Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation. ~Gandhi
Christmas reminds us we are not alone. We are not unrelated atoms, jouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us. As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family. ~ Donald Westlake
Chapter 3
Nick went around to the back of his home. It was one of the ground rules for Nick and his two younger sisters. Nick was six years older than Laura and eight years older than Stella. Laura was in middle school and Stella in elementary school.
Nick scuffed his shoes on the outdoor mat, another ground rule and opened the door. His mom stood in front of the stove working on dinner. Nick knew what he was having for dinner before he opened the door. It was Friday and Friday’s were always the same, the family was having bean soup. That’s what Nick called it. His mom and dad called it pasta fagioli.
“Hi mom,” Nick said taking off his backpack and setting it on a chair. He walked to the refrigerator, opened the door and stared into it.
“Don’t ruin your dinner, Nick. We’ll be eating when dad comes home from work. It’ll be another hour. Have an apple or orange. How was school?”
“It was okay,” said Nick reaching for a small to go box he knew contained two pieces of pizza.
Nick’s mom’s back was turned to Nick. She said, “If your trying to take the pizza, don’t. Dad wanted to eat it while he watched the Celtics play on TV.”
Nick didn’t know how his mother could always tell what he was doing, even when she wasn’t looking at him.
She said, “If you’re really hungry, on the top shelf, is a Tupperware bowl with three meatballs in it. Heat it up in the microwave for a couple of minutes. You know where you can find the bread.”
“Thanks, mom. I’m starving,” said Nick.
Nick made himself a meatball sandwich, put it on a plate, and said to his mom, “I’m going to my room to study.”
“Okay, but you need to relax a little, Nick. Give your brain a break. You have the whole weekend,” said his mom.
“The SATs are next week. I need to ace them to have real chance for a scholarship,” said Nick.
“You know you can always live and home at go to college in town. It’s as good as any other university,” said his mom, her back still turned to Nick.
Nick couldn’t count the times he’d been down this road. He knew he’d never win the argument. He said, “I know.” Then he walked out of the kitchen with his backpack over one shoulder, and the plate with his meatball sub in his left hand.
Nick sat on his bed. He placed the plate to his right, took his laptop out of his backpack and text his girlfriend, Cara. “Hi, want to study for the SATs with me tomorrow?”
Cara text right back, “Sorry, Nick. We’re all going to visit my nonna in Providence. We’re going to spend the night. How about Sunday night?”
Nick text back, “C U Then. Love U.”
An hour and a half later, there was a knock on his door, “Nick? Dinner’s ready,” said Laura.
“Okay, Laura. Tell mom and dad I’m on my way.”
Nick’s mom and dad sat at the ends of the table. Laura and Stella sat on one side and Nick on the other. Nick’s dad said, “Nick, it’s your turn to say grace.”
This was another family rule, no ate until the family said grace. The family joined hands. Nick said, “Lord, thank you this food and bringing us together to share it. Please bless the food and each of us. And, let me make a high score on the SATs.”
Each member of the family made the sign of cross. Nick’s dad looked at him, “Don’t worry about it, Nick. Do the best you can. You know you can always live here and go to college in town.”
“I know,” said Nick.
Nick’s mom ladled soup into each bowl. A platter of hard crust Italian bread was passed around as well as a small dish of parmesan. Nick’s mom asked the obligatory question, “What happened at school?” Nick and his sisters gave the obligatory answer, “Not much.” The meal was unusually quiet. Normally, Nick’s dad liked to talk about politics or sports, not tonight.
When the family finished the meal, Nick said, “May I be excused, I want to study?”
Nick’s dad said, “Stay for a minute, there’s something I want to tell the family. I already told your mom.”
Nick and his sisters looked at their dad. Their dad took a deep breath. He said, “Christmas is in three weeks.”
Laura and Stella nodded with great anticipation. Nick listened.
His dad continued, “It won’t be as great as other Christmas’s. I got laid off today. I wasn’t the only one. They cut two-hundred jobs. We’ll all have to tighten our belts until I can find work. Nick, if you don’t mind, I talked to Tino Martini. He likes you. It will be a big help. You can work Saturdays and Sundays and be on call for the week after school when he needs you.”
