HUNGRY GERALD

World War Two makes it hard to find help so 13-year-old (lied about his age) HG is hired as kitchen worker by the Harbor Rest, a Rockaway road house fronting Jamaica Bay.  Its specialty was seafood.  The manager, a very tough guy named Reilly, presented HG to Simon, a grizzled African-American who was busy opening clams. “Show the kid how,” said Reilly and that’s what Simon did. Shucking wasn’t so easy. A very sharp, thin pointed knife was our implement.  My first attempt drew blood.  Instead of sympathy, HG got laughter.  A quick learner, HG soon became adept.  Never had tasted a clam.  Hated the first one.  Tolerated the second one.  Loved the third and after that…addiction.  As Simon and I shucked we ate.  Our chant: “One for us. One for that bastard Reilly.”