we weren’t catholic, but easter was still a big thing in our family. and by that, i mean, we got new clothes to show off while doing what we did every other day – sit on the damn steps.
we didn’t get easter baskets. we didn’t go to sunday mass. we didn’t do easter family outings, like going to the zoo. those things were not part of our easter traditions. easter was simply the day that we wore the new clothes that were copped off the avenue.
this picture of me and my childhood best friend robert on our mutual friend chiqui’s steps, was taken on easter sunday 1994. when my mother gave me $70 to buy an easter outfit earlier that week, i ran around the corner to robert’s house to tell him that we, he and i, had the money for easter clothes. we rushed to the avenue and, with that $70, managed to buy both of our outfits, including his hat and my janet “if” choker. our mission was to let the bitches have it on easter – and we did!
i don’t remember which one of us managed to get a hold of a disposable camera, but somehow, we did. i do remember Chiqui, the pentecostal girl who lived next door to me, taking this picture.
robert and i wore these same outfits the following friday to the k-7 concert (google him!). to change things up, we wore each other’s outfits. chyle, with $70, we created magic, memories, and a photo that still slays 30 years later.
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