Joe The Hatter & The Black Pearl (3) He travels the rout that Joe was given by Pepino Secci. It is a circuitous path which takes better than an hour to traverse. Arriving at a three story building Harlan looks for the basement apartment. Finding the entrance around the side of the building he rings the door bell and waits for an answer. Through the door a gruff voice asks “who’s there?” “Grocery boy.” Harlan answers nervously. Slowly the door begins to open and as slowly Harlan steps inside. Immediately he is met by a large man who says “OK kid hand it over.” The man’s hands are almost as large as Harlan and his face looks like someone had hit it with the flat side of a shovel several times. The man’s name is Levio Spezzi, one of Marco Butcher Boy) Retini’s bodyguards. Looking into the face of this monster Harlan says “I can’t do that mister. Mr. Joe told me to give this here bag only to Mr. Pepino.” “You tellin me kid you aint gonna give me that there bag?” “Yes mister.” The big man looks at the boy then reaches over and picks him up by his jacket collar and proceeds to walk with him in hand to a room where a man is sitting behind a desk, which is covered with money. “This here pick-a-ninny says he aint gonna give that there bag to no one except Pepino.” The big man says laughing. “Is that right kid?” The man behind the desk asks. “Yes mister.” Harlan replies as he’s still held aloft by the big man. “Levio put the malanziano down.” The man behind the desk orders the big man. Levio Spezzi lets go of the boy who falls to the floor. Looking down at the boy the big man smiles exposing a set of gold teeth. “Ya got a lot of guts kid.” The big man says as he watches the boy get to his feet as he still clutching the bag. “I like you kid you’re alright.” Levio Spezzi exclaims. Marco Retini leans across the desk and says “OK kid hand it over.” Harlan clutching the bag harder than ever steps back from the desk saying “I can’t do that mister.” The look that comes across Butcher Boy’s face scares the boy enough so that he starts to yell at the top of his lungs “Mr. Pepino, Mr. Pepino.” From the next room the voice of Pepino Secci can be heard saying “who the fuck is callin me?” Entering the room he sees Harlan standing his back against a wall at the far end of the room clutching the bag as Marco approaches him menacingly. “Marco what the fuck are ya doin, this is the kid from Joe The Hatter. Ya scarin the shit out him.” “Not this kid he’s got guts.” Marco replies smiling at the kid. “That’s right he’s got gut.” Levio Spezzi adds. “Harlan c’mhere.” Pepino Secci says to the frightened boy. “Is that ya name kid Harley like the motorcycle?” Levio Spezzi asks. “What the fuck is wrong with you, didn’t ya hear me call em Harlan, Harlan.” Pepino Secci says chastising the big man. “It sounded like the motorcycle to me.” The big man mumbles to himself. “Never mind that motorcycle stuff give that there bag to Pepino.” Marco commands the boy. Harlan hands the bag to Pepino saying ya got my money Mr. Pepino?” “What money is he talkin about?” Marco asks glaring at the kid. “I told him I’d give him five bucks for every run.” Pepino explains. “Give the boss his money.” Marco exclaims smiling at the boy. Pepino takes a roll of bills from his pocket and peels off one and hands it to the kid saying “Ya did a good kid.” Still smiling Marco exclaims that’s what I’m gonna call ya from now on The Little Boss.” “Yeah Little Boss .” Levio Spezzi repeats. At that moment Josey Caputo enters the room she’s Marco’s girl friend. “What’s all this racket about?” She asks. Seeing Harlan she asks “what’s the pick-a-ninny doin here?” This here’s the Little Boss.” Marco replies putting his arm around Harlan. “ So you’re the boss and this is the Little Boss eh.” Josey says looking at the kid. “Are ya hungry kid?” Marco asks. Harlan looks at Pepino Secci for guidance. “Sure he’s hungry, kids is always hungry.” Pepino says smiling his toothy smile. “Yeah go on Josey take the kid and give em some eats.” Marco instructs the woman. “C’mon kid lets go to the kitchen and I’ll fix ya up.” “Hey Josey, he only a kid, what’s this fixin up ya talkin about?” Marco asks. “Yeah, yeah, from the look of him he might be better than some I know.” Josey snaps back, bringing about laughter among the men. As Harlan follows the woman out of the room Pepino Secci dumps the contents of the bag on Marco’s desk where he begins to count it. Harlan follows the woman down a long hallway to the rear of the apartment. In reality Marco’s headquarters is not a normal apartment but two joined together by knocking out the adjoining walls of an adjacent apartment, creating this very large complex of rooms with several exits. Arriving at the kitchen Josey asks “how hungry are ya kid?” “Not very Mrs.” Harlan answers. “First of all I’m no Mrs., I’m Josey OK?” “OK Miss Josey.” “Well Miss Josey is