Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wink, wink, nudge, nudge...
Once upon a time...
When I was 17, I began work as a stock boy at Gimbel’s...a long-defunct department store that once rivaled Macy’s in popularity. It was the summer of 1977: major blackout, Son of Sam, Yankees headed for their first World Series win since 1961. Anyway, my immediate supervisor at Gimbel’s was a stock man named Bernie. He was a short black man with an indomitable spirit, a sharp mind, and a generous heart. At 51, Bernie was exactly three times my age and he served as a father figure during the early weeks of my first full-time gig.
(Gimbel’s)
Bernie made sure to get me in the union as soon as my 30-day probation period was over and he hooked me up in the housewares department where I earned heavy duty pay for lugging around plates, pots, pans, etc. Bernie could sing his ass off and often did...plus he had a very pretty, sweet daughter who was about my age. She worked part-time at Gimbel’s and could also sing her ass off...earning a small part in The Wiz and dreaming of eventually playing the Dorothy role. She and I became friends but I never worked up the nerve to ask her out. Too shy…
I could go on and on about Bernie...but for today, I’ll tell you about a running gag of his. Whenever anyone would say anything with even an iota of double entendre potential, Bernie would reply: “That’s what she said.” For example, I carried a box in the stock room and declared: “I don’t know what to do with this box.” Bernie instantly replied: “That’s what she said.” All the other stock men cracked up and I was little perplexed. However, within a week, I was joining in the fun...and believe me, it is fun. Try it some time…
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