“It’s not fair, Dad. I have SATs, I going to train hard for the 800 meters. If I qualify for states, I have a chance at a scholarship.”
“Nick, life isn’t fair. Stuff happens over which we have no control. We have to pull together. Everything will work out the way it is supposed to work out,” said his dad.
Nick’s heart sank. “Okay, dad. I’ll see Tino tomorrow.”
“Could you go over now?” asked his dad.
Nick took a deep breath and nodded.
Are Nick’s dreams evaporating? What will his dad do?
Chapter 11
The door opened. Nonna, stood there in her black dress. She held her kitchen carving knife in her right hand. She looked at Zeke, “It’s you, I was a making sure. You tell that no good Palitroni fellow you hang out with he make one move to me I gonna cut him.”
Mickey spoke up from behind Zeke, “I’m not going to make a false move, Nonna.”
“I’m a no you Nonna. You betcha you not gonna make a move to me. I’m a gonna go swish and swish, you never get married, believe me.”
“He believes you, Nonna. Honest,” said Zeke.
“Okay, now we know a my house rules, you boys can come in and have some wine with me. I only drink after noontime. Then I drink until I go to sleep.”
Nonna led Zeke and Mickey into her living room. The boys sat on the sofa. Nonna came back with a bottle house red wine and two wine glass. She handed Zeke and Mickey a glass, then filled them. She returned to the kitchen and came back with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and a crystal class. She sat in a chair, filled her glass, and placed the bottle on the floor.
“I give you boys the cheap stuff, because one of you is a Palitroni. No way I’m a gonna waste the good stuff on Palitroni’s. Salute,” said Nonna raising her glass.
“Salute,” answered Zeke and Mickey.
“Whatchu boys what? I’m busy. I got a big night planned.”
Nonna piqued Zeke’s curiosity, “Nonna, what plans do you have tonight? There a senior dinner at Saint Anthony’s?”
“You make a nother wise crack like that, I gonna smack you across the head, Zeke. I expect that from Palitroni, but not from you. You one of us.”
Zeke held his hands up in surrender, “No offense, I was just thinking.”
“You never been good at thinking. That’s why you dropped out of school.”
“I didn’t drop out, Nonna. I stopped going. There’s a technical difference,” said Zeke.
“You watching too much Judge Judy and think you a lawyer. You last name’s Pratti, not Silverstein. You don’t think I know the difference?”
The conversation is getting away from Zeke. Mickey, who is not as bright as Zeke rises to the occasion, he slides the package in front of Zeke.
“Nonna, the reason we’re here is to ask you for help. This is the package Tony Gallino had us pick up. We want to know what’s inside it. Can you use your inner eye and tell us?” asked Zeke handing the package to Nonna.
Nonna took the package. She set it on her lap. She placed both palms flat on the package and began singing a song in Italian. She moved the palms of her hands to the sides of the box and began chanting. Then she said loudly, “Rocco, you tell me what’s a in this a package or I gonna sleep with Mario tonight.”
Nonna’s eyes were closed. Her lips moved, but no words were heard. Her head nodded. She picked the box up and pressed it close to her chest. Then she said, “It’s a good thing for you, Rocco, you tell me whats a in here because you best friend Mario he’s a making a big time play for me. He tells me this is what you want. Now, I gonna put a curse on him because you tell me to be true. Ciao.”
Mickey couldn’t help himself, “Nonna, what did Rocco tell you?”
Nonna opened her eyes, she looked at Zeke, “Who asked Palitroni to speak? I didn’t. Besides his feet stink. You tell him to wash his feet if he want to come with you next time to my house.”
Zeke nodded.
“This is whats a in this package.”
What is in the package? Will Mickey wash his feet? What will Zeke and Mickey do?
The group of five people, three men, and two women, turned their attention from the figure on the folding chair to Farlo, Tina, and Joey G.
A no nonsense, buff, thirty something Hispanic woman, sat in the center of the group. She wore a black sports bra and black workout power tights. Her six-pack visible. She stared at Farlo for a moment, “It took you long enough, Farlo.”
