The year was 1963 and Mike Hodes invited a group of friends to a Saturday night party at his parents home near St. Anne’s Church in Prairie Village, Kansas.
Those in attendance included Steve Fasone, Tom Finholm, Cowboy Bob Fahrencroggin and MIke’s girl friend Deirdre Mura.
Deirdre had earned a reputation at St. Anne’s as being quite a character. We all remember one day in Sister Rose Agnes’ class when she pulled a funny prank on a girl sitting nearby. None of us remember the prank, but the fallout will stay with us forever.
’Rosy’ marched over to her desk and, with unwarranted and excessive force, pulled the frightened teenager from her desk and marched her to the Holy Water fount near the door. The enraged nun then proceeded to douse the girl with Holy Water while saying ‘Satan be gone!’ Startled classmates thought years of counseling lay ahead for poor Deidre. In seconds, Ms. Mura was sent to the auxiliary church downstairs and given penance of five Our Father’s, five Hail Mary’s, and ten Glory Be’s.
Glory Be indeed…maybe the class and Deirdre could schedule group counseling.
But, I digress back to the party at Mr. Hodes’ house.
The party broke up around ten o’clock and Mike began cleaning up with his parents.
What the unsuspecting friend didn’t know is that two of us lied when saying our goodbyes. Steve Fasone and a much younger cowboy snuck in through a downstairs door with mischievous intent.
We inserted ourselves beneath his mattress and waited patiently. After what seemed to be thirty starved for air moments, we heard Mike brushing his teeth in the bathroom nearby.
Moments later, the tired teen turned out the lights in quest of a peaceful night’s sleep. We waited another ten minutes and then teamed together to do our best impression of Mt. St. Helens erupting.
It may have been the highlight of 1963 and I’m just glad we never held a party later at my house.
It’s reported that Mike recovered from this heart attack like scare and went on to be a very successful executive in the furniture business.
He and Deirdre opted for joint counseling after that traumatic year at St. Anne’s.
Dierdre shared in her autobiography (Triumph over Trauma) that, until 1983, when friends or aging family members would say’ ‘. ‘Glory Be’, she would reflexively fall to her knees exclaiming…’I repent!’
What You’re Saying