Danny

On a hot summer Sunday afternoon in the Panhandle of Golden Gate Park, music floats through the air with warm, sweet breezes of grass, smoke clouds floating overhead, and a sea of psychedelic shirts. Danny was shirtless, and Barefoot dancing on the grass to the rhythm of the music, twirling and swirling. Surrounded by hundreds of people blowing bubbles, smoking pot, and drinking wine. Love and food were abundant that summer Sunday afternoon. Police were there too, but kept their distance and stood at the edges of the group. As long as it was a peaceful Gathering, they didn't care. Country Joe and the Fish sang the "Vietnam Song," a powerful anti-war anthem that resonated with the crowd, while Jefferson Airplane, with Grace Slick's haunting vocals, performed "White Rabbit," a psychedelic rock classic that perfectly captured the spirit of the Summer of Love. 
Everyone shared food and drink; strangers felt like loving brothers and sisters. It felt safe. Danny was a runaway from New York. He hitchhiked a ride with a band on a Volkswagen bus cross country to San Francisco. The summer of love and peace was in full bloom.
Peace man, a young girl put a string of beads over Danny's head and a daisy flower crown on his long brown hair. They kissed deeply, and then she danced off into the crowd. Danny thought, "I knew this would be great."
Danny fit right in with all the other young hippies. Tall and skinny with blue jeans, sandals, hippie beads, and long brown hair. That description would fit many people in the San Francisco Bay area at the time.
But Danny had scars across his back where his Father had beaten him for not cutting his hair.
"Damn, girly looking son of Bitch. You Cut that hair and be a man."
That's what Danny told his new friends as they passed a joint.
"Hey man, I need a place to crash tonight. Does anyone know where I can crash?"
A girl walked over and mentioned,
"We are crashing at John's pad tonight. You are welcome to join us. You will have floor space and a blanket."
"Cool, okay. Thanks, man! Let me know when you are leaving."
As the sun set and the crowd thinned, cool air off the Bay came through the park, bringing fog. A chill was in the air, and people started walking away. Danny joined his new friends, following along to The Haight, and an old building with many stairs.
He followed all the way to the top floor. The staircase smelled of urine. Opening the door, he found other people sitting on the floor and singing along with a man playing guitar. Smells of garlic bread and spaghetti rolled through the living room from the kitchen. Danny's stomach growled loudly.
The apartment was small and dirty, with worn carpet and furniture. But for tonight, it was home.
​​Mary Rossi © 2025

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