When I was ten, we moved from Queens, NY, to Scarsdale, NY, as those of you who read my post, My Parents Almost Bought the Gatsby House, may remember.
Our street in Queens was familial. Everyone knew each other. Parent socialized, kids played on the street, and ran in and out of each other’s houses. Scarsdale was the polar opposite. The streets were quiet and devoid of life. Large homes sat beyond expansive front lawns that were empty of swing sets and the games of Red Rover we all played on the top of my old street’s hill.
We’d moved during Christmas break, so I didn’t know a soul in our new community. Too impatient to wait for the winter school session to begin, I took the matter of making friends into my own hands. I’d marched up to the rare kid I saw on the street and introduce myself, much to their surprise. A couple politely welcomed me to the neighborhood, then quickly escaped. But I did make one good friend: Kate Simon. Which is a pseudonym.
Kate lived in a beautiful old Tudor house, much like the one below, a few streets away from us.
Kate was unlike any of the kids back in my old Queens neighborhood. Even as a child, she had a preternatural sophistication. I was impressed by both her and her elegant home. One day during a playdate at her house, Kate’s father came home from work and dropped in to say hi to us. In my mind’s eye, he was friendly and handsome in a Don Draper kind of way.
But what I really remember is what I saw under his suit jacket – a holster with a gun in it.
This fascinated me. Why would a man who dressed like my dad, an advertising executive, have a gun under his jacket? It’s not a question a ten-year-old asks. But it’s sure an image that sticks with a kid.
Shortly after that, Kate and her family moved to Dallas. Since we’d only known each other a short while, we instantly lost touch. But I couldn’t shake the image of that holster and gun because I was left with an unsolved mystery. What the heck did her dad do for a living? Was he in law enforcement? Considering the family’s mansion of a home, I doubt it. But if he was in the private sector, what kind of job would require carrying a piece?
I’m not kidding when I say this has haunted me for years. Well, I recently reconnected with an elementary school friend who I’ll call Sarah. After a few months of chit chat, it occurred to me that Sarah lived in Scarsdale much longer than I did. I asked her if she remembered Kate. Not only did Sarah remember Kate, they were Facebook friends.
Sarah encouraged me to send Kate a Facebook friend request, which I did, never thinking she’d remember me. But lo and behold, Kate accepted my request. I was beside myself. I might actually solve the great mystery of my childhood. I didn’t want to hit her with a “Hey, why did your dad carry a gun?” on our first day, so I waited a while. Then I finally sent her this message: Dear ‘Kate,’ I have to ask…”
And… I’m still waiting for an answer. I don’t take it personally. Kate seems to be someone who doesn’t pay much attention to her Facebook page. People post to it, but she doesn’t respond.
So I turn to you, readers. What do you think Kate’s dad for a living? To recap: 1)Good-looking man in his mid to late thirties. 2) Well-educated and well-dressed. 3) Imposing home in a famous, wealthy New York suburb. 4) Moves with family to Dallas. 5) Wore a gun in a holster under his suit jacket.
Thoughts?
Maybe a Fed. Maybe a BCI investigator and the mom had the money. Curious what others think!
That’s a thought. It would explain the house.
FBI agent? I just looked it up, and there is an office in Dallas.
That would make sense, except I know an FBI agent in L.A. and no way they’d be able to afford the house they were living in.
Always on the case, Leslie!
Maybe FBI or other fed
Maffioso, Ellen; it was not uncommon
Oops typo: Mafioso 😉
I thought about that too, but they were Jewish, and while my own grandfather on my dad’s side was Jewish mob, that was during the twenties and Prohibition and Meyer Lansky. Less common today. And there’s the Dallas move.
Maybe he was in the witness protection program but wasn’t taking any chances.
Ha! No, she still has the same name
I’d say a detective, a body guard — ooh ooh a bounty hunter! But the salary is a problem, unless as Dr. Kate Collier said, the wife had the money. Big question: did he work normal business hours?
I think so. I don’t remember registering that he was home at an odd hour. But I was 10, so not sure I would have noticed.
Of course! He was in the rackets, a mobster.
The mob seems obvious, but I don’t think he was. I wonder if he was in the jewelry business. In NY, some of those guys carried.
I had wondered, too, if he had a business where he carried large amounts of cash or valuables, and therefore got a permit to carry. But, if you’re going to use him in a book, I’m sure you’ll want to go for something nefarious!
that’s what got me thinking about the jewelry business in Manhattan.
The first thing that popped into my head was private security.
Although would that have paid for the house in Scarsdale?
Detective! (But how interesting that you’re still waiting for an answer…)
I know! I ever get one, you can bet I’ll be sharing it with everyone here.
Oh, no! I felt my own anticipation rising as this post went on—felt sure that the FB connection meant an answer was ahead! Hope you hear from her soon. Update us immediately, of course!
I know! Sorry, Art. It’s frustrating. I’m going to ask another mutual friend from back then and see if she knows. I’ll keep you posted. 😉
Very interesting! I’d have to guess CIA or FBI higher up maybe
Pretty high up for that house! It was a beauty.
He may have been threatened, or he was connected to the Mafia…
Threatened! That’s something I hadn’t thought of. Hmmm…