Joe The Hatter & The Black Pearl (2) Joe was right the next morning came very quickly. Before the kid knew it the old man was pushing him with his foot and saying “get up blacky, we got to go to a the work.” The kid stands up and rubs his eyes. “Blacky I’m a gonna a show a you how to make a the café, so when I a come to open a the store it’s already a make. Capire?” The boy looks at Nino Ligonetti and indicates that he doesn’t understand. “Capire, capire, that a mean you a understand.” Nino Ligonetti says slowly. “You better for to learn how to speak a the Italiano if you want to get along around a here, Manage diavolo.” After showing the boy how to brew the coffee Nino tells him to go and wash up in the sink in the back room. “When was a the last a time you take a the bath?” Nino asks. “I don’t remember.” The boy replies. “Che puzzare!” The old man exclaims. “This a wash in a the sink she’s a no good a for you, you need for to wash all over. I be tight a back.” With that the old man leaves the barber shop. He isn’t gone but a few minutes when Joe shows up asking : “where’s the old man, where’s Nino?” “He went out and said he will be right back.” The boy answers as he watches Joe pour himself a cup of the black coffee. “Did ya ear?” Joe asks the boy. “No.” Joe pours out another cup of the black liquid and places it in front of the boy along with a brown paper bag saying “eat.” Reaching into the bag the boy withdraws a long brown biscuit. Biting into the biscuit the boy can hardly make a dent in it. “No,no not like that.” Joe says upon seeing the boy trying to bite into the biscuit. “Like this.” Joe says taking the biscuit from the boy and dunking it into the hot cup of coffee and returning it to him. A smile comes to the boy’s face as he devours the softer biscuit. “Good, eh. This is biscotti.” Joe tells the kid. “Say it b i s c o t t i. “ “B i z c a t t i.” The kid repeats. Joe hands the kid another biscuit and he consumes it as fast as the first. “Enough eatin now we go to work.” Joe says rising from his seat. Nino Ligonetti bursts through the front door of the barber shop holding over his head a large wash tub exclaiming “I’m a back now we a wash.” “What the hell are ya gonna do with that thing?” Joe asks upon seeing the large tub. “It’s a for blacky for to a wash. A schifo.” Joe sniffs the air then says “you’re right che puzzare.” The old man places the tub on the floor in the middle of the room then says “OK blacky take off a the clothes. Slowly the boy removes his clothes until he stands naked in the middle of the room. “One thing is a for a sure he’s a blacky through and a through.” The old man exclaims as he motions the boy into the tub and pours water over him. After scrubbing the grime form the boy he turns to Joe and says “he no a black as a before.” “What are we gonna do for clothes?” Joe asks. “Ma I forget about a the clothes, they a schifo too.” The old man exclaims hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand. “Take it easy I’ll be right back.” Joe says as he walks out of the shop. Not too long after he returns with a beat up old suitcase saying “here ya go kid ya should find somethin in there to wear and I got ya some drawers too. “Ah mutande.” The old man repeats. Just as Joe predicted the kid found something to wear in the suitcase. “Who belong a to these a clothes?” Nino Ligonetti asks. “Anthony.” Joe answers . “Oh” the old man says as he looks at the suitcase. “You keep a these clothes all a these years?” “Yeah.” Joe answers sharply. “It’s a good a thing you a keep, if a you don’t blacky be culo a fuori.” The old man says laughing. “Yeah, yeah just as long as the stuff fits.” Joe snaps. After the boy has dressed Joe takes him into his store saying “OK kid the first thing I’m gonna show ya is how to shine a pair of shoes. Listen to what I tell ya.” “OK Mr. Joe.” The kid replies as he looks around the shoeshine parlor with it’s chairs sitting high above the floor on a marble pedestal their brass foot rests shining brightly and the red leather upholstery glowing in the morning light coming through the store window. The mahogany arms of the chairs are worn smooth from years of use the wood becoming richer in color because of it. Up at the front of the store is where Joe cleans and blocks gentlemen’s hats the machine with it’s steam pipes faintly hissing frightens the boy momentarily until Joe explains what it does. “This here is where we shine shoes left by the customers, some customers leave shoes to be shined instead of gettin up on the chair. This is where ya put the shoes when ya gonna shine em.” Joe says pointing to two steel shoe horns which