March 3, 2007

Joey

Joey was a Downs Syndrome kid that lived on our block 4 houses from mine. He was 6 years older.

Joey's parents were very short, strict Italian people. Joey was not allowed out of the house. He lived on the second floor. Joey spent his childhood playing with us from the windows in his house. When we were in the back yard he was in his bedroom window participating. When we played hide-n-seek on the front sidewalk he played with us. Joey would never tell where anyone was hiding. He would cheer us into home base.

I remember when President Kennedy died Joey was in the front window crying - he was so very sad. He was extremely smart, sensitive and knew all about the President. At night when we hung out we'd sit on Joey's front stoop. He was in the window. He couldn't see us because of the over hang roof separating the first and second floors, but he would listen to us and we'd include him in on everything.

Winters were long for Joey. He wasn't allowed company and it was so cold we didn't
play outside much. We did manage to get in some snowmen over time. Joey had a corner window in the front so we'd make his snowman in front of Annette's house next door so he could see it. We'd go by and yell up to the window to him, he'd always show up, open the window and talk. He always wore a white guinea T shirt. We could never see what else he was wearing. Sometimes we'd kid him and say, hey Joey, you got any pants on? He would turn all red and put his hands up to his face. You could see his shoulders shaking, he loved to laugh. Then in a laughing voice he'd say, shorts. Joey spent a lot of time behind glass.

Joey's parents were very old fashioned. They never ever let him out unless they were going somewhere and they were with him. Occasionally Joey would escape and run out front. If we were playing on the sidewalk he would catch me and squeeze me to death, I'd be screaming Joey stop not so hard. My mother would be yelling out the window, Joey let her go. He would say that he'd marry me someday. Joey was a big guy with a bigger heart. Other times Joey would get out and run down the block down the hill to St. Michael's church. He'd go in and get on his knees and pray. His father would go catch him and drag him home yelling. Joey would be crying and his father would be smacking him in the back of the head repeatedly.

When Joey's parents passed away a family member took him in.

Joey ate spaghetti with garlic and oil every morning.

My mother called today to tell me that Joey died yesterday in the hospital, he was 61.

Joey has a place in heaven. I love Joey!

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