An Enchanted Evening for Art, Too

Abandoned charcoal self-portrait of Art.

Art lived in Southampton with his parents. He had served in the Navy from 1945 to 1947, returning home at the age of 21. He was working at Roulston’s, a chain grocery store managed by Rod Pierson, a distant relative. Art was quiet, but enjoyed having a good time with his friends. Joe Cerullo and Bruno Marcincuk were close friends and drinking buddies, and Helen Darby was among the girls they knew in town.

Helen was popular in the local community. A party at her house would be attended by young ladies, as well as the available young men, many of them fresh from the service and just starting to build lives for themselves in the charming resort community.

This particular party was one of many that Art attended around that time, but with one distinct difference. When the song “Some Enchanted Evening” came on, he suddenly noticed the statuesque brunette across the room and their eyes met.

They talked for awhile, and liked each other right from the start.

But this was a party, after all, and each of them talked to other people as well. When it was time to go, June allowed another young man to drive her home that night. She liked Art very much, but the other fellow was interesting, too. As for Art, he was always very slow to anger – he hardly ever got angry at all – but he was distinctly unpleased that someone else was taking June home. Fortunately, he had asked her for her phone number and he called the next day.

(On Friday, more on the summer of 1949…)

Countdown: Correspondence begins in 2 days.

© 2010 Lee Price