Farlo said, “I was slowed down by the kid, Mia,” Farlo kept his eyes on the woman and pointed back toward the entrance with his thumb.
“Do you mean the creeping looking homeless guy that’s using you for a human shield?”
“That would be the one,” said Farlo.
A fiftyish, crewcut gray haired guy wearing a muscle shirt and sporting biceps that looked like an oversized orange was implanted in them said, “I heard about Filo sticking you with this job. The kid must be a piece of work.”
“You don’t know the half of it, Tango,” said Farlo. “He’s only been with one woman in his entire life.”
“That’s not true,” came Joey G’s voice from somewhere behind Farlo.
Farlo didn’t turn around, he growled, “You can’t count any woman where you were so drunk or stoned you can’t remember the event.”
“Okay, it’s one,” said Joey G.
The group of five laughed.
Farlo said, “Any luck with Harry J?”
Mia said, “Filo told us no rough stuff. What we’re doing now is an intervention. For the past two weeks, Harry Js been on a tough diet. We made him go straight vegan. No meat, no dairy, no fish, no life.”
A wiry, tall, thin, sandy haired guy said, “I object. I’m a vegan. It wasn’t punishment. It was more of a detox for Harry J. And, I’d appreciate it if everyone here would say, Vee Gan instead of Vay Gan. It’s insensitive to vegans when you purposely do that.”
“Chill,” said Mia. “Then she turned back to Farlo, “It’s been a long time since we hooked up. Too long. When we finish this, why don’t you and I head out to O’Rourke’s for a few beers and talk about where we’ll go for R & R?”
From behind Farlo, “I don’t believe this.”
Farlo said, “Can we go to O’Malley’s? It’s a bit quieter, and a more sophisticated crowd.”
From behind Farlo, “What are you going to do with the three women, you promised you’d meet?”
Mia looked at Farlo, “He hasn’t read the manual, has he?”
From behind Farlo, “I don’t believe this.”
“You already said that kid. Come up with a new line,” snarled Farlo.
Two guys, who looked like Navy Seals, who wouldn’t sit near the vegan guy looked at Mia. She nodded. They got up from their chairs walked passed Farlo, fist bumped him as they passed and sidled up to Joey G.
“I didn’t do anything. He made me do it. I was coerced. He’s a lunatic. He’s nuts. He needs to be locked up,” screamed Joey G.
Farlo half turned, “Stuff it, kid. Suck it up.”
“I don’t want to suck it up,” said Joey G.
The two Navy Seal looking guys picked Joey G up and carried him to the front of the group. Mia, who in the meantime got another folding chair and placed it in front of Harry J. The two Navy Seal guys sat Joey G in the empty folding chair and then took a step toward Harry J. They stood on either side of Harry J. They turned and faced the group. Harry J was awake, but he had his eyes closed tight.
Mia said, “It’s time Harry J. Or should I use your real name?”
“No. Don’t blow my cover,” said Harry J, his eyes still closed.
“We won’t blow your cover, if you’ll open your eyes,” said Mia.
Harry J opened his eyes. He stared at Joey G. Joey G stared back at Harry J.
“What am I supposed to do, Farlo?” asked Joey G.
Farlo grumbled, “Sit still and be quiet.”
“I can do that,” said Joey G sitting still and being quiet.
Harry J said, “You know me?”
Joey G made a zipper motion that his lips were sealed and he couldn’t speak.
Harry J said, “Farlo? You ever get this kid to read the manual.”
“He refuses to read the manual. He thinks it doesn’t exist.”
“What’s he got, cauliflower rice for brains?” Harry J snarled.
“Kid, I’m going to give it to you straight,” snarled Harry J sounding as he were doing a Farlo impersonation.
Joey G shrugged his shoulders, made off like he was bored.
“Your mom’s doing time. I’ll give her credit. She’s handling it well. She’s got another four years before she can come up for parole. Maybe she’ll get it, maybe she won’t. She has a trigger point temper.”