OK.” Harlan has never encountered a woman as beautiful as Josey, the tight skirt she wears accentuates her well developed body. Her well developed breasts can hardly be contained in the blouse she wears. Her every movement has been choreographed to entice men, and Harlan is a man even though he doesn’t know it yet. All this plus the perfume she wears is most intoxicating to the boy who is approaching that age when boys begin to experience the urges of men. To Harlan Josey is the most beautiful woman in the world. “If ya aint hungry how about somethin to drink?” Josey asks in her rough but yet sultry voice. “OK Miss. Josey.” “How about some Ginger Ale?” “I’s like that.” As the boy downs the content of a glass Josey watches and then asks “how ya come to know these guys?” “I’s works for Mr. Joe.” The boy replies. “Mr. Joe?” Josey asks not recognizing the name. “I’s shine shoes for Mr. Joe and help Mr. Nino in the barber shop.” “Oh ya work for those two old guys over on Morris Park Avenue, Joe The Hatter.” Josey says smiling. “That’s Mr. Joe alright.” Harlan exclaims happily. “Ya look like a nice kid, stay that way, don’t let these mamelukes change ya. Now ya better get goin it’s gettin late.” Josey says to the kid as she ushers him back to the front door. As Harlan steps out onto the street he turns and says “thanks for the drink Miss Josey.” “My pleasure kid.” Comes the reply as the woman closes the door behind Harlan. All the way back to the shoe shine parlor the boy fingers the five dollar bill in his pocket, he’s never had one before. No sooner does he step into the store when he hears the voice of Joe The Hatter asking “how did ya make out?” It never occurs to the boy that if someone was watching him the whole way Joe wouldn’t have to ask that question he would know. After all is said and done Harlan is still a child. “OK Mr. Joe.” The kid answers with pride. “Ya gave the bag to Mr. Pepino like I said?” The kid goes on to relate his experience with Levio Spezzi and Marco (Butcher Boy) Retini. As Joe listens a hint of a smile comes to his face. “Good boy .” Joe says rubbing the boy’s head. “Hers Mr. Joe.” The kid says as he hands Joe the five dollar bill. “What’s this ?” Joe asks a puzzled look coming to his face. “This is the money Mr. Pepino give me.” “This is what Mr. Pepino give ya?” Joe repeats. “Yeah.” “What the hell ya givin it to me for?” “For my eats Mr. Joe.” Joe looks at the boy holding the five dollar bill in his outstretched hand for a long moment then says “did I ask ya for any dough?” “No. Mr. Joe.” “Well when I ask ya for dough ya gimme dough, until then stick it back in ya pocket and don’t be showin it to nobody. C’mon we gotta eat Mr. Nino made a fritatta.” “What’s that Mr. Joe.” “Don’t worry ya gonna like it.” Joe answers as he escorts the boy to the back room. It is a few days before Thanksgiving and as usual Joe is hard at work in the store, old man Ligonetti is cutting hair at a terrific rate. The holiday season has descended upon them. Every day Joe is asked what he’s going to do for Thanksgiving and every day he give his customary answers to the inquisitor “fuck you and Thanksgiving.” Vinny Melciano a smart aleck kid of twenty is sitting on one of the chairs having his shoes shined by Harlan. As he watches the boy work he asks “hey kid do you guys eat turkey on Thanksgiving or do ya ear a big fuckin watermelon?” Looking up Harlan replies saying “I don’t know mister, what’s Thanksgiving?” “Ya don’t know what Thanksgivin is, what are ya stupid or somethin?” “Hey Joe did ya hear this the Tootsie Roll don’t know what Thanksgivin is, aint that the nuts?” Vinny is laughing uncontrollably when Joe turns and says “Hey you.” “Who me?” Vinny asks in his wiseguy manner. Is there any other stroonze in here besides you.” Joe says sternly. The veins in his neck starting to bulge from the anger which are starting to well up inside of him. “I don’t want ya talkin to this here kid while he’s workin, capish?” “Hey Joe I was just kiddin.” “Well I aint, so if ya know what’s good for ya shut the fuck up.” “Hey this aint Italy and you aint Mussolini.” The kid snaps back. It all happened very quickly, Joe grabs the kid by his foot and yanks him off the chair. As he tumbles down to the floor Joe grabs him by the seat of his pants and his shirt collar and pushes him out the door of the store on to the sidewalk where he comes to rest at the feet of some passers by. Nino Ligonetti seeing the boy go flying through the air out on to the sidewalk runs around through the back room to see what happened. Blacky, Blacky what a happen?” He asks Harlan “Mr. Joe got mad.” The boy answers. “Why he get a mad?” “I don’t know Mr. Nino.” “Hey Joe what a you do?” The old man asks Joe. “I threw the little pain the ass out of my store, that’s what I did .” Joe answers returning to his work. “Madonna mia I know you a throw him