Deep within you and me is a warrior who will meet every challenge, endure every hardship, who will be the voice of the powerless. Unleash your inner warrior. It’s there. You are filled with courage. You are filled with faith in a just cause. Your voice is needed. Enjoy and be inspired by this YouTube video of The Impossible Dream from The Man from La Mancha.
Quote for Today – November 29, 2017
Imagination is more important than knowledge. – Albert Einstein
Ask Him If He’s Dead
Chapter 15
Zeke pulled into Bola Auto Repair and parked his car next to a used Ford SUV and a used Buick Regal. Zeke looked at his cell, “We got five minutes until we meet Sal. I think being early will look good. Let’s go.”
“What are you going to ask Sal?” asked Mickey.
“I’ve been thinking of that. I don’t have an answer. I’m gonna play it by ear, Mickey. You got any ideas?”
Mickey made an effort, although painful, to think, “I think I got one. How much do you think Sal wants for the Ford SUV?”
“This is your idea?”
“It was the best I could do,” said Mickey.
A six-foot two-inch guy, with dirty fingernails, oil stained jeans, wavy black hair, with his name Sonny stitched into his shirt, rapped on the driver’s window. “You can’t park this piece of crap here. I’m running a business. Anybody sees this, they’ll think I sell crap. I don’t repair anything not worth fixing. So, what do you want?”
Zeke lowered the window, “We got an appointment with Sal. Is he in the house?”
“Pop don’t have anything to do with the business, I run it. You can find him at the Sons of Italy Club. If you got an appointment, he’ll be in the last booth. Now get this piece of crap out of here.”
Ten minutes later the boys pulled into the Sons of Italy parking lot. Zeke looked at his cell, “We’re late. I hope we didn’t blow it.”
“It’s Gus’s fault. He didn’t tell us to come here,” said Mickey.
“Mickey, do me a favor, don’t talk. Don’t speak. Let me do all the talking. Understand?”
“I gotcha, Zeke. My mouth is shut tighter than my uncle Freddie. He’s so tight he won’t give you the right time of day.”
The boys walked into the Sons of Italy club. Four old guys were playing poker. Two guys were at the bar drinking beer watching the replay of last night’s Sox game. Zeke walked over to the bar.
Alphonso Donati, the bartender, who was standing opposite the two guys watching the replay of the Sox game, turned his head toward Zeke, “What da you want? I don’t got all day. The Sox are up. They scored three runs this inning.”
“I don’t want a beer. I want to talk to Sal? You seen him?”
“You talking Sal Peci? Sal Lozano? Or Sal Balovini?”
Mickey whispered in Zeke’s ear, “Do you know which one, I’m terrible with names?”
Zeke took a deep breath and said, “Sal Balovini.”
Alphonso turned around and looked at Zeke and Mickey. “He expecting you guys?”
“We have a two o’clock appointment,” said Zeke.
Alphonso turned to the wall and pointed to the clock, “It’s five after two, you’re late. And, I see you didn’t bring any offering to Mr. Sal.”
Zeke slapped the side of his head, “I knew I forgot something important. I got too many balls running around in my brain. You got anything I can buy that will work?”
Zeke put his right hand to his chin and made believe he was thinking. After a moment, he said, “It costs you a ten spot for me helping you and 20 for the imported bottle of chilled beer straight from Sicily.”
Zeke reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He pulled out two fives, and two tens, he looked at the remaining two singles and wondered what he was going to eat tonight. He handed the money to Alphonso.
Alphonso took the money, put it in his pocket and reached under the counter and pulled out a bottle of Rizzo’s Finest Sicilian Beer. “Here you go boys, Mr. Sal is in the back booth.”
Zeke looked toward the back booth, “I can’t see anybody.”
“He’s there. I don’t know for how long. Once you buy, it’s yours. I don’t give money back.”
Zeke carried the bottle of beer in his left hand. The boys made their way to the last booth. They stopped at the booth and looked at Sal, his head was resting on his arms on the table.
Mickey whispered, “Is he dead?”
“I dunno,” said Zeke.
“Ask him if he’s dead,” said Mickey.
