Teen Town

Epiphany parish had a youth group, called CYC, Catholic Youth Council. In conjunction with
CYC, there was a Sunday night get-together called Teen Town. Epiphany's Teen Town was known all over the parishes in the city. I think there was only one other one, St. Mary Magdalen, that could be considered in the same league as Epiphany.

Teen Town was held in the gym and provided a chance for young people to get together and hold each other closely on the pretense of dancing and listening to music. Teen Town was held just about every Sunday, except Easter Sunday, or couse. There were so many kids there that older young men volunteered to keep the school grounds, especially in front of the gym, free from delinquent behavior. Inside, fathers and mothers of CYC members acted as chaperones. The fathers would tap a young fellow discretely on the shoulder if he was holding his partner a little too close. Mother's were concerned about tight and or short clothing for the teenage girls.

One vice that was permitted in the gym was smoking, as long as you disposed of them properly.
This did not serve me well the Sunday evening I went to Mary Magdalen's Teen Town. I was
standing away from the dance floor and waiting for my escort to return from getting us Cokes.
I casually lit a cigarette and before I could exhaled for the first time, two young men in ties and sports coats approached me and told me there was no smoking in the building. They walked me to the door so I could dispose of the cigarette by throwing it out the front door.

I was humilated and steaming not only from the summer humidity outdoors but also because I felt like killing my date. When I met up with him back inside I expressed my disappontment;
his weak excuse was, "I thought you knew."

After that, I frequented only Epiphany's Teen Town, not because I was such a smoking fiend,
but because I knew the territory and really didn't like Mary Magdalen that much. It was too
sterile, what with bright lights and teen age guys in ties and sports coats. It was okay for
the Adult Advisors at my own parish to remind me of my uncouth behavior, but I didn't want someone my own age doing it.