Shirley Temples

Before the big parties “And there were many” Pete would let Gina, Rachel and I play in his bar, we’d pretend we were the owners of the bar, we’d clean the glasses wipe down the counter top, set up the snacks put out the napkins party favors, blow up balloons. He even had a safe built into the bar he’d open it for us and we counted his quarter collection (We thought he was rich). We had so much fun getting ready for the evening. Everyone gathered there and danced to his music mostly jazz or swing and disco too. Pete even picked us to dance with him, we get embarrassed and try and hide behind our parents. But it was fun!! (I give anything to dance with Pete again) Since we were between the ages of 7 to 10 Pete would tell us girls to have a seat at the bar and make us Shirley Temples then he’d tell us it was ok to say bad word “bleep bleep” we’d laugh and never got into trouble because Pete said it was ok. We’d sit there watching Pete work the bar talking to everyone just like a real bar tender, we noticed he had gum behind his ear, right on the bottom of his ear lobe, We asked why do you put your gum there and he replied where else I’m I going to put it. When I asked my Mom about the gum she said he always done that. He always had a back of Juicy Fruit gum in his pocket.