It’s June 15, 1963. Pasadena, California.
Two weeks ago Pope John XXIII died.
Yesterday, school let out for the summer.
Today, a Soviet astronaut launched into space.
But for the enormous Shea family, it was the Grand Opening of SHEA FAMILY MOTORS and everyone was there.
“The little kids from both families chased each other around the lot, playing hide-and-seek behind the gas pumps. Paul and John discovered the switch that made the car lift up and down in the bay, and its growling sound started up as the huge metal frame chugged slowly up on a pole towards the ceiling. The twins looked green and uncomfortable, their small hands full of bitten doughnuts.
“Daddy said American Motors had the mid-size high performance luxury compact market to itself, and he was going to sell a lot of cars. The feature car, The Ambassador, sitting in the middle of the lot cost $2,665. We were going to be rich enough to be able to afford wall-to-wall carpets once we sold all those cars!”
Excerpted from A THEORY OF EXPANDED LOVE, by Caitlin Hicks.
Editing, sound design and illustration by Gordon Halloran.
Produced in Roberts Creek, B.C. January, 2021
