Charlotte

Just as my first real memories are of an idyllic time in Baltimore during the war years Brenda's first real memories are of an idyllic time in Charlotte during the war years. (I wonder, does everybody remember the time when they were 3, 4, 5 as idyllic whether or not they had moved? And if they moved, do they remember the return back to wherever they came from as the beginning of a Fall?)

Brenda's family (she, Isabel and Curtis) moved to Charlotte in the early 40's - maybe 1942 or 1943. As I noted in another post, Curtis - who at the core was a damaged artist, had a job as a layout artist at Sterchi's furniture store.

Her memories were recollections of impressions, images and feelings.

It was soft and fuzzy - safe. The adults were happy.

She remembered walking with her mother to downtown Charlotte to met her father who was working late. (Did they ride the bus?) Curtis was sitting at the window of his little office and she could see him from the street below. He was illuminated by the light from the room as the sun went down outside

She remembered him bringing home doughnuts (from Krispy Kreme?).

And she remembered (or was told or saw the old picture) Curtis and Isabel dressing up in fancy clothes to go to Charlotte's one swanky nightclub, El Morocco. (Over the years it has been home for a number or venues - a country place and once maybe strip club. Driving by with my parents on the way to somewhere else I imagined that it was like Humphrey Bogart's place in Casablanca.)

This became part of Brenda's family legend - a story that was told over and over - how Curtis and Isabel used to hang out with Charlotte's up and coming young people - that they moved in high society - not because they had money, just wit, grace and maybe sex appeal.

According to the legend, things would have been OK if they had stayed in Charlotte, away from the dark family influences that waited back in Shelby. (According to my personal legend things would have been OK with me if we had stayed in Baltimore.) But the little Moser family did move back to Shelby in 1944 or 45. Curtis was going to be drafted. But the real reason was that Isabel's mother wanted her daughter to be closer to home.

Aside - Mixed in with Brenda's Charlotte memories was an image of "Mrs. Mews" the kindly neighbor lady who looked after Brenda when Curtis and Isabel were out on the town. And there was the strange story of a little neighbor boy whom Isabel and Curtis considered adopting. I know that Brenda regretted not having a brother, somebody who could have looked after her during the dark days and nights on Blanton St.