Wondering of the informal nature of 'small town' people, 'even' the banker. "So we're not so formal. So, okay. It's okay to call us by our first names" Sarah said, waiting for the banker to give permission to call him 'Phillip' or even 'Phil', but when non came...
A New Road To Woodstock '69
Snippet six
Woodstock: The iconic American rock festival of the twentieth century
Authors Notation: Other than those that were actually a participating member or members of the Woodstock Festival, all others are fictitious characters and situations created for dramatic effect, and especially at this author’s whim.
Further Notation: I have no intention of repeating my nineteen part Woodstock series as first submitted on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, but digging further into the earlier lives of Sharon and Clyde and her Polish immigrant parents: 'Murray and Sarah Kandinsky and his Irish immigrant parents, Malcolm and Ellen Murphy.
A moderately attractive middle-aged woman wearing a pretty, light weight tan jacket and brown slacks. "Yes Ma'am..." Sarah said "... you've a really beautiful town and we're happy to be here." Handing the woman her thirty-five cents change, and her paper bag of nuts and bolts.
"I know I'm not speaking only for myself..." putting the change into her light weight jacket pocket. "...and it's not only that you've opened 'Pink's' again, but Jerry, my husband, was in yesterday and enjoyed talking to. uh, 'Murray', I think he said his name was."
"Yes. Murray's my husband."
"Well, you both seem like nice people, and are we're glad you've decided to settle here. By the way, you do plan on joining our 'Loveland Businessman's Association'."
"This is the first I've heard about it, but, 'yes', I'm sure we'll want to."
"Good! The Association is a great way to meet your neighbours, and I know they're all anxious to meet you and your partners.. By the way..." holding her hand forward "...I'm Clara Mott. Jerry and I own the drug store down the street."
"That's good to know. I'm Sarah Kaminsky..." — watching to see if there was any reaction to the obviously Jewish name; there wasn't, not even the fluttering of an eyebrow— "...and we've two kids, so no doubt we'll be your customers also."
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" 'Two children'. A little boy and girl?"
Coming in early...
Well, not exactly early because 'Pink's' opens at seven, but when they arrived, Sarah relieved Lester at the cash register so he and Murray could assist a couple of roaming customer, as Malcolm took off for the 'Shell Oil Station' in 'Milford' in the Hudson to, 'hopefully' purchase what was needed to get the old Chevrolet long bed running, along with, 'hopefully' names of automotive service suppliers.
7:56 AM
" 'A little boy and girl'?" Clara Mott questioned.
"Yes..." no one in line waiting to conclude a purchase, so the conversation continuing. "...Clyde's near four and Sharon will be two in July."
Thinking a moment. "The pretty Irish lady pushing that old buggy; she one of your partners?"
" 'Ellen'! Yes; her and her husband are our partners, and her husband, Malcolm, is going to open a, uh, kind of limited automobile repair service backside, along the loading dock."
"We could certainly use an automobile repair service here." However, of more interest, Clara asked: " Your husband, Murray said something about her, uh, that Ellen will be opening a millinery shop?"
" 'A Woman's hat shop'. Yes..." motioning to the left, to the far side of the store "...we'll be making an open room there, right this side of the window, so women can watch her and come inside to talk to her... And hopefully buy a hat." Adding," Ellen's really wonderful, and her hats are beautiful."
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"Looking forward to meeting her, and the men at the Association meetings will be also..." smiling "... I'm 'sure'."
Catching the innuendo. "And their wives, Malcolm also."
"The little boy, his?"
"Yes. Beautiful kid, isn't he."
Catching the innuendo, "I'm sure their wives will, too." Glancing at her watch. "Jerry will be looking for me, so think I'd better get back. And I'll be spreading the word about Ellen's hat shop." Sincerely spoken. " Glad to meet you, Sarah!"
"Me, too!" Sincerely spoken. "Glad to meet you also, Clara."
10:10 AM
Clyde holding the shiny steel handle, on this day walking alongside the perambulator... Nodding her head, "Good morning, to you." Ellen said to a man moving aside, making way for the old buggy to pass.
First time he'd seen this woman. "Good morning to you, too." The old man said as, his head turning, watching, looking yearningly as Ellen passed.
Strict Catholics, both virgin when married, always faithful to Malcolm as he was to Ellen, the thought of 'being' with another man aberrant to Ellen Murphy. Nonetheless used to the lewd looks of men. Surprised, though, that at her— in Ellen's mind— old, mid- thirties age, she would still lustfully be looked upon.
Ellen's thoughts returning to the, still, unbelievable fact that on this morning, as soon as Malcolm returned — if he hadn't already from his trip to Milford— she and her husband, for the first time in their lives, would have their very own bank account at 'Loveland National Bank! 'Oh, Lord Jesus,miracle after mirical!'She rhought.
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10:38 AM
"No, not at all!"
