Chapter 12: SAM- excerpt illustrating Sam’s love for his father.
Manny loved the ponies. He would never bet the rent, because it was the furthest thing in his mind to bring more financial burden to the family. But his natural analytical side loved and studied the game. He always had a racing form rolled up in his coat pocket and would steal moments throughout the day to check the odds and who was running. Santa Anita Park, Los Alamitos Race Course and Del Mar Racetrack were all Southern California tracks and frequented by Manny many times throughout the years. But most of the time he’d sneak off to Hollywood Park, the closest track. It was in the city of Inglewood, about thirty minutes from the house.
The one and one eighth mile track opened in 1938 by the Hollywood Turf Club. Designed by noted racetrack architect Arthur Froehlich its original shareholders included Jack Warner of the Warner Bros. film studio, Walt Disney, Al Jolson and Bing Crosby.
Whenever Manny would win and make a meager profit, the smile on his face could be seen a mile away upon his return home. But conversely, whenever he lost, he would ease the news to Marita by stopping off at the local Chinese takeout place, the Canton Kitchen on Venice Boulevard, for her favorite dish, spicy pork chow mien with soft noodles. All the kids knew that if their dad showed up with a box of Chinese carryout food, it wasn’t a good day at the track.
As he grew older, Sam always managed to slip his dad a few bucks for Hollywood Park and sometimes even managed to accompany him there on occasion . . .
. . . after the day’s races were completed, thousands headed for the exit gates. Manny and his group of kaibigan bade each other well and all went their separate ways, back to reality. Back to their families, their jobs and their everyday stresses, but masters of their own universe, pledging to meet up soon, to try it again.
Then off they would go along with the other regulars to find their car in the massive parking lot amid the setting sun. Manny and Sam were singing arm in arm, father and son, the best of friends. Laughing because they were not headed to the bank, but straight to the Canton Kitchen.
Enjoy UNFOLDING As It Should and purchase a copy on Amazon amazon.com/UNFOLDING As It Should