Joey G broke the code of silence, “How do you know her?”
“We shacked up for a week, thirty-four years ago. I thought it was a perfect match until she blew a fuse when I forgot to put the toilet seat down. Hey, it’s a guy thing women don’t understand.”
The vegan interrupted, “Sensitive males understand.”
“So?” said Joey.
“I’m your father,” said Harry J.
“My father? I don’t believe you,” said Joey G.
“It’s true, kid. Farlo sent in your DNA for comparison. One-hundred percent certainty.”
“Some father,” said Joey G.
“Some son,” said Harry J.
“Okay, you two, get up and hug. Me and Farlo can feel romance in the air,” said Mia.
Harry J stood. Joey G stood.
Joey G said, “Dad, can you help me out of a jam tonight?”
“What is it son?” asked Harry J.
“I’m supposed to meet two women at O’Rourke’s tonight. Would you like one?”
“What are we waiting for, Joey G?” said Harry J wrapping his muscular arms around Joey G.
“Dad, one more question?”
“Anything?”
“Who’s Filo?”
Farlo turned and looked at the garbage truck, “We don’t need this. We’re abandoning it. It’s time to rescue Harry J.”
Joey G held up his right hand like a cop directing traffic, “Hold on Farlo. We just can’t abandon a garbage truck. We got permission to borrow it.”
“Look, kid. Read your manual. It’s on page 734, section 5, paragraph 3. I quote it since you can’t find the time for reading the manual. It reads, “You can abandon a garbage truck even if you borrowed it from a beautiful, fully figured African American woman.”
Joey G said, “Do you think you’re talking to a second grader? You made all that up.”
“Didn’t. Filo has a gift to predict future contingencies. Don’t hold me back, Kid,” grumbled Farlo.
“If you’re so smart. What will I tell the beautiful, fully figured African American who wants to have drinks with me at O’Rourke’s? What if she wants to stay longer than an hour? What am going to do with tough dame?” asked Joey G.
Farlo glanced at Tina, “Do I look like his father?” Then he turned his attention to Joey G, “What did you learn in school? You’ve got no clue on working the relationship. I bet the longest you’ve been a relationship is seventy-two hours.”
Tina barked twice in agreement with Farlo.
Joey G was puzzled for a moment, then he said, “How many days is that?”
“You are dense. I think you got one too many hits to the head. You play football?”
“Fantasy football at the bar. You think the pot smoking in high school messed up my brain?”
Farlo said, “You asked and answered your question. That’s a good start. Seventy-two hours is three days.”
Joey G beamed in triumph, “You are so wrong. You don’t know everything. You only think you do.”
Farlo scratched his head. “I’m usually pretty good at this. How many days?”
“A whole weekend, one time.”
Farlo looked down to Tina, “It’s not worth it, is it girl?”
Tina Barked.
“What?” asked Joey G.
“Let’s go. I don’t want to miss Harry J again,” barked Farlo sounding like an agitated pit bull. He turned and walked toward the delivery door of the Crack House. Tina followed. Joey G stood still basking in his victory over Farlo.
Farlo reached the door, turned back, and said, “Well? You gonna stand there recalling the one exciting moment in your life before I entered it?”
Joey G scurried to the delivery door. He said, “What’s the plan? Will you mentor me on how to handle the beautiful, fully figured African American woman who digs me? What about the tough dame. She thinks I’m cute. I got two hot women after me.”
“What you have, kid, are two beautiful women who want to do charity work. No more talk, follow me.” Farlo opened the delivery door. It opened to the hallway. The tough dame stood three-fourths of the way down the hall and pointed to a room. She blew a kiss toward the trio.
Farlo extended his right arm, pretended he caught the kiss, and put his hand on his lips and sent a kiss back. The tough dame mimicked Farlo’s moves, turned and walked toward a door that left to the Crack House’s store.
Joey G whispered, “That move was so unfair. Her kiss was meant for me. I’m sure it was. If I had a few more seconds I would have made an acrobatic catch to put you to shame.”
