Chicago South Side Kennedy Park and The Brown and White
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| Lawrence Norris |
"One of the greatest things about Kennedy Park was the huge cement drinking fountain that was shaped like a birdbath that stood at attention on the northeast end of the park. It sent a healthy shot of cold water constantly into the air that served park patrons and everyone else who walked past the park on Western Avenue. The fountain was gigantic and round and the bubbler was as thick as a garden hose. No one could walk past the fountain without taking a drink. Even the biggest kid in the neighborhood could get his fill in about 20 seconds. And it was cold wonderful Lake Michigan water.
The fountain also served as a meeting place for groups of guys and girls. As I glanced toward the fountain, I thought about a couple summers back. My buddy, Tom “the Pope” Adams posed a big question right there to Susie “the Matchmaker” O'Halloran in a boy-girl gathering on a warm summer evening. Tom took Susie to one side and asked in a hushed tone, “Can you find out if Renee Smith would consider hanging out.” This move took a lot of guts since Tom was a stout pimply 5'5” and Rene was a sleek blond of 5'9". Tom was my best friend and he had more guts than anyone at St. Sean’s. Although small, he would fight anyone at the drop of a hat so his stature among the guys was huge. Tom was also unique in that he was the last white boy who moved out of St. Leonard’s parish, the parish my dad had grown up in... "
Forty plus years in the making, The Brown and White is a fictionalized memoir that tells the story of Collin Callaghan's freshman year at a Chicago Catholic High School. Collin is a white boy who is living in turbulent times in a changing city. He clings to his neighborhood and his family as he heads out each day with his classmates on the Brown and White, the ancient school bus driven by free-spirited Willie. Memorable characters abound as this story unfolds. Collin's loveable family, especially his Irish Catholic policeman father and his Irish immigrant mother face life together. Collin and classmates blaze their own humorous and passionate trail through the late 1960s. A unique cast of terrific teachers are there to see the boys through. Laughs and life meet readers head on as they travel on the Brown and White.
Forty plus years in the making, The Brown and White is a fictionalized memoir that tells the story of Collin Callaghan's freshman year at a Chicago Catholic High School. Collin is a white boy who is living in turbulent times in a changing city. He clings to his neighborhood and his family as he heads out each day with his classmates on the Brown and White, the ancient school bus driven by free-spirited Willie. Memorable characters abound as this story unfolds. Collin's loveable family, especially his Irish Catholic policeman father and his Irish immigrant mother face life together. Collin and classmates blaze their own humorous and passionate trail through the late 1960s. A unique cast of terrific teachers are there to see the boys through. Laughs and life meet readers head on as they travel on the Brown and White.
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