Joe The Hatter & The Black Pearl (4) “Doc Carponetta?” Joe exclaims in amazement. “Me sure, he tell a us how old a the blacky is.” “What are ya crazy he’ll start askin us all kinds of questions.” Joe protests. “Don’t a worry I take a care of every a thing.” The old man replies confidently. The day finally arrives when Joe and the old man are to take Harlan to see Dr. Carponetta. Not really the day more like the night, ten o-clock at night out be exact. Joe, the old man and the boy appear at the side entrance to Dr. Carmello Carponetta’s office which is located in his home. Joe pushes the door bell and in a few seconds it is answered by an elderly woman dressed in black. Looking at Joe, the old man and Harlan who is wrapped up like a mummy so no one can see his features. The woman asks in Italian “can I help you?” Replying in Italian Nino informs the woman that the doctor is expecting them. The woman looking at Harlan trying to discern his features asks in Italian what the nature of his illness is. Replying in Italian Nino tells the woman in so many words that it is none of her business. That if she doesn’t let them in she will have the death of the boy on her hands and that no matter how many times she goes to confession she will go to hell. Shaken by the old man’s statement the old woman opens the door and lets the trio in. Ushering the group to the doctor’s waiting room the woman invites them to have a seat and she will tell the doctor, her son they are here. Returning the woman asks in Italian “whose boy is it?” In Italian Joe tells the woman that it is his nephew visiting him from Argentina. The woman approaches the boy and in Italian says “why don’t you take off all those heavy clothes, it is warm in the waiting room.” Before Harlan can say anything Nino Ligonetti interrupts in Italian saying “the boy doesn’t speak Italian only Spanish.” The door to the doctor’s office opens and a woman exits followed by a distinguished looking man in a white coat. The man appears to be in his mid to late fifties. He is Doctor Carponetta. Carmello Carponetta has been serving the neighborhood for a good many years he knows everyone and everything that goes on throughout the area. “Good night Mrs. Scandeletti.” The doctor says in Italian to the departing woman. “Take the pills and everything should be fine in a few days .” The doctor continues. Replying in Italian the woman gushes “you have been most kind doctor good night.” Seeing Joe, Nino and the boy the doctor says “come right in.” Following the doctor into his office the trio seat themselves. Seated behind his large desk the doctor asks “alright what’s this all about coming here at this time of night. What’s wrong with you Nino and who’s this?” (pointing to the wrapped up Harlan) “There’s a nothing a wrong a with a me, it’s a him.” The old man replies pointing to the boy. “Him, who’s him?” “It’s this here kid.” Joe says interrupting the doctor. “So that’s what you got wrapped up like mummy, what ’s wrong with him?” “He aint sick, we want to know how old he is.” Joe replies. “Why don’t you ask him?” The doctor asks laughing at the two men. “We can a no ask a him.” Nino answers nervously. “What do you mean you cant ask him?” The doctor persists. “Because he don’t know.” Joe blurts out squirming in his seat. “What do you mean he doesn’t know, come here son lets get a look at you.” The doctor says as he begins to unwrap Harlan. As the clothes fall away from Harlan a look of amazement comes to the doctor’s face. “Whose kid is this?” He asks the two men. “Carmello don't a ask a too many a question.” Nino Ligonetti implores the doctor. “It’s obvious he doesn’t belong to either of you.” Look Doc can you just tell us how old he is, we would really appreciate it.” Joe says seriously. “Why do you want to know his age?” “Jesu Christi what’s a the big a deal for to want to know how old he is?” Nino exclaims becoming agitated with the doctor. “Alright, alright you two go outside and wait and don’t make any noise my mother’s just gone to bed.” Joe and the old man leave the office and return to the waiting room. “You see what a happen to a you when you live with a you mother to long, like a the doctore.” Nino says on his way to the waiting room. The better part of an hour goes by before the door to the doctor’s opens. Harlan enters the waiting room followed by a stern looking doctor Carponetta. “Well how old is he Doc.” Joe asks. “Harlan will you wait here while I talk to these two gentlemen in my office.” The doctor asks the boy as he motions Joe and the old man into