Farlo ignored Joey G’s complaint and strode down the hallway. He stopped by the door indicated by the tough dame. Tina sat on her haunches next to Farlo. Joey G trailed, practicing extending his left arm high over his head.
When Joey G approached Farlo and Tina, Farlo put his finger to his lips and pointed to the door. Farlo stepped toward the door and put his ear against it. Joey G did the same. Tina sat on her haunches, feeling superior to the human species because dogs had super sensitive hearing.
Farlo pulled his head back from the door, Joey G stayed against the door. Farlo grabbed Joey G by the shoulder and yanked him back. He got up close to Joey G’s face and whispered, “On the count of two we’re going in. Get your head in the game.”
Joey G whispered, “What’s with counting to two instead of three?”
“I’m making it simple for you,” growled Farlo.
Farlo placed his hand on the door knob. He slowly twisted it. He moved the door a fraction of an inch, it wasn’t locked. “One, two.”
Farlo opened the door, walked in and stared at five people, three men and two women sitting in chairs who were focused on a solitary figure sitting on a folding chair in front of them. Tina and Joey G stood in order behind Farlo. Joey G was wondering if Farlo’s body would stop any bullet before it reached him.
Who are these people? Which one is Harry J? Is Filo in the room?
“You’re so tight, you squeak when you walk. I want to get paid. Can you at least give me an allowance?” pouted Joey G.
Farlo, had the B & W in cruise control at 95 miles an hour through a series of hospital, residential, and high end shopping zones where the maximum speed was 30 miles an hour. He was talking on his cell phone, looking occasionally at Joey G, nodding his head, and then balanced the steering wheels between his knees and started texting. His traffic violations exponentially adding up.
Farlo continued texting. He turned toward Joey G. Joey G screamed, grabbed hold of the steering wheel and pulled it sharply to the right, avoiding getting broadsided by a city garbage truck. The B & W instead, went through the plate glass window of Rokowski’s finest jewelry. The B & W came a rest with its hood smashed into a case holding expensive diamond engagement rings.
“I suppose you’re going to scream at me and give me a gig for saving your life. I don’t care anymore. Gig me. Scream at me. Make me do pushups. It doesn’t matter.”
“I was talking to Filo. You came up in our conversation. That’s all you need to know. BTW, you passed the toughness test, Joey G. You don’t care anymore. Let’s go, we’ll commandeer the garbage truck. You commandeer it. Use Tina, I’ll be right behind you. This is your first solo test.”
“Filo was talking about me? I passed the toughness test?” Joey G, beaming with pride, was out of the B & W first, Tina followed Joey out the passenger door. He sprinted out of the jewelry shop and headed down 4th Ave toward the city garbage truck that was parked at the curb with the driver and her assistant pointing at the jewelry store.
It took one minute, thirty-three seconds according to Farlo for Joey G to reach the garbage truck.
Joey G came to stop in front of the garbage truck workers, he said, “Police, the name is Martinez, I’m commandeering the truck, we’re on an emergency call.”
The fully figured, radiantly beautiful, African American woman garbage truck driver said, “Not so fast Martinez, who’s going to pick the trash on 4th Ave? These people have an expectation of the garbage department. We have high standards even though we pick up refuse.”
Joey G looked around for Farlo. There was no Farlo. He looked around for Tina. Tina was two stops ahead sniffing at garbage bags from Bubba’s Barbeque Shoppe.
Joey G said the first thing that came into his mind, “Don’t worry about the garbage, we’ll take care of it as soon as we respond to the emergency.”
The garbage truck driver looked at Joey G. “You don’t look like a Martinez, you’re too white.”
“I’m full bloodied Mexican Senorita. If you have time, why don’t we meet at O’Rourke’s for a margarita after my shift, say 9 p.m.?”
“Only a cool Mexican dude would hand me that line. The truck is yours, cool Mexican dude, see you at O’Rourke’s.
Joey climbed into the cab of the garbage truck. He called for Tina. Tina came galloping down 4th Ave. In two bounds, she was in the truck, the remains of three mostly eaten beef ribs from Bubba’s Barbeque Shoppe in her mouth.