a out I see him a fly. What for you throw him a out?” “He was bothering the kid, he wouldn’t let him work.” Joe answers tersely. “Male educato, figlio di strega .” The old man says shaking his head as he returns to his shop. A few moments after the old man leaves Joe turns to the boy and asks “is that true what you told that pain in the ass, about not knowin what Thanksgivin is?” “Yes Mr. Joe. Do you know what it is?” “yeah sure I do.” Joe replies confidently. The man and the boy go about their work for the better part of an hour when Joe says “hey kid this Thanksgivin stuff aint so hard to understand, c’mhere and I’ll give ya the low down about it.” Harlan sets his shoeshine box down and seats himself next to where Joe is working on a hat. “It’s this way kid a long time ago a lot of people came over here to this country on a couple of boats. this was a long time after Columbus and the Italians got here. The boats took off and left the people with nothin except what they could carry so things were pretty tough the first year. The people who made it through the first year without croakin got together and threw a party. They even invited the Indians , the ones that didn’t kill anybody that is. The reason they threw the party was because they were happy they didn’t croak. That’s why every year around this time everybody throws a party because they are happy they aint croaked yet. They call the party Thanksgivin. Do ya understand now kid?” “Yeah Mr. Joe. I’m sure glad you aint croaked.” Joe looks at the boy and says “sometimes it’s better to croak kid.” It’s Thanksgiving, the boy is fast asleep on his mattress in the back room. Joe and old man Ligonetti told him he didn’t have to get up to make the coffee, because they would be closed for the day. It is twelve noon when Joe puts the key in the lock of the front door to his shop, the sleeping boy doesn’t hear him enter. Going to the back room and seeing the boy sleeping he goes to the barber shop and sits in one of the chairs where he begins to read a newspaper. It isn’t long before the boy awakes. Hearing the rustling of the newspaper coming from the barber shop he peeks out from the back room to see who’s there. Seeing Joe sitting in one of the barber chairs the asks “watch ya doin here Mr. Joe?” “Oh so ya finally woke up.” Joe exclaims as he swings the chair about to look at the boy. “You and Mr. Nino said I’s didn’t have to get up this mornin, aint that right?” “That’s right kid. If ya want to get back to sleep go ahead.” “I’m done sleepin Mr. Joe.” “Well if ya done sleepin do ya wanna come with me to the Greeks?” “Ya mean that eats place down the street?” “That’s right.” “What you wanna go there for Mr. Joe?” “Because he makes the best turkey dinner in the whole Bronx.” “You gonna eat one of them turkey dinners Mr. Joe?” “You and me kid, we’re gonna eat. So get dressed and lets get goin.” A broad smile comes to the face of the boy as he thinks of going to the Greeks for a turkey dinner with his benefactor Mr. Joe. As soon as the boy is dressed he and Joe leave the store and head for the Greeks Café, down the street. As the boy and Joe enter the café they are met by a big man with a large black mustache under his nose, he is Georges Triantopolis the owner. “Joe, Joe where you been?” The big man bellows upon seeing Joe and the boy enter. “Workin Greek like always.” “Who’s your friend?” “This here is Harlan he works for me and old man Ligonetti.” “How’s the old man?” “Just as big a pain in the ass as ever.” Joe answers a hint of a smile coming to his face. “My name is Georges Demetrius Triantopolis the owner of this beautiful café. Everybody calls me Greek. I am glad to make you acquaintance.” The big man says to Harlan. “Me to Mr. Greek.” Harlan replies shaking the man’s hand. Seating the boy and Joe at one of the many booths in the café the Greek asks “what’s it gonna be gents?” I brung Harlan here for one of ya turkey dinners Greek, today being Thanksgivin and all.” Joe answers. “He brought you to the right place kid, nobody cooks the turkey like the Greek.” With that the big man disappears into the kitchen of the café. A short time later the Greek returns beating two turkey dinners. Setting them down in front of Joe and the boy he exclaims “two turkey dinners specialty of the Greeks Café.” Looking at the plate of food in front of him the boy says “these eats sure look good Mr. Joe.” “Dig in kid.” Joe replies. It doesn’t take long for the boy to polish off the food in the plate as well as two glasses of milk and a deluxe piece of pumpkin pie. Walking up to the table the Greek asks “how were the eats gents?” “Good like always Greek.” Joe answers wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “What’s the freight Greek?” Joe asks. “Let’s see two dinners, two glasses of milk, a deluxe piece of pie, and a cup off java that all comes to two dollars and fifteen