Returning from Milford minutes ago. The cash register now under Lester's care. Murray, Sarah, Ellen — Clyde, his hand held, standing alongside his mother, Sharon napping in the perambulator— standing outside on the rear loading ramp.
"No, Not at all!" Malcolm said. "The guy was friendly as could be and thought it great that I... 'we'd' be opening am auto service business... Said he had more than he could handle and gave me all the information he had about his supply companies, and sold me everything we thought I'd need to get that..." jerking his thumb backwards "...long bed running."
"Here..." reaching into his shirt pocket, Malcolm removed two folded pieces of paper. On one were the names and telephone numbers of three local-Cincinnati parts suppliers. The other a receipt for two sets of six each spark plugs, a large and smaller fan belts, and for a case of twelve quarts of motor oil.... Total coming to $18. 87 out of the twenty dollar bill he'd taken this morning.
11:05 AM
"Lester..." Murray said "... we're going to the bank. You okay here, by yourself?"
"Ain't no one here." Spreading his arms from side to side. "Sure, go ahead. And say hello to 'Phillamarlarky' for me."
"'Phillamarlarky '?" Ellen questioned.
"Laughing. "You'll see." Lester said.
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Pushing a key on the 'National Cash Register Company' register, the cash drawer springing open showed fifteen dollars in change and bills for... if change needed for a customers purchase. Putting the one dollar and thirteen cent the change from this morning's automotive parts purchase —into the drawer, Sarah tightened the binding of the 'Loveland National Bank ' green canvas bag that now, for their first official bank deposit, contained 'one hundred-twenty-three dollars and seventy-two cents'. "Okay..." she said "...let's go!"
One block to the east, on the northern side of Main Street.
11:13 AM
Standing as the four adults and two — he hoped quiet and well behaved — children entered his office.
"Good morning, uh..." looking from adult to adult.
We're Malcolm and..." lightly squeezing her shoulder "...Ellen Murphy."
"We're Murray and Sarah Kaminsky."
"Pleased to meet you..." leaning over the desk, extending his arm "... 'Philip Malarkey'." The rotund — shaking hands — near bald headed, sixty-one year old man said, "Sit!" motioning to the four padded chairs that had been placed before his desk.
On the desk, a wooden name plate read: 'Phillip Author Malarkey'. Glancing at her husband, smiling...'FullAmarlarky', Sarah thought.
"So..." the banker asked "...you're here to open a business account..."
looking from face to face, wondering which of the four would be the spokesperson "...in all four names, do you?"
Never doing business by check. Anything purchased and sold had always been with cash. When a new need arose
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for Murray to buy leather or rubber or shoemakers thread, he'd take the three streetcars to Chicago's far south side to buy... To pay cash for what he needed. Although never disguised with Malcolm, knowing he paid cash for the leather needed for his belts and suspenders.
Although receiving a 'very thin' education regarding the financial part of her new business from Agnes Pink, now though, desiring a strong need to be hand led into this new financial world. "Yes..." identifying her CEO position "...the four of us, we're partners in everything we do."
"Okay, Mrs. ..." glancing at a note on the desk "...'Kaminsky', then I'll set the account calling for two signature on all payment checks; one signature from each family."
"Why? Why do we need to do that? You don't think we trust each other?"
"Mister Kandinsky, it's not for that reason, it's just that there will be less confusion if there should ever be a problem such as who payed what to who. That's the way businesses with a number of equal partners do things to avoid confusion. Believe me, in the long run, it'll be for the best, also because though your hardware customers will always pay in cash, a few of your bigger customers..."
" 'Bigger customers'?"
"The farmers that purchase 'feed'. They almost always pay by check and you'll have to pay your suppliers by check also.
"Okay..." Sarah said "...two of us signing makes sense, and seeing as Pink's will also be going into the automobile repair service..."
"Pinks going to repair automobiles also?"
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"Yeah, old Fords and Chevies..." reaching into his shirt pocket, Malcolm removed the slip of paper with the names and numbers of the three 'parts' distributors "...soon as we're done here, I'll be calling the distributors in Cincinnati to set up our account."
"Then, 'yes', you will need a checking account, because they will surely ask about it. And also, I'm not a lawyer, but I strongly suggest that you set up a 'corporation'."
"Why, a 'corporation?"
"Mister Kaminsky, if someone should have a, uh... Let's say you install new breaks and if something should happen that causes an accident because the breaks fail, they could come after each of you personally, but if you're incorporated, they would sue the corporation, not each of the partners personally."
"I'll call 'Lawrence this afternoon and have him start on that."
"Good Idea, Mrs. Kaminsky. And when you talk to Larry..."
" 'Larry'?"
" 'Lawrence', Murray. He's our lawyer."
"Oh."
For men that had always paid every expense with 'cash out of pocket' both Malcolm and Murray— more than a bit overcome with this completely new business procedure— were more than happy that they had handed this complicated procedure to Sarah, whom for some unknown reason seemed to know what she was doing, so...