He put the garbage truck in gear when the passenger door opened. Farlo jumped in as Joey was pulling out. “Good work Kid. Who’s going to pick up the garbage? The city garbage department has high standards.”
“Martinez?” Joey asked.
“I’ve got her from 8 to 9. I have Margaret from 9:30 to 10:30 and Kelly from 11 to closing.”
“You’re nuts, they’ll kill you. You can’t treat them that way,” said Joey G.
“You think they’ll mind when I give them a ring from Rokowski’s?”
“You stole the rings? You’re a thief on top of everything else,” said Joey.
“Don’t call me a thief until you walk a mile in my shoes,” said Farlo.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Joey driving within the legal speed limit.
“Who the hell knows. It usually works and generates lots of sympathy,” said Farlo.
“Thanks for the tip. Do you mind it if I occasionally use it?” asked Joey.
“Not at all,” said Farlo.
“I think I’m getting the hang of working with you. The garbage truck driver is meeting me at O’Rourke’s at 9. Do you have an extra ring?”
Farlo looked at his cell phone. It’s 7:40. I’ll never make it in time for Martinez. I’m going to call and move her to midnight to closing. I’ll move Kelly back to 10 to 11:45, and I’ll put Margaret in from 8:30 to 9:45. Don’t bother me while I text. It’s getting complicated.”
“Alameda is five minutes away. How do you want to handle the crack house?”
“I’m dealing in human relations issues, don’t bother me,” said Farlo.
How will Farlo juggle three dates on the same night? Will the rescue Harry J? Do they even care about Harry J? Who will pick up the trash on 4th Ave.?
The old guy stood in the living room. He looked over at the sofa. An opened pizza box rested on one of the cushions. A half empty bag of chips sat next to the pizza box. He shook his head. He looked at the floor. A dozen empty beer cans were scattered around. He turned to Joey and said, “Your house is a dump.”
“You haven’t seen the kitchen, it’s worse,” said Joey hoping the hold guy would take off.
The old guy maneuvered his way around the beer cans. He turned his cane upside side and swung at a can as it were a golf ball. The can lift off the floor and hit Joey in the stomach.”
“Hey, watch it,” said Joey.
“The next one is coming at your head,” said the old guy.
Joey hustled in front of the old guy and kicked two cans out of the way.”
“You don’t like my crib, you can leave. There’s the door,” said Joey extending his arm and pointing to partially open door.
“No, I not leaving. You are going to clean this up, or …”
Joey interrupted him, “Or what?”
The old man put his left hand to his jaw, thought about what he was going to say. The he said, “I don’t like violence as a first response. So, instead of teaching you a lesson. I have my friend who will be living with me make sure you clean this place.”
Joey looked around. He didn’t see anyone. “What friend.”
“She’ll be living with me. Don’t worry, we’ll share the same room,” said the old guy.
No woman tells me what to do. So, forget about it. I like this place just the way it is,” said Joey with an edge of anger in his voice.
“When is the last time you had a girlfriend, kid? Let’s see you’re almost thirty-four, going nowhere. I’ll guess the senior prom.
“I’m not a kid. That’s what you think. I’m a chick magnet when I go out.”
“I got ten dollars you can’t call a woman and get a date for tonight,” said the old man.
“Can,” said Joey.
“Where’s your ten?” said the old guy.
“I’m saving my money,” said Joey.
“You’re broke and payday isn’t for another four days. I’d call you a loser, but I don’t want to insult losers, kid,” said the old guy.
“I’m not a kid. That does it. Get out,” Joey took a step toward the old guy.
The old guy pivoted forty-five degrees and hollered, “Tina, come on in.”
Who is Tina? Will she straighten Joey out? Who is the old guy? And, why did he come to Joey’s house? Come by tomorrow to find out.
Remember when you were a child and you entered a world you created? You and I still have our childlike imagination. Perhaps we’ve stored it in a closet or the attic. It’s time to find it, dust it off, and put to use to renew our life, renew our relationships, renew our community. Enjoy a 1 minute Vimeo video and let your imagination soar.
The Journey of Imagination from Wildek Entertainment on Vimeo.
