especially Allison Hunter. Thank you to my wonderful editor and friend, John Scognamiglio (my paisano from Xaverian) at Kensington Publishing—your insights and advice were invaluable. I would also like to thank my publicist at Kensington, Vida Engstrand, for all of her hard work as well as Kristine Mills for her inventive cover design.
My deepest respect goes to the NYPD, the Pennsylvania Police Department, Child Welfare Services, the Honorable Judge Carlson, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney Generals, particularly Deputy Attorney Generals Michael Sprow and Anthony Forray. I’d like to extend a special thank-you to all the courageous people at GMHC. Your work is so important. Thanks to the Trevor Project, 1in6.org, and malesurvivor.org, for offering assistance to survivors of sexual abuse.
Thanks to a great support staff: Eric, Scott, Gary, Ron, Paul and Larry H. (the best CL in the world). To the gang at Chelsea Village Medical: Flo, Lesley, Lisa, Ricardo, David, Luiso, Lynne, Caroline, William, Leigh, and most of all, Bisher—I could not do what I do every day without all of you. Thanks to my early champions: Mark M., Mark P., David, the amazing Larry Flick, Jonathan (for all your help), Tom Leonardis, and the always uplifting Richard Jay-Alexander.
Loving thanks to my family: Mom, Josephine, Joe, Maria, Marc, Mitchell, Madeline, Michael, and Matthew. Dad, I miss you. In addition, I’d like to thank my West Coast family: Vern, Roxie, the Schroers, and the Branums.
My most heartfelt thanks to Cathleen Adams. During the darkest times, it was comforting to know I had you to count on. Most of all, I owe everything to my beloved husband, Chad, for his support through the worst part of this experience. It’s been a long journey, and I love you and Hoffman very much.
The names and identifying details of some characters in this book have been changed.
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Copyright © 2014 by Frank Spinelli
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-9132-5
eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-9133-2
eISBN-10: 0-7582-9133-7
First Kensington Electronic Edition: January 2014