Billy and I ordered a couple extra polish sausages just in case anyone was still up when we got back to his parents house. Driving back to Oak Park on the Eisenhower my car reeked of grilled onion.
We got back to Billy’s house about 1:30 in the morning. Usually one of the younger brothers would be up watching television or Billy’s dad would be creaking around waiting to make sure everyone was home safe.
On this late night the house was quiet until we showed up with six Maxwell Street Polish sausages. Billy and I were quiet, it was the grilled onions that made the noise.
We turned on the television and started looking for an old movie. There was a Cindy Crawford infomercial on that we drunkenly found interesting. Cindy was selling hairspray or makeup to three or four hotties.
So it’s two in the morning; we have two sacks of food, two guys who were out drinking that night and a makeup infomercial.
Suddenly...
“Billy? Is that you down there?”
We looked at each other….
“Oh Shit!” We woke up Billy’s mom!
Slowly walking down the staircase, each step coming closer when finally Mrs. Hamilton reached the living room.
Buzzed John Shepley, “Hi Mrs. H! Do you want a Polish?”
Still waking up from her deep slumber.
“A what? Heavens No! Is that what smells so terrible?”
The smell of grilled onions woke Mrs. Hamilton up. We could have had the Oak Park River Forest Marching Band playing the school fight song and she would have slept through it.
It was a polish sausage that blew our cover that night. According to Mrs. Hamilton it was that smell that gave her a nightmare and then woke her up.
At this point in her life she had raised a huge Westside Irish family in a small four square house in Oak Park. They all went to Saint Bernadine and OPRF high school. The older half dozen or so had all moved out leaving Billy, his three younger brothers and younger sister still at home with the parents.
So back to the crime scene.
Mrs. Hamilton had a nightmare that she had cancer and she woke up violently to realize it was just a dream. Then she thought that her feet smelled so bad that it might wake up Mr. Hamilton. It wasn’t her feet that smelled horrible.
This is when we heard, “Billy is that you down there?
A relieved Mrs. Hamilton was happy she didn’t have cancer. She was happy her feet didn’t smell and she was happy Billy was home safe.
“John Shepley, don’t forget to call your car in to the Oak Park Police.” That is Shirley always protecting everyone, making sure I didn’t get an overnight parking ticket.
I offered Shirley one of the extra polish sausage’s several times, but she refused each offer…. “Heavens No, that will give me gas and I’ll be up again in an hour! I’m going back to bed….Don’t stay up late….”
Mrs. Hamilton slowly walked back up stairs and climbed into bed. Minutes later Billy’s younger brother Matt snuck in and gladly ate an extra sausage.
Anytime I’d show up at that little home on Maple Avenue I’d be warned never to bring any of those smelly sandwiches back into the house.
Mrs. Hamilton will never have the chance to get a whiff of those heavenly onions ever again. She went to heaven the other night to see her husband for the first time in about ten years.
Chances are the smell of Maxwell Street will make their way into the day of the funeral. Just one of many great memories the matriarch of a strong family left in her wake.
Sure there will be some grief left for a ninety one year old woman. A determined lady that raised a big family who have all gone on to raise successful families of their own.
Mrs. Hamilton not only raised her own family, but she also welcomed all the friends that entered her home. Even the friends that brought stinky food…
We will see you again one late night in eternal rest Shirley Hamilton. Until then, enjoy the heavenly smells…