Zeke looked around. Alphonso and the two guys at the bar were watching the Sox. The poker game was going on. No one was paying attention to Mickey and him. He bent toward Sal’s head, “Mr. Sal? Mr. Sal? You okay?”
“What do you think, Zeke? He didn’t answer. How we going to know if he’s okay if he don’t tell us he’s okay,” said Mickey.
Zeke patted Sal on the shoulder, “Mr. Sal? Mr. Sal, you okay?”
Mr. Sal didn’t move. He didn’t twitch. He didn’t open an eye.
“Check his pulse like they do on TV,” said Mickey.
“Where do they check it? I usually get a beer when there’s no action,” said Zeke.
“I think it’s the wrist,” said Mickey.
“His head’s on his wrists,” said Zeke.
“Let me do it, Zeke. I like the doctor shows. I think I know what to do,” said Mickey.
“Okay, but be careful,” said Zeke.
Mickey put his left hand under Sal’s cheek and lifted his head. He slipped his right hand in and took out Sal’s left arm. Mickey let Sal’s head drop to the table. It landed with a thunk. Alphonso turned from the TV toward the booth. Zeke smiled and waved.
“I think he’s deader than road kill, Zeke. That’s pretty dead. We gotta get out of here. People will think we killed Sal.”
“You’re right, Mickey. Let’s get out of here.”
The boys walked toward the entrance. Alphonso turned and watched them. “Hey where you going with the beer?”
“Sal didn’t want it. He wasn’t thirsty,” said Zeke.
Alphonso looked back toward the booth. When he turned back to the boys, they were gone.
What are the boys going to do? Will they be accused of killing Sal? What about Tony Gallino and his package?
Becoming More Fully Authentic
Focus, passion, honesty, authenticity – all attributes that make us more fully human, more fully alive, more fully in touch with the reality that surrounds us. The following brief YouTube video shares the wisdom of the famed martial artist Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee speaks about himself but his words have wide application to each person’s life. Enjoy.
Is He The Guy With Big Nose?
Chapter 14
Gus poured two drafts and brought them to the boys. “It’s on the house, boys. You guys are the walking dead. You don’t have the package, am I right?”
Zeke nodded. “Thanks for the beers, Gus. Do you think Tony will torture us first before he kills us?
Mickey jumped in, “I don’t think so. I think he’ll kill us first then he’ll pull out our toenails and cut our fingers off one at a time.”
Gus wiped his hands on his apron. He bent toward the boys, and spoke in a low voice, “I don’t like to get involved in anything that has anything to do with Tony Gallino. But I got a soft spot for you two. Why I have a soft spot, I don’t know. I need to have my head examined. It would be better if I turned my back and let Tony give you a one-way ride to the Hocomock Swamp. He’s gonna dump your asses in there and the coyotes and wild cats are going to feast on you. All that’s going to be left is a few bones.”
“I’m too young to die, Gus,” said Mickey, tears forming in his eyes.
“Can you help us, Gus?” asked Zeke.
“I can’t tell you boys what to do. I know somebody who might help you, but you might have to do him a favor. He’s very particular who he helps. I can put in a word for you because he’s my godfather.”
“Anything, Gus. Anything. We’ll do any favor. We need some help before Tony dumps us in the Hocomock Swamp,” said Zeke.
“Yah, after he kills us, then chops us into little pieces. That’s the worst part seeing Tony cut me into little pieces after he kills me,” said Mickey.
Gus made a mental note to stop drinking beer. He had no other explanation for Mickey’s convoluted reasoning process. “You boys know Sal Bolavini? He lives on Crapo Street.”
“Is he the guy with the big nose and big ears who walks a dog that looks like a sausage?” asked Mickey.
“I don’t think so, Mickey. I think he’s the guy with the scar from his right ear to his chin and has a thick mustache,” said Zeke.
“You’re both wrong. Sal is a small guy, with a big nose who wears a square golfing cap because he’s embarrassed by his bald head. He owns Bola Auto Repair. He only works on a few cars for friends now. His son, Sonny runs the business. Sal is what you might say is semi-retired, but he’s connected to Dominic Pucini in Boston. You boys following me?”
Zeke nodded his head in assent. Mickey nodded his head from side to side. Gus tapped Zeke, “Explain it to the genius when you leave.”
