Our Little Secret

This little dog has a special place in my home and in my memory.

My Dad worked nights all of his life. He would come home in the morning...just as we were eating breakfast. He made his famous scrambled eggs in the little 8in. pyrex fry pan. The frypan had a removable handle and the pan was brown from being used so much. There were special mornings in my life where he would give my Mom and I some extra money and tell us to go to Chicago and spend the day. We would take the train. We were dressed up in our finest...we were going to Chicago! I remember him handing me an extra $5 this time. I think that it was spring break...we didn't go anywhere in those days, but a trip to Chicago was special. Mom and I, dressed to the nines...gloves and all, boarded the train and left Elgin. Mom was so friendly...by the time we got off the train, she knew almost everyone in our car. It used to embarrass me...how she would talk to strangers. We got off at Union Station and walked to the Loop. We had shopping to do. Usually we just looked around and didn't buy much of anything. This day was going to be special...we were going to a movie, later, after lunch at our favorite cafeteria... The Forum. We went to get in line with our trays...Mom would stop to ask people how their meals were...I remember her saying, "How are the stuffed peppers today?" I loved this place...all the salads were so pretty and the desserts...ahhhh the desserts. It was hard to choose. I still enjoy buffets and cafeterias. After our lunch we had to go to the theater to see the film...."The Moon is Blue." This was the beginning of movies about sex, I believe. Now that I think about it...Mom must have wanted to see this and thought it would do me no harm. The film starred Maggie McNamara, David Niven, and William Holden. Not only was the content controversial, but the language was, as well...using words like "virgin", "pregnant" and "seduction". It ignited landmark controversy, but Preminger had directed "The Moon Is Blue" on Broadway and had seen it become a smash hit on a national stage tour, and therefore refused to change a scene or word of it. In an unprecedented move, he released the film without the Code's seal. Audiences backed Preminger at the box office and a new era of moviemaking independence dawned. I felt really grown up attending this movie with my Mom. After the movie we had to get the train, but before going home we made a stop at Fannie Mae Candy. I went in the door and inhaled. It was heaven for this chocolate lover. Mom bought me a poodle figurine and a marshmallow bar with pecans all coated with chocolate. On this particular day...we made a second stop at Demet's Candies. She couldn't choose between the two...so we did both. A Demet's turtle for each of us to eat on the train. When we got back to Elgin and took the bus home...nothing was said about the movie. I have always wondered if Mom told Dad about taking me to my first risque movie. It was probably our "little secret."

Balisha