JT EVERGREEN SHORT STORIES

As told by Frederick Thornton I was on my way to the train station and home to Arlington Heights when I noticed The Olde Book Shoppe up ahead on Jackson Boulevard. I’d walked this way many times on my visits to Chicago’s Loop, but for the life of me, I could not remember ever having seen this bookstore before. I saw the “Christmas Sale” sign in the display window, so I stopped and smiled when I saw a dog-eared copy of The Poky Little Puppy on display along with other familiar children’s books of a bygone day, many of which I had in my collection when I was a kid. Then I noticed a beautiful Tiffany style shade hanging over a round table inside the shop, illuminating an assortment of books displayed on the table. It was cold and windy standing outside looking in on this warm cozy scene, so I looked at my watch and decided to go in until it was time to leave for my train. I did not want to miss this train as I was meeting my parents and we were going out to the farm to see Gr...

Flashbulbs were going off left and right.  I doubt anyone had ever seen the likes of someone like me made up half male and half female.  It’s difficult to imagine oneself being handsome and gorgeous at the same time, but there I was, in the flesh. Looking back, this was not my intention. It began with an accident in my pantry and I wound up at the 1966 Drag Ball at Chicago’s Palmer House for an evening never to be forgotten.  Folks who came up to me to talk, and gawk, didn’t know which side of my face to address.  It was hilarious and worth the effort of my friends and neighbors who made it possible. Much to my chagrin, my photo wound up on the front page of the Chicago Tribune Sunday edition.  I prayed my family would not notice.  I planned to eventually come out to them but this was definitely not the way I intended to do it. It began with a box of spaghetti I was about to place on a shelf in the pantry. The end of the box came open, sending ...