Mother persisted in trying to move us away from Harlem to the northern area of Manhattan. In a community called Fort George, there was a group of paesani who welcomed more of the same, but mother did not approve. Getting a place to live for a large family, still growing and especially one of Italian origin, was not easy. We were called, usually behind our backs, Wops or Guineas. I remember that my mother had to lie about the number of children she had in order for us to be accepted as tenants. No landlord welcomed a large family, especially Italians. At one time we shared with Godparents (compari) a small private house on Audubon Avenue near what became the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. I remember attending P.S. 169, which was across the street, and receiving the first prize for scholarship, a knitted silk silver necktie for which I had little or no use but to assure my family that I was doing well in school. I was also “skipped’ ahead one or two grades. I recall that mother would deck me out to the nines with Buster Brown collar and meticulously laundered clothes on school days. What she did not seem to appreciate was that while this attire looked nice enough it invited all sorts of jibes, occasional birdcalls and Bronx cheers, and led to fist fights that I enjoyed but sure messed up my clothes. I soon became quite adept at using my fists to the dismay of my would-be tormentors.

It was when we were living in the house on Audubon Avenue that Mr. and Mrs. Wicks, who lived in an adjacent apartment building, offered to take my sister and me to church on Sundays. My mother agreed at first, but became concerned when she learned there were no statues in this church and our prayers and hymns seemed so different from those she had learned in Italy. What had happened was that the Wicks were Presbyterian and we were going to the local Presbyterian Church. My mother quickly put an end to this and arranged for us to attend St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church on 165th Street where the entire family worshipped. But I still remember Rock of Ages and Brighten the Corner Where You Are from my brief experience as a Presbyterian.