The Look on Her Face

By Jacob H.W. Wolf

I was twenty, away that summer, working as the drama counselor at a boys' camp in the Berkshires. At night I would steal a canoe from the dock and paddle across the lake to meet my sweetheart. We would build a fire, roast hot dogs, and neck.

I met a fine young man, a counselor. We became good friends. I was having such a wonderful time. I did something I'm ashamed to admit. I did not write to a loving woman, my mother.

The season ended. I returned home to find that my mother was in the hospital. She had a broken leg caused by bone cancer. I went to the hospital to visit her and saw on her face a look I had never seen before.

Broadway Birthday

By Betty R. Goodstein

This was going to be something really special. I just knew it. Mom and I were going to New York. OK, we've done that before — and stayed with Aunt Lillian, which is always great. But, this would be our joint birthday celebration. Our birthdays were a few weeks apart.

We were going to stay at a hotel, and best of all we were going to a Broadway show, Othello. Paul Robeson — that marvelous voice. I still think of it to this day. It was overwhelming — my first glimpse of "Broadway."

Aunt Lillian met us for lunch (Toffanetti's — how about that!) She didn't come to the play with us. She said that was our shared treat. Paul Robeson was superb, of course. Desdemona — just unbelievable.

This was a gift that I have treasured always. I've seen many plays (some on Broadway) but this was something special. I know that she felt the same way.

Thank You, Mrs. Golden

By Mildred Lippes

Lenore my 8-year old daughter was afflicted with whooping cough and we thought being with my mother in Sea Gate, Brooklyn would be beneficial.

She thrived there, staying several weeks and when she came back to school, I got a note from Mrs. Golden, her teacher, requesting my presence.

Mrs. Golden said, “the children have already formed friendships excluding Lenore. Could you get her into the Camp Fire Girls or Girl Scouts so she can make friends?” I thanked her for her concern. But there were no groups available. My decision: I became a Girl Scout leader and formed my own troop. I took the necessary training, starting as a Brownie leader, and subsequently “flew up” as we say in scouting through Intermediate and Senior levels embracing the whole gamut of scouting including winter camping with my girls. "Thank you for that consideration, Mrs. Golden,” aptly named.

Betty Goodstein reads her work as classmates Jacob Wolf and Helen Thau listen.