are bolted to the wall and swing out on a hinge for use. Ya put the shoes on here, the right one on the right and the left one on the left, it’s just like the guy was here. OK?” “OK Mr. Joe.” The boy replies as he stares at the contraption. “Ya see these here shoes, these shoes are called wing tipped cordovans. The first thing ya gotta do is brush off the dirt and the dust with this here brush.” Joe says holding up a large bushy bristled brush. “If ya don’t do this the shine aint gonna come out right, capish?” The boy looks at Joe not knowing what to say. “Capish, capish, that means do ya understand.” Joe explains to the kid. “Oh I understand Mr. Joe.”: “After ya do that ya take this here bottle of light brown polish, why light brown because the shoes is light brown, capish?” “I’s capish Mr. Joe.” Joe proceeds to apply the liquid to the shoes with a small brush. “Now ya wait a minute to let it dry.” Joe says watching the kid to see if he’s paying attention. Now ya take this here can of light brown polish and with the rag that’s inside ya start puttin on the shoes like this.” Joe says as he applies the polish , the can in one hand, the rag in the other. His movements are so quick they appear a blur to the watching boy. “Now once ya got the shoes covered real good with this here polish ya start brushin it in with this here brush.” Picking up a stiff bristled brush Joe begins to brush each shoe vigorously. “Don’t be afraid to use some muscle. Capish?” “Yes Mr. Joe.” “Now when ya done brushin ya do it all over again except for the stuff in the bottle, ya only do that at the beginning. When ya finish puttin on the second coat of polish then ya take this here rag and ya start shinin, this is where ya find out if ya did a good job. If ya didn’t no matter how much ya use the rag on the shoe it aint gonna shine, ya understand that right?” I’s understands that Mr. Joe. “We put polish on two times because we give good shines around here.” Joe states proudly. “This is how ya use the rag .” Joe says picking up a rag from a box marked light brown. Taking the ends of the rag in each hand Joe begins to shine one of the shoes. Once again Joe’s hand movement is like a blur to the boy. As if by magic the shoe begins to glisten. Joe does the same thing to the other shoe with the same results. After both shoes have been shined to a brilliance Joe takes a small bottle from it’s place on a shelf directly above where the shoes are being shined. He dabs a drop of clear liquid from the bottle on the tip of each shoe and begins to shine once again with the rag. It would be hard to believe that the already achieved brilliance could be in creased but it is making the shoes literally sparkle. “What’s that stuff Mr. Joe?” The boy asks pointing to the bottle. “Lanolin.” Joe answers. “Where’s it come from?” “From a goat or somethin, don’t worry about it, just remember a little bit goes a long way.” “How do ya like the way them shoes shine?” Joe asks the boy proudly. “Damn nice Mr. Joe!” The boy exclaims. “Hey watch ya cursin Mr. Ligonetti and me run class joints, some times even ladies come in.” Joe says seriously. “Sorry Mr. Joe.” The boy says sheepishly. “Well just watch yaself.” “You think a you can a do what a Joe just a show a you Blacky?” Nino Ligonetti asks, having been watching the whole time. “Yes sir Mr. Leowetty.” The boy answers proudly. “What he a call a me?” “What did ya call him?” Joe asks. “What ya told me to.” “What was that?” “Mr. Leowetty.” “Ma quistu ca sonno ignorante!” The old man exclaims. The slightest hint of a smile comes to Joe’s lips as he says “look kid why don’t ya just call him Mr. Nino.” “OK Mr. Joe.” The boy responds happy not to have to pronounce Ligonetti. OK kid remember light brown shoes, light brown box, black shoes black box, brown shoes brown box and oxblood shoes oxblood box Joe says pointing to several boxes sitting under the chairs. If ya run out of anything let me know and I’ll fix ya up.” Joe says handing the boy a pair of shoes from a row of about 11 pairs to be shined. Picking up the box marked black the boy runs his hand over it. It has become highly polished from years of use the original oak has turned almost black from the weather and perspiration from those who have used it before him. In one corner of the box is carved the letters JOE, 1925. “These here shoes have to be shined by twelve o-clock so get goin.” Joe exclaims. The day went by quickly for the boy. When he was done shining the eleven pair of shoes old man Ligonetti showed him how to polish the brass and chrome in the barber shop. He was also shown how to shine the mirrors, sweep the floor, let down