1958 Bulova Comet Transistor

June 12, 1958
Edgar Leventine goes into Goldberg’s Fine Jewelry in the Lower East Side of New York with the intention of buying his girlfriend, Esther, an engagement ring. A young lady, who is Mr. Goldberg’s daughter, tells Edgar that her father went down the street to pick up an egg salad sandwich for lunch. She is just minding the store while he is gone but is not allowed to sell anything until he comes back. Mr. Goldberg is back, half eaten egg salad in one hand and a tuna salad sandwich for his daughter in the other, no more than seven minutes later. During that time, Edgar and the young lady, whose name he never learns, talk about the weather and the Yankees. She giggles twice. Esther never giggles. Edgar does not buy an engagement ring. Instead, he buys a Bulova Comet transistor, in red. He tells the young lady, who he will never speak to or see again, that he will use it to listen to baseball games.

July 4, 1958
A poker game breaks out in the basement of Esther’s parents’ house in Long Island after their annual 4th of July BBQ. Esther and her parents are hoping that Edgar will be taken by the festivities, and maybe the scotch, and propose. Edgar has not told Esther or her parents about his trip to the lower east side and the Bulova Comet transistor. He does not propose. Instead, he plays poker. Edgar does not really know how to play poker but he is taken a little bit by the festivities and a lot by the scotch. Also, it feels safe in the basement. His full house loses to Esther’s cousin Reuben’s four kings.

Reuben, and most of Esther’s other cousins, are card cheats. He is disappointed that Edgar does not have enough money to cover the pot. He is also disappointed that the Bulova does not have batteries. He feels a bit bad for Edgar. What kind of fool buys a transistor radio with no batteries? He doesn't know what his cousin sees in him.

July 6, 1958
Reuben goes to a pawn shop in Jersey. It is in Mahwah and is called O’Shea’s. It’s a little far away but this pawn shop doesn't ask any questions. He has a few watches, some jewelry, and the red Bulova Comet transistor radio he got from cheating. He gets $20 for the Bulova.

July 7, 1958
If you are reading on in the hope of finding out what happened to Edgar and Esther, then you are shit out of luck. This story isn't about them anymore. I won’t be offended if you cut your losses.

Feb 18, 1959
Katherine, little Katie, O’Shea turns 14. Her uncle, Billy O’Shea, has told her she can pick any item she wants, under $20, from the pawn shop. She chooses the red Bulova Comet.

May 20, 1959
I am born.

September 3, 1963
Katherine O’Shea gets a scholarship to attend Princeton. She is the first member of her family to attend university. The red Bulova Comet transistor does not go to Princeton with her.

Sept 7, 1963
The O’Sheas having, in a matter of four days, turned their daughter’s room into a sewing room for Mrs. O’Shea, have a lawn sale consisting mostly of Katherine’s old clothes, toys, and books. They get $5 for the red Bulova Comet from a man they have never seen before. He drives a hard bargain. He insists they throw in the battery for free.

Sept 7, 1963
John Kinkaid has gone to four lawn sales and five garage sales in three towns. It has been a good day. He scored a nice red Bulova Comet.

Sept 8, 1963
Edgar and Esther Levantine have their third child. A boy this time. The bris is sparsely attended because Reuben and most of the cousins are in jail.

Sept 9, 1963
Did you really think I was going to keep you hanging about Edgar and Esther?

Sept 10, 1963
Did you really think I was going to do 60 years’ worth of these diaries? Let’s just agree that this radio got around.

June 14, 2022
I buy the radio on eBay. The ad says radio has ‘only had one owner.’

I love that.

June 28, 2022
I receive the radio in the mail. I turn it on but it makes no noise. I open it up and see the problem.

It is missing a battery.

The End