THE ELEVEN YEAR OLD
MARIONETTE AT THE
HOUSE OF MY AUNT
He came with an Italian goatee. It was
1958. This Aldo. He was then told to
shave it off and - in the American way -
was given twenty-five dollars by the
men to do so. He complied. My uncles
and some others I did not know, they
where seemingly threatened by whiskers,
though not by the show. They'd had a good
time with this. An understandable oasis
in that late 1950's Amerika of shadow and
play. Aldo was from Italy, made bereft by
something, and visiting. Just in time. The
America he wanted. Beatnik guy glory
swaying and suave in those great leather
shoes so loved by all. He wanted - I heard
him say but didn't understand - he wanted
'to one day maybe return to Italy exhausted
by sensuality.' Everyone laughed and would
not leave him alone. 'Oh Aldo, how Aldo so
much wants a girl he can call his own!'
MARIONETTE AT THE
HOUSE OF MY AUNT
He came with an Italian goatee. It was
1958. This Aldo. He was then told to
shave it off and - in the American way -
was given twenty-five dollars by the
men to do so. He complied. My uncles
and some others I did not know, they
where seemingly threatened by whiskers,
though not by the show. They'd had a good
time with this. An understandable oasis
in that late 1950's Amerika of shadow and
play. Aldo was from Italy, made bereft by
something, and visiting. Just in time. The
America he wanted. Beatnik guy glory
swaying and suave in those great leather
shoes so loved by all. He wanted - I heard
him say but didn't understand - he wanted
'to one day maybe return to Italy exhausted
by sensuality.' Everyone laughed and would
not leave him alone. 'Oh Aldo, how Aldo so
much wants a girl he can call his own!'
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