Growing Up Italian American
Memories-Customs-Heritage
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Alfredo noticed the wheelchair
toppled over next to the garbage shed.
The caned back of the wheelchair covered Mr. Giorgio. Alfredo went to find Bucky
and
What happened? Boys had pushed Mr. Georgio
into the saloon alleyway and left him.
Attempting to maneuver his way out with his right arm, the wheelchair
rolled over a crumbled concrete protuberance.
Mr. Georgio panicked and tried turning the right wheel, which
slipped down a slight ramp and hit a broken bag of garbage. The wheelchair fell next to the shed, in
between a growth of wild sumac (stink) trees.
The caned chair fell over covering Mr. Georgio. Branches of the malleable sumac (stink) tree
branches completely hid the chair. Mr. Georgio hit the concrete slab, bruised his face and laid in the middle of the broken bag of garbage. His groans were not heard.
Rats ran over him and under him
to get to the broken, rotten smelling, garbage
bag. Rats ran along the saloon wall
passing Mr. Georgio’s face. Rats licked the spittle running down the
sides of his lips and licked his tears dripping from his eyes and nostrils.
At Alfredo’s screams, Bucky ran over and moved the wheelchair to an upright
position. Then picked up his friend tenderly, holding him in his muscled
arms. Bucky
walked out of the alleyway. Mr. Georgio stayed embraced in a fetal position. His bruised, bloody face was totally red
because of the shame he felt. Close eyed
tears mingled with his mouth spittle covering his sticky, black beard. His pants were wet. His body odor was overwhelming. Mr. Georgio had
peed and soiled his pants. The people watching this tender scene were teary eyed, saddened and
quiet. No visable
celebrations were considered. Cradling
his friend ,Bucky walked
home. There were no more neighborhood rumors. This devastating ,dark,
happening hung through the neighborhood like black crape at a funeral mass.
Realizations of truth became
apparent. Georgio
had feelings like any other Cristiano. Georgio Hurt!! Georgio Felt
Shame!! Georgio
Was Broken Hearted!!
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About the Book
John has lived in an Italian
neighborhood during the 1930’s and 40’s.
Nine stories are 80% factual, 20%fiction. Portrayed in the stories are pictures of
authentic characters.
Reviews by Joseph Nardiello Ph.D. associate professor of languages, states
“stories of by gone days are amusing and poignant with a profound sense of
Community. Mr. John Andreozzi,
Sons of Italy archives coordinator Ma, MgW, Ma
affirms “the books a priceless gift to those of use who did not grow up in
little
Immigrants from the mezzogorno southern part of
Reading these stories will absorb
readers into truly experiencing living and breathing actualities of little
About the Author
John is an accredited licensed
certified social worker. Experiencing 45
years of work with the urban, poor he has published “The Abandoned Poor ‘a
human rights spiritual case study manual complimenting many existing
theoretical works’.
Upon request of a professional
periodical “People People” John has written a
biography of a
For the Mosignor
Kerby Guild he published a review of “Mans Search for
Meaning and in collaboration with a Priest he published “Living the Catholic
Mass trough Social Work.” In Unison with
Drand Mrs. Golden he has written an article “Crises Intervetion for Cardiac Patients” published in Medical
Insight a magazine devoted to emotional factors in Medicine.