"Oh." Murray simply said.
"So when you're through talking to Larry, have him call me, will you!"
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"Now, about your personal checking accounts."
" 'Personal checking accounts'? Why?"
Attempting to appear as though he wasn't: Studying Ellen Murphy — Malarkey certainly appreciating a beautiful woman...Not that there was anything wrong with Sarah Kaminsky, but this redheaded woman!
"You've all been friends for a long time right?" The banker asked.
"Yes for years. Even lived next to each other."
"So, Sarah... Mind if I call you 'Sarah'?"
" 'Please'! Of course not."
"How did yo work your expenses?"
"I bought groceries..." Ellen gesturing to Sarah "...she bought groceries."
"And your rent, Malcolm… Okay to call you 'Malcolm'?"
Chuckling: "We're all foreigners..."
"And Maxwell Street people." Murray added.
Wondering of the informal nature of 'small town' people, 'even' the banker. "So we're not so formal. So, okay. It's okay to call us by our first names" Sarah said, waiting for the banker to give permission to call him 'Phillip' or even 'Phil', but when non came...
"Our rent we paid directly to Meyerson…"
" 'Meyerson your landlord?"
"Yeah. He came by on the 'first' of each month to collect his fifteen dollars."
"And make sure you were collecting the garbage each day."
Looking at Murray. "Yeah."
"You paid cash-money for everything you did: Food? Rent" Right?"
Starting to get the idea. Felling more and more the spokesperson. "Yes." Sarah said. "Akways, only cash
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for everything."
"If you're incorporated you must pay by check, or if with cash from the register, you must get a receipt so you know where the money went."
Thinking: Keep a record for even ten cents for nails?
"Have to keep a record for every ten cents worth of nails?" Sarah questioned.
"With your carbonised receipt book, you automatically have a copy, Sarah."
The semester of 'Accounting One' at the 'University of Chicago' and Agnes' hour of storefront bookkeeping indoctrination— including the intricate working of the 'National Cash Register Company' cash register hardly covering what Sarah Kaminsky knew she had to know now.
Reluctantly nodding her head in sombre agreement.
"Okay, so now that that's settled..." looking forward to— for the first time in her thirty-three years— to have some control over hers, and her families expenses "... what about our own check books?" Ellen asked.
"We'll have a separate and individual account for each family..." Malarkey's eyes glancing from Murray to Sarah to Malcolm and — remaining a moment longer on— Ellen.
Opening and removing the bills and coins from the green canvas bag. "One hundred, twenty-three dollars and seventy-two cents." the banker said. "We'll put this into your business account and, uh, how's about starting your private accounts with, say ten dollars each.?"
Remembering, "Hold on a minute!" Opening her purse, Sarah removed and handed the banker the one hundred-forty-five dollars: the remainder of the two families savings. "Might as well put that towards the account also."
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Taking the cash, adding it to what he already had. "Okay, so that'll be two hundred sixty-eight to open your... Never did ask. What name do you want on the business account?"
"What name is on it now?"
" 'Pink's Hardware & Feed'."
Never asking their opinion, but suddenly considering selling the 'feed' business. "How's about 'Pink's Hardware and Auto Service'!"
" 'INC'!" Malarkey suggested.
Professional banking— to say nothing about 'incorporation', were complications she did not expect. "Yes...." Sarah said hesitantly "...that will be fine."
"What names do you want printed onto each check?" looking at Sarah, "'Murray and Sarah Kaminsky', okay?"
"Sure." Murray said. And seeing as the man's name 'always' comes first!
"Why not?" Sarah said.
Malarkey looking towards Malcolm and Ellen.
Thinking a moment, looking at his wife. " 'Ellen' and 'Malcolm
Murphy's' the way we want it."
Writing the sequence of names onto a pad.
"With your permission, I can call Lawrence for you, giving whatever information the bank has to help facilitate your incorporation."
Knowing from this time forward, whatever she decided, or said would be accepted. Sighing, Sarah nodded her head in consent.
All right, then..." Standing, 'Phillamarlarky' extended his hand across the desk. “Welcome to 'Loveland Nation Bank'!"
Yes, they would have been lost without that banker setting them straight. But most businesses in this country started without even a banker in town and were cash businesses. During the depression, people learned that doing their accounting correctly saved a lot of anguish. The four of them with their arrangement being "informal," were setting themselves up for much problems down the way if they didn't do things right by the business.
BTW. Their business name missed the proposed millinery shop. I guess that would be added later as a separate business?
I love the name, Malarkey. I believe it is a real name. Where I came from very few names with sky on the end or ski, were Jewish. But they were almost always Polish Catholic.
Complicated but cool. Starting out the business with a new business or two, no rent in a beautiful house, and a nice nest egg for the 1930s, seems to guarantee success except for that lady hat business that disappears in the 1950s when women wanted to show their hairdos rather than their hats.
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