Elks Building The news went all over E.O. Muncie Junior High that day 50 years ago when I was in the eighth grade. Yes, Muncie had a junior high in those days. Two of the entertainers killed in the tragic…
The Day The Music Died
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 1
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 1 By: Wayne Engle South Boston gets cold, snowy winters, and the one that Irish enclave in Massachusetts got in the year 1925 was no exception. Big white flakes were falling on its streets one…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 2
Mary Kate’s Christmas© part 2 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate and Pat had a happy first few months together. Pat was a hod carrier for several South Boston bricklayers. Mary Kate stayed at home, the dutiful wife. Sometimes Pat could…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 3
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 3 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate, always a practical lass, decided that waitressing where she could get tips would bring in more money to fill the larder than housecleaning. Besides, being Irish, she was gregarious,…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 4
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 4 By: Wayne Engle Black Mike came back in from the snowy night, and Mary Kate said, “Well, Michael, do you think business will pick up, with Christmas coming and all?” “Aye, and it’ll rain…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 5
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 5 By: Wayne Engle Old Hilda, the skinny, angular cook, told her sister the next evening over coffee that when Mary Kate flew into her rage, it was so intense she could actually FEEL the…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 6
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 6 By: Wayne Engle Black Mike went out on the night after his lecture from Mary Kate, got very drunk and morose, and arose feeling terrible the next morning. He also did some deep thinking.…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 7
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 7 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate took the couple menus and her best smile. “Good evening, folks! Welcome to Dinty Callahan’s, the best meals in South Boston!” she said. “Humph! I should hope so, with…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 8
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 8 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate returned to the dining room, approached the old couple’s table, and said, “Can I be gettin’ anything else for you folks?” “I’ve asked you twice already for more coffee,”…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 9
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 9 By: Wayne Engle A thousand dollars. The bill was new and crisp, the portrait of President Grover Cleveland staring at her, looking for all the world like her Uncle Seamus back in County Cork.…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 10
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 10 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate stared at Michael, unable to speak for a moment, tears standing in her eyes but not quite falling. Finally she said, “We’ll come. And thank your mother kindly for…