It's a Long Way from Home
High School: Grades 9–12
Story
, c. 1925.'))
Robert led Louis to his home. The small, wooden cottage was a few blocks west of the grand, stately gray and brownstone homes on South Park Avenue.3 Robert's house was one of many little cottages on a neat and tidy street. Once inside and after a warm welcome from Robert's parents, Louis met his great-aunt Celia for the first time.
"Hmmph," she said, as she looked Louis up and down. "You seem like a nice young man. You stand straight and you know your manners. Keep it that way! I don't want you getting into trouble. I'll be watching you."
"Yes, ma'am," Louis said as Robert looked exasperated. Aunt Celia turned and glared at Robert, "And I don't want to hear any of that fancy talk coming out of your mouth, Robert. All I know is I don't want to know where you are picking it up." What fancy talk? Louis wondered. His cousin seemed pretty normal to him.
After dinner, Louis and Robert headed straight to Robert's room where they would both be sleeping. Louis started to take off his shoes, but Robert apparently had other plans. He strode over to the window, opened it and put his leg over the sill. "I'll see you later, Louis. Aunt Celia can really bring me down4 with all her 'None of that fancy talk, Robert.' She gonna make me snap my cap5. I gotta split6."
Snap my cap? Bring me down? Split? Louis had no idea what Robert was saying. Was this the fancy talk to which Aunt Celia referred? Robert threw his other leg over the sill. Louis looked out the window in time to see Robert land with a thump. He ran out of the yard and then turned and waved. He laughed as he ran away from the house.
)
On Louis's second day in Chicago, Robert pulled him aside. "I know you are planning to start to look for work, you being such a good boy and all. But tonight you are coming with me. You didn't leave that farm just to hang around with these old folks. You and me are going for a walk along the Stroll."7 Wherever they were going, Louis was sure Aunt Celia wouldn't approve.
After dinner Robert and Louis went to Robert's room. "Come on, we got to catch the streetcar." Robert threw his legs over the sill and jumped. Louis had no idea where Robert was talking about, but his stomach felt like it had a butterfly and a knot in it at the same time. Louis jumped and ran behind Robert. They took the streetcar headed north to 35th and State Street.8 Robert explained to him that this is where the nightlife of the South Side was. "You haven't heard or seen anything 'til you have been on the Stroll."
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