the awning outside of both shops and became acquainted with the hot towel machine, his job was to make sure it never ran out. He had to keep the newspapers and magazines neatly stacked and at the end of the day throw out the newspapers. Also if a customer while he was getting his shoes shined or his hair cut wanted a cigar or a pack of cigarettes it was the boy’s job to run across the street to the candy store and get them. On his first day the boy shined forty six pairs of shoes under Joe’s close scrutiny. Every time he made a mistake Joe would exclaim “sfachime pay attention, do like I showed ya.” All in all it wasn’t a bad day for Harlan Clayton as he lay his head down on the mattress Joe had gotten for him to sleep on. Weeks went by and Harlan worked every day in the shoeshine parlor and barber shop. He had long since paid his debt to Joe and old man Ligonetti. Joe told him this one night along with the fact that he could leave anytime he wanted. When he asked Joe if he could stay Joe said he could, not showing any emotion over the boy’s decision. Over the following months the boy became well liked by those who patronized both establishments. Money from his tips he saved in an old cigar box which he hid behind a loose wall board in the back room. One day a man came into the barber shop, not a regular customer, he was not known to either Nino or Joe, he was not even of the neighborhood. Sitting down in one of the vacant barber chairs the man exclaims “leave the sides a little long and don’t use the machine, I want all scissors. Ya understand pops?” Nino Ligonetti looks at the man he’s seen his type before as far as he was concerned guy like this were all disgraziato prima classe. As the old man sets about cutting the man’s hair Harlan enters the shop from the back room. He goes about his duties as always . “Does this pick-a-ninny work for you?” The man asks Nino. “He work a for a me and a the place next a door.” Nino answers. “Does he shine shoes?” “Yeah he shine a the shoe.” Nino replies not wanting to engage the man in conversation. “Hey nigger c’mhere.” The man calls to Harlan. Walking slowly over to the man Harlan says “yes Mr.” “I want ya to shine these here shoes.” The man says pointing to the shoes on his feet. “Yes sir I’ll go and get my box.” The boy replies as he turns to go. “Hold on there a minute I want ya to take these here shoes off and shine em.” “Yes sir.” Harlan replies as he begins to unlace the man’s shoes. “Now you be careful nigger I don’t want ya ruinin my shoes.” Just as Harlan remove the man’s remaining shoe the voice of Joe The Hatter can be heard to say “give the man back his shoes Harlan.” “Wait a minute I want this little nigger to shine my shoes.’ The man bellows. “First of all he aint no nigger and second of all he aint gonna shine your shoes.” Joe exclaims looking at the man coldly. “Says who?” The man demands. “Says me.” Joe replies bringing a baseball bat into view. “Joe’s a right blacky is a no nigger I want you out of a my shop.” Nino Ligonetti shouts at the man as he picks up a straight razor from the counter top next to him. The man beats a hasty retreat from the barber shop holding his shoes in his hand. “That son a ma bitch, who he think he a is. Come in a here like he a the king or somebody, figlio di puttana.” The old man exclaims standing in the doorway to his shop. “Harlan c’mhere.” Joe says to the boy. “Yes Mr. Joe.” The boy replies as he walks over to Joe his eyes as wide as saucers from what has just taken place. “The next time anybody calls you a nigger you come and tell me. Capish?” “Yes Mr. Joe.” “The same a thing a for a me blacky.” Nino Ligonetti exclaims holding up his straight razor. “Harlan I want to talk to you about somethin, come to the back room for a minute.” Joe says to the boy. “Sure Mr. Joe .” The boy replies as he follows Joe into the back room. In the back room Joe seats himself at the table and sips a cup of coffee. Looking at the boy he asks “you wanna make a couple of extra bucks?” “What I gotta do Mr. Joe?” “Well I gotta talk to Mr. Secci first.” “Hey Joe wadda you a do?” Nino Ligonetti asks having overheard the conversation. “I’m givin the kid a chance to make some extra dough.” Joe replies. “You think Secci a gonna do a this?” “Who would pay attention to a kid especially a pick-a-ninny.” “Run a the slips back a to a the bank that’s no for the stunatto.” The old man says seriously. “Do you think the kid’s a stunatto?” “No, no he’s a good a boy. He do every a thing for what you a tell a him.” “Well?” “The bulls they never think for to look at a him, you got a the good idea Joe.” The old man says smiling. That afternoon like clockwork Pepino Secci appears to collect the day’s slips. Joe is busy cleaning a hat when he enters the store. “Joe come va?” Pepino asks. “Hey Pepino wadda ya say?” Joe replies. “I think I could use a shine.” Pepino replies as he seats himself in one of the chairs. “Hey kid ya got a customer.” Joe yells out. Harlan appears from the back room and upon seeing him Pepino says “put a smile on my shoes kid.” “Sure thing Mr. Pepino.” The boy replies he selects one of the boxes from beneath the chairs. Harlan knows Pepino very well he’s shined his shoes many times. “Your shoes sure do need a shine.” Mr. Pepino.” “Give em a good one kid.” Pepino replies smiling his toothy smile. “Hey Pepino, the new bull on the beat has been sniffin around ever since Mc Kinney retired. It looks like this new guy aint doin business.” Joe says as he continues cleaning the hat. “Has he said anything to ya?” “No he aint said nothin, he just stands over there by Testa’s and watches.” Joe says motioning towards a cop standing by a fruit stand across the street from his store. Looking across the street Pepino sees what Joe is talking about. “I see what ya mean.” “He thinks he’s foolin somebody by standin under the shadow of the awning the dumb flatfoot.” Joe exclaims becoming angry at the cop. “Is he there all the time?” Pepino asks. “Naw only when you show up, all this week he’s been there.” Joe answers. “Ya say ya can’t do business with this pain in the ass?” “That’s right, Philly Cagione felt him out and the guy almost ran Philly in.” Joe explains. “Somebody must be tippin this bum off about me, some schieve in the neighborhood. If I find out who the sfachime is he’s gonna get hurt.” Pepino says his face becoming contorted. “I got a proposition for ya.” “Oh yeah, what kind of a proposition?” Pepino asks. “Instead of you commin to pick up the slips we being it to you. This way ya don’t have to do business with the bull. Wadda ya say?” “You wanna take the chance Joe?” “Naw not me I got somebody else in mind.” “Who.” The kid here, Harlan.” “The kid?” “Yeah the kid.” Looking at Harlan as he shines his shoes Pepino says “I don’t know.” “The bulls would never think the kids collectin, the slips and the dough, let alone runnin it back to the bank.” Joe explains. Still looking at the boy Pepino smiles and says “you know ya got somethin there Joe, who would suspect a little pick-a-ninny. OK if this pain in the ass don’t want to do business, then we’ll just go around his fat Irish ass.” “Why do ya wanna do this kid ?” Pepino asks Harlan. “Because he needs the dough.” Joe exclaims interrupting the boy before he can answer. “What kind of dough is he lookin for?” “Five bucks a trip.” Joe replies matter of factly. “A five spot every trip, how about you kid are ya sold on this?” Pepino asks. Harlan looks in Joe’s direction. “Its OK kid answers him.” Joe says as he puts the newly cleaned hat into a paper bag and places it on a shelf above his workplace. “If Mr. Joe says it’s OK it’s OK with me.” The boy answers proudly. “I’ll talk to somebody.” Pepino says as he steps down from his seat. “They look real good kid like a million bucks, here ya go don’t spend it all in one place.” Pepino says upon viewing his newly shined shoes and tossing Harlan a fifty cent piece. “Thanks Mr. Pepino.” The boy says as he returns to what he was doing in the back room. A week goes by and Joe receives a note from Pepino saying that it’s OK to let the kid collect and bring the goods to the bank. On his first day Harlan visits all the stores that Pepino would have and collects the policy slips and the money. At each store he’s handed an envelope which he places in pants until he’s outside then he slips it into the wagon full of junk he pushes ahead of him. The new beat cop pays no attention to a pick-a-ninny pushing a junk cart from store to store. One time the cop asked one store owner if the kid was bothering him and when the owner said no to the contrary the kid takes junk off his hands the cop never bothered the kid again. Upon returning to the show shine parlor by the back alley he’s given instructions by Joe “remember somebody will be watchin ya every step of the way. If ya step out of line ya gonna get a beatin. Capish?” “Yes Mr. Joe.” The kid answers his eyes as large as silver dollars. There’s no one watching the boy Joe just wants to throw a scare into the kid in case he gets curious about what he’s carrying. It is dark and overcast when Harlan starts out it has been threatening to rain all day. Stepping out on to the street he feels as if a thousand eyes are upon him.
Copyright © 1995 Lawrence Anthony Calabro |