Zeke nodded.
“Now this is what I’m going to do. I’m going to call Sal and ask him to talk to you boys. I’m making no promises. But if there is any way out, Sal will figure it out. A piece of advice. Take him something nice as a gesture of goodwill. Capisce? You wait here while I make a call.”
Mickey finished his beer, then turned to Zeke, “Everything always works out for us, Zeke. We’re going to be okay. I got a hunch.”
Zeke said, “Remember your last hunch, Fast Filly was going out of the gate at 30 to 1 and you said you had a hunch she was going to win?”
“I remember,” said Mickey sticking his tongue into his glass trying to get the last drop of beer.
“You remember I put my rent money on Fast Filly because of your hunch?
“Uh huh.”
“Fast Filly wasn’t so fast that day. She ran last out of the gate and didn’t pass anybody. So much for your hunches,” said Zeke.
“It’s about time my luck changed, Zeke. It’s been bad for two months. Ever since I stole the apple at the market. Think it is karma?” asked Mickey.
“I don’t know nothing about Karma. I know Sal is our last hope or we gonna get sent into the toilet. Know what I mean?”
“I like toilet better than the Hocomock Swamp,” said Mickey.
Gus returned, “Two this afternoon at Sal’s car shop. Good luck boys.”
Will Sal help the boys? Will Tony Gallino dump the boy’s bodies in the Hocomock Swamp?
Quote for Today – November 28, 2017
Write what you love and love what you write. – Ray Bradbury
Was the Answer in the Empty Beer Glass?
Chapter 13
Mickey’s anxiety shot up like the temperature in Phoenix in July. He downed his fourth beer without so much as a single swallow. Then, he signaled Gus for another one. Twenty seconds later, Mickey’s hand went out and snagged the sliding mug of beer.
“You got good hands Mickey,” said Tony Gallino who was now close to the boys.
“I think I coulda made the Sox if I had a tryout. I had ta work the day I could have tried out,” said Mickey.
“Are those the hands that are taking care of my package?” asked Tony Gallino.
Zeke jumped in before Mickey could say a word. Zeke said, “Mickey’s the All State man. The package is safe with us. It’s safer than if it was in Fort Knox.”
“You boys didn’t open it, did you? If you did, I’d be very, very angry,” said Tony Gallino.
“Us?” said Zeke pointing an index finger to his chest.
“Yes, you two guys,” said Tony Gallino.
“The only interest we got in the package is to take care of it for you, until you tell us you want it,” said Zeke.
Mickey added, “Nice threads, Tony. I was thinking of going to Walmart and getting me threads like these.”
Gus almost dropped the mug he was washing.
Tony Gallino turned to the six foot two inch thug on his left. The thug wore a Miami Beach sport shirt with one hundred-fifty palm trees gracing his athletic, extra-large version. “Did you hear what I heard?”
“I heard what use heard, Mr. Gallino. Use want me to send this dog to the corner?”
Zeke cut in, “Mickey didn’t mean any offense, Tony. He’s never been out of town if you don’t count Brockton. The only place he buys his clothes is Goodwill. Walmart is a step up for him.”
Tony Gallino stared at Mickey who was staring into his empty beer mug, “He’s a Palitroni. I don’t trust Palitroni’s. Never trusted them since Beanie Palitroni tried to make a federal case against me saying I would do something like intimidate anybody. Now, can you believe that I would ever intimidate a baby?”
“Never. You would never intimidate a baby, Tony. Why would Beanie think that about you?” asked Zeke.
Tony Gallino reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out an index card. He handed it to Zeke, “See, that’s what I’m saying. I want you to bring the package to this mailbox tomorrow. It is a different mailbox. This one is up in Stoughton, off 138. You can’t miss it. Here’s another fifty bucks apiece. Call it for gas mileage.”
“Do we have to report it on our income tax?” asked Mickey.
Tony Gallino turned to his other thug, a shorter version of the first one. This one wearing an Under Armor short sleeve compression shirt. “You see what I mean about the Palitroni’s? You can’t trust them and their whole IQ is less than my Yorkie.”
“Want me to teach him a lesson, Mr. Gallino?” asked the second thug.
“He’s a Palitroni, I wouldn’t throw them left over pasta. Know what I mean?”
“Perfectly, “Mr. Gallino.
“I want this done by two tomorrow afternoon, boys. By the way, say hello to Nonna for me,” said Tony Gallino as he turned and walked out of Lombardi’s.
“Geez, what are we going to do, Zeke?” asked Mickey.
Gus scooted down the bar, bent over and whispered, “I don’t want to know about the package, but I know you two boys and you are in over your heads.”
“How did you know, Gus?” asked Mickey.
What are the boys going to do? Will Nonna give them the package? Does Tony Gallino know Nonna has the package?
Quote for Today – November 27, 2017
The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Need A Creativity Boost?
Stuck in a rut? Need a rush of new ideas? Perhaps you need a creativity boost. Just like taking Vitamin C to help us fight off a cold, there are ways we can restructure our environment and how we interact with it to boost our creativity. The following brief YouTube video provides you with a creativity boost. Great tips to fire up your creativity. Enjoy.
Garlic Will Do Wonders For His Love Life
Chapter 12
Nonna began rocking back and forth. She stroked the package and sang to it as if it were a new born baby.
“What, Nonna. What?” begged Zeke.
Nonna opened her eyes, a beatific smile appeared on her face, “I can’t tell you boys whats a in here. I’m a gonna hold it for safe keeping. I let nothing happen to it. You betcha your life.”
“Nonna, Tony Gallino will have us killed if we lose the package. Please give me the package,” asked Zeke.
“Tony G not gonna hurt you. He hurt you I put a curse on him make him wish he was in the morgue. I put a curse on him make him wish he was deader than a dead mackerel. I put a curse on him he come crawling to me to take it off him.”
“What about us? We’ll already be dead,” asked Zeke.
“That’s a chance you gotta take. Now, I give you something to fix everything that bothers you. You feel better right away,” Nonna placed the package on her lap. She still gripped it tightly with her left hand and arm. She reached into the top of her dress and fished around in her bra. She pulled her hand out and held it open to the boys.
She handed Zeke a handful of garlic, “Here’s what chu do. You eat a clove of garlic now, and you eat one before bed. You wear one around you neck. If you making love to a girl tonight, eat two cloves. It do wonders for you. Now getta outa my house until I tell you to come back for the package or I put a curse on you.”
Thirty minutes later, Zeke and Mickey are sitting at the far end of the bar in Lombardi’s. Three other men are sitting further down the bar. One of the men says, “The Sox need to pull the pitcher. He’s getting tired.”
The second man said, “I’ve never been tired and how hard does a pitcher work. What’s he do throw a baseball a hundred times and makes a million plus a year? Give me a break.”
The third man said, “You talking breaks, Jimmy Giano broke his leg in two places last week. That’s a break.”
Gus was standing behind the bar halfway between the three guys talking about this and that and Zeke and Mickey. Gus is wondering if he’s in hell and doesn’t know he died.
Zeke says, “Mickey, we are in deep trouble. If Tony G finds out, he’ll have us whacked. If we take the package away from Nonna she’ll put a curse on us. I been using my brain and I can see a way out of this. I think we gotta get out of town. Go someplace with Gallino can’t find us and Nonna’s curse won’t work.”
Mickey was finishing his third beer. He signaled Gus for his fourth. Gus drew a draft and slid it down the bar. Mickey stuck out his right hand snagged it.
“I can catch with either hand, Zeke. You think I can make it in the majors as a shortstop? Hernandez is terrible at short for the Sox. He can’t field and he can’t hit. At least I can field.”
“Did you hear anything I said?” asked Zeke.
“About what?” asked Mickey.
“About anything?” asked Zeke.
“Nope. I was thinking about what Nonna told me about garlic. You think if I eat it and wear it around my neck it will attract women? I’m willing to try anything.”
Before Zeke could answer, Tony Gallino and two of his bodyguards walked into Lombardi’s. He walked four feet inside, scanned the bar and said, “Just the two guys I’m looking for.”
What does Tony Gallino want with Zeke and Mickey? Will the boys figure a way out of their dilemma?