cents.” Joe examines the bill and reaches into his pocket and withdraws a roll of bills held together by a rubber band. Placing two one dollar bills and three nickels on the table Joe says “your eats aint cheap Greek.” “Good eats cost.” The Greek replies scooping up the money as he speaks. Joe and the boy are standing out in front of the café. Turning to the boy Joe asks “how did ya like that there turkey?” “Themes were good eats Mr. Joe.” The boy answers happily. That there turkey was just like them there guys on the boats et.” “Just like what they et Mr. Joe?” “It sure was kid.” Joe answers knowingly. Looking up the street Joe sees the marquee of the local movie house. Turning to the boy he says “ya wanna go to the show kid?” “The picture show Mr. Joe?” “Yeah, the picture show kid.” A smile comes to the boy’s face as he and Joe walk up the street towards the movie house. Stepping up to the box office Joe says one and a half.” Before pressing the button which will dispense the tickets the woman inside the kiosk leans over and looks at Harlan then asks “how old is he?” Looking at Harlan Joe turns to the woman and says “I don’t know he’s a kid.” “I have to know his age before I can give him a child’s ticket.” The woman replies. “He’s a kid any jerk can see dat.” Joe snaps becoming irritated by the woman. “The boy must be twelve years of age or younger to qualify for a child’s ticket sir. I must ask you to provide proof of that sir.” Now Joe is really annoyed by the woman’s attitude and says ‘what the hell is wrong with you lady cant ya see he’s just a kid?” “Please sir I must ask you to control yourself or I will be forced to call the manager.” The woman snaps back at Joe in a haughty manner increasing Joe’s anger causing him to exclaim “oh ya will will ya. Well go ahead ya scrawny old bat.” It isn’t long before a man in a suit comes rushing from within the theater towards the box office. Arriving he asks the woman what the problem is. After listening to what the woman has to say he turns to Joe and says “sir you must understand we have the right to know the boys age before we issue him a child’s ticket.” The veins on Joe’s neck show signs of starting to pop as he replies to the man saying: “Let me tell ya somethin pal if I knew the kid’s age I would have told her. Now why don’t ya be a regular guy and give me the god damned ticket before I kick the shit out ya.” As the blood drains from the man’s face he turns to the woman and says “give him his tickets.” Later that day Joe and the boy are entering the shoeshine parlor when the boy turns to Joe and says “I sure like that there picture show Mr. Joe.” “Yeah it was real good kid.” Joe replies. Looking around the store Joe says “ well kid I guess I’ll be shovin off, see ya tomorrow.” “Ya goin Mr. Joe?” The way the kid asks the question makes Joe uneasy. “Yeah kid I got some things I gotta take care of.” Joe replies not wanting to look at the kid. “What are ya gonna do now?” Joe asks the boy. “Ya aint gonna be sneakin around no alleys are ya?” “No sir Mr. Joe.” “I’s likes to listen to the radio.” I’s sits up there and listens .” The boy says pointing to one of the chairs in the store.” “No kiddin what do ya listen to?” Joe asks. “Jack Benny, some scary stuff.” The boy answers watching Joe for his reaction. “Let’s see what’s on now.” Joe says as he reaches up to switch on an old Atwater Kent radio which sits on a shelf over the entryway to the back room. The orange glow of the radios dial becomes brighter as it warms up. By this time it is the only light in the now dark store. Joe and the boy sit high above the floor in the raised chairs listening to the voice of H.V. Caltenbourne issuing from the radio commenting on the affairs of the nation. There in the dark man and boy sit listening. It never occurred to Joe or Nino Ligonetti to ask the boy his age until the incident at the movie house. For days after the incident the question bothered Joe, so much so that one afternoon he takes Nino aside and asks “how old do ya think the kid is?” “Who knows, a blacky they all look a the same I can’t a tell.” The old man replies looking at Joe as if he were sick. “C’mon he’s only a kid for Christ’s sake. How old do ya think he is?” Joe snaps irritating the old man. “Va ficcare en culo.” The old man snaps back. “I’m sorry Nino, I’m just worried that we may be doin something wrong keepin the kid workin here, maybe he should be in school or somethin. I don’t want him growin up to be a palooka.” “Ma I think a you a right. But what are we gonna a do throw him a out?” “No, but if we are gonna make him got to school we gotta know how old he is they are gonna want to know.” “I know what we can a do.” The old man states with certainty. “What’s that.” Joe asks wondering what the old man has in mind. “We take a him to Il Doctore Carponetta.”
Copyright © 1995 Lawrence Anthony Calabro |