My name in Shawn and I am from a town in Northern New York called Lockport. My French-born Grandmother took me along when she visited her family in France during 1963. Here are my experiences on the crossing to France.

My Grandmother

I spent the rest of that year in Europe with my Grandmother. Unlike my mother, she insisted on short pants suits which all the boys my age wore. She was French and the suit and shorts she brought for me had really short pants. In 1963, when I was 11, almost 12, my Grandmother made arrangements with my parents to take me to Europe after the school year. Grandma was French and her own Mother came from Greece. She lived in Germany throughout the War and she had been in the States for about 5 years. My Grandfather who was German died during an Allied air attack during World War II. He was a wealthy land owner and a German Officer who transferred much of his money to Switzerland prior to the War. (Guess he figured on failure from the start.) At any rate, he left my Grandmother with a substantial amount of money.

Departure

We departed in late August abroad a French cruise ship named the Emperor. Airplanes had not become as common as they are now. We departed in the early AM bound for France. The ship was quite large and I noticed there were lots of kids on board. They were mostly a lot younger than myself and today I figure it was probably because most schools were about to start in both America and France. I had received special permission to skip the first 2 months of school because of the trip.

It was still summer and my mother packed most of the clothes that I had, which included shirts, shorts, socks, pants, and shoes. I remember it was hot out and I was wearing my only suit, which was a regular American boys dark gray suit. Once we departed and settled in, my Grandmother, whose own Children were all grown seamed totally concerned with my clothing. She helped me unpack and immediately went to the plaid shorts and suggested I get into them. I did so and we proceeded to walk around the ship, fascinated by the size and ambiance of it all. Since Grandma was French and the ship had a French crew, she spoke to them in her native language at every opportunity. Since moving to the States about 5 years prior, and living in Germany for much of her adult life, she didn't have the opportunity to speak in her native tongue very often. Additionally, her own mother was from Greece though she didn't speak that language very well.

A New Suit

About 10:00 AM, we went back to our room so Grandma could have a nap. Shortly thereafter, a Porter came by and stated in English that dinner was at 8:00 and we were to decide on the Dining Room. After quickly looking over the literature he brought, She conversed with him in French for a while. Grandma told me that we were to dine in the main dining hall and we were to dress formally. I asked her if it meant that I had to wear my suit and she quicly responded, with out a great deal of thought 'Yes.' She then stated that she was going to buy me a new suit. Sacrificing her nap, we were off to the tailor shop. I remember my Mother telling her before we left that I wore a boys size 10 everything, but she didn't know the European size equivalent. The tailor took my measurements while she and my Grandmother spoke again in French. I didn't understand a thing they said. After leaving, Grandma told me that she had ordered a light blue suit which they had in stock. Some alterations would be necessary and it would be ready by the shops closing time which was 5:00. After her nap and then lunch I went by myself to the game room and played ball and some other games with some other kids (mostly 6 and 7 year olds). At 4:00, Grandma said we better go check on my new suit. She said we must stop by the shoe store and she would buy me some new shoes and socks. She sort of picked them out for me asking the shoe man if they had any light blue socks. They did, and out I walked with brand new shiny black shoes and blue socks, still dressed in my plaid shorts.

We went to the Tailor Shop and the man who took the measurements told me to go behind a parician and change. My Grandmother, now speaking to him in English told the man to put me in a white shirt and matching tie. He had a lot of ties and picked one out that pretty much matched the suit. Sitting for a minute on a small bench behind the patician only in my shoes, socks and underpants, the tailor came around the corner with my pants.

I immediately shot up from the bench noticing that they were short pants. I protested to my Grandmother and stated "I'm not going to wear short pants with a suit, I'm almost 12 years old". She immediately came around the corner and acting very surprised she said that all the boys in Europe wore shorts with their good clothes, adding that I would look very nice in them. I did in fact like wearing shorts but never though about wearing them with a suit. The only other kids that dressed like that in America, at least in my neighborhood, were 5 and 6 year olds at best! I also remembered that most of the other young kids on the ship were wearing long pants. Also, the last time I wore a suit with short pants was when I was about 4. I repeated my objections, butshe scowled back "Put them on". The taylor then helped me dress and I reluctantly stepped into them. I put on shirt which was a white, long sleeved shirt which I slowly buttoned while looking down at my legs, thinking about how much shorter they were (about half way between my waist and knees) than my casual shorts which were knee length. He gave me a brand new belt which I put on. The tailor then handed me the tie which he helped with. (I wasn�t real good at tying ties yet.) Then he held the jacket and I slipped my arms into it. My Grandmother commented on how nice I looked. While she paid the man, I was staring in the full length mirror at myself. A light blue suit with short pants, ankle length socks and black shiny shoes. I kind of liked the look but thoughy about the embarrassment by being seen in it. As the Taylor then put my other clothes in a bag, I then realized that I now had to be seen in public dressed like that. My Grandmother told me to come along and I followed slowly behind her to our room (a pretty good walk). About half way there she stopped and turned around. Looking me over, she bent down and folded my new blue socks over. Proceeding to the room we passed some other kids. I noticed one particular boy, about 6 or 7 years old, dressed in a gray short pants suit, but he was also wearing knee length socks. I then remember thinking that knee socks might help. My Grandmother was commenting on how nice I looked when I asked her if I could at least have some of those high socks like the that kids were wearing. She hesitated a moment and said she would think about it.

Dinner

Staying in my new suit until about 8:00, we went to the Dining Room. I was very nervous about being seen in my 'Little boy outfit'. The entrance to the dining hall was higher than the actual dining room room and I sort of felt on display as we waited for the Head Waiter. I looked around and though several people looked at me, It was not in any abnormal way. I now realized that I was not a spectacle and calmed down-- a litle bit. I felt much better when I saw some of the other kids dressed in short pants suits at other tables. They were mostly younger than me, but at least I didn't feel so out of place. I figured that they were foreigners since most American boys dressed in long pants suits. I further remember feeling embarrassed because some of the younger boys who were wearing long pants suits were staring at me. Most of the boys in the short pants suits were wearing knee socks, and the boys with short socks like mine looked to be pretty young, maybe 4 or 5. As we were seated, I noticed one particular boy (about 8 or 9) walking to the rest room. What caught my eye especially is that his dark suit had pants that were so short, his suit jacket hid them completely. He was also wearing short white socks. I felt a little better by seeing him because he was closer to my age. When I sat down at the table, I could feel my shorts ride up almost to my thighs, with Grandma repeating how very nice I looked in my new suit. While eating dinner, she said that Europe would be colder than New York and I would need a new coat. The one I had with me would not be appropriate with my suit. I then asked her if it was necessary to wear shorts with a coat, and maybe I should be wearing long pants if it was cold out. She then said that for as long as I was with her I was to be wearing only short pants, stating that my legs looked very nice and boys should not be wearing long pants. I reminded her that I was almost 12 and she said that "You are still a boy ... and my boys only wear short pants."

More New Clothes

The next morning I dressed in a pair of blue shorts, sneakers with white socks and a short sleeved button down shirt. Grandma told me that after breakfast she was going to buy me some more clothes. I knew exactly what she meant, after what she said the night before, it meant 'more short pants. I wasn�t really bothered because after that episode with the new suit, and the fact that I always wore shorts in the summer anyway, I was really looking foreword to some new things.

We went to a couple of shops and since we were on a ship, all the shops were quite small and didn�t have much in the way of boys clothes. But one particular shop Grandma led me into was just clothes for little kids. I really though at that moment that she actually wanted me to fit in some of those toddler clothes! I was releived when she reminded me that her 7 year old nephew was in France, and he would be going to Greece and Germany with us. She wanted to get him something. She picked out a little shortall outfit. (I guarantee that even though I never met the kid, he would never wear them.)

Grandmother then pointed at me speaking in French to the lady clerk. I was relieved to see her shake her head no. I then asked Grandma if she actually wanted a pair for me. She said. "No, I was just asking the women if she had any clothes in your size." As we were about to leave the store the clerk called to my Grandma something in French. Grandma then told me to wait a minute because she might have a couple of items for older boys in the back. We waited a couple minutes and the lady came from the back and held up a pair of black shorts to my waist. They were much shorter than the pants I was wearing, but knowing what I had to wear with my suit, it didn't much matter. She also had a partician and motioned me to try them on.

After putting on my new shorts, the lady came around the corner with something in her hands. They were suspenders! I motioned her a good "No,"� but then Grandma came around the corner and insisted that the lady put the suspenders on. They were obviously suspenders that came with the short pants since they matched and buttoned to the waistline. She attached them to the front and swung them over my shoulders to button the rear. After doing so both women knodded and smiled. I was really embarrassed now, realizing that I would have to be seen in public. They were also pretty short. To add to my humiliation of wearing little boy suspender short pants, was that my Grandma told the lady to unbutton the back and cross the straps. This caused the shorts to ride even higher than my suit shorts. Grandma explained that crossing the straps wold keep them from slipping off my shoulder when I played.

Since they were my size, and obviously if they made those kind of clothes that would fit me, I figured that other boys my age would probably be wearing them in Europe. I accepted my situation and we left the store. We then went across the deck to the shoe store. There, Grandma had me try on and bought me some blue sandals. The leather ones that I had seen the other (European boys) wearing. When we went back to the room my Grandmother said she would get me some more clothes when we reached France. I could just imagine what she had in mind.

Play

Grandmother then said that I should go out and play but before I do "Take off your socks." I replied "What for, I always wear socks." She said that I would probably get them dirty and it was a long cruise. She reiterated "Do not argue with me." I reluctantly removed my socks and put my sandals back on. I really felt like a little kid now. Suspendered short pants and sandals. What would the other kids say or think. She then held up my long-sleeved turtleneck shirt and said that I had better put this on. It was a little cool out so I didn't argue with her, thinking that they would hide the suspenders and it wouldnt be too bad. But I quickly realized what she had in mind when she unbuttoned my rear suspenders, allowing them to hang over the front. I changed the shirt and she rebuttoned them. Grandma stood back and commented on how smart I looked. She then instructed me to go out and play for a while, she wanted to take a nap. As I left the room I noticed that it was a little cool out but why would she insist on a long sleeved shirt, short pants (suspenders and all), sandals and no socks. At that minute it dawned on me that she was deliberately trying to dress me up like a little boy. Maybe trying to relive her own experiences as a young mother with a new little boy to show off.