Kathleen Fields
Kathleen Fields is a secondary English teacher, TED ED Innovative Educator, and Co Founder of Pine Row Press. Kathleen graduated from St. Norbert College and holds an MA in Literature from Northwestern University. She is a three time National Endowment for the Humanities teacher fellow and participated in the Kenyon Review’s Summer Writing Workshop. Kathleen lives in Chicago with her family and friends.
“I find that’s what audiences respond more to which is fun, because I do feel that is a big aspect of all this, personally, there has to be a spark of enjoyment.”
Summer 1993
Moms
The summer after 6th grade, Mrs. Conway, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. LaBarra, Mrs. Wazinski and my mom all got together to plan the block party. Instead of planning the block party and booking Mr. D’s Magic Show, they decided we all needed to get jobs “off the block” in the next two weeks.
Workers Permit
Becky called and asked if I could come over and swim. I told her, “My mom said I have to figure out how to get a workers permit.” I was glad I just finished reading, Samantha, An American Girl, Manners and Mischief, and learned about Child Labor Laws.
Banana Seat Bike
I made a few calls and The Twins from Science class got me a job at The Frozen Shamrock. Then, I got Mary, Lisa and Pits a job. Starting rate was $3 and “if we were good,'' $3.25 before the end of summer. I was having trouble getting up to work because I wasn’t really allowed off the block by myself and Mr. Conway “accidentally” ran over my bike. I knew it was my fault, I left the bike on the driveway. Mr. Conway tried to hammer the frame back into a perfect circle but the wheels wobbled, the spoke beads clacked against one another and it was kinda hard to ride. Things were just not going very well—the last few summers have been hard, I just can’t seem to get anything right. Mrs. Wazinski asked if taxes were “taken out” and I wasn’t really sure what she was talking about—so I just said, “It’s seasonal work.”
The Frozen Shamrock: An Ice Cream Chalet
The Frozen Shamrock is a seasonal brown ice cream chalet on Cicero next to Mr. Sub and across from Connie’s Pub. Our boss, who smells like garage and Newports, opens the chalet for us and then goes to Connie’s for the day. “If there are any problems, I can be right over.” We know better. We do not want this guy coming back. I don’t really know how to use the cash register, so I just make up prices and give everyone a surprise Large!
Sprinkle Machine
The sprinkle machine gently snows hundreds and thousands of pink, red, white and yellow sugar confetti. When no one is at the counter, I like watching the candy-filled Ferris Wheel turn continuously and listen to the soft click of the sugar fall. These sweet summer snowflakes make it easy to push down my thoughts and go blank. I make sure to put extra sprinkles on everyone’s cone. I tell the customers they do not want the dipped cone. “You should see what the can looks like when I open it!” I really like helping people.
Lawn Ornaments
One of the regulars lives upstairs in the chalet’s triangle attic—she likes a twist cone. White concrete Virgin Marys, gray cement frogs, stone flamingos, plastic ducks, rabbits and turtles decorate her floor. I never saw lawn ornaments inside someone’s house. I did not know that was an option. I give her free ice cream because she asked us to help her move more statues into her apartment and I told her, “No, we are all afraid the ceiling might collapse.”
Tilt-a-Whirl
I don’t really like waiting for my Dad to pick me up, I feel stupid standing around waiting. Standing outside, the trash reeks like sour milk, popcorn and beer. I am listening to the nearby carnival ride screams. I would like to spend some of my cash on the Gravitron or the Tilt-a-Whirl but I am not really allowed to go to carnivals—they’re not safe. The wild sounds and rotten smells make it harder to go blank and get away from here. Earlier, our boss came back from Connie’s and was counting down the register. He started yelling and he was standing so close and I just really want my Dad to come get me.
Swiss Army Knife
At home, I do not want anyone paying too close attention to me. Two summers ago, I made the mistake of telling them what was going on with Mike. I was trying to manage it by myself, but he wouldn’t stop and it just sort of exploded out of me. He admitted to what happened but then no one really said anything. I never heard anything else. So, I decided to just pretend like none of it happened. I read Matilda a few summers ago and I figured if she could move objects with her mind, I could make myself go blank and forget what happened. I could make it normal again. After work, I need to wash off the dried frozen yogurt mix. When I close my eyes in the shower, it is harder to push the fear down. I am trying to be normal, but I am scared someone might break in and attack me. I am afraid that if I close my eyes, I will not see it coming. My brother offers to sit outside the door with his Swiss Army knife. I really appreciate his help. My dad planted a red thorn bush outside my window, so no one can break in. I think this is less useful than the knife, but I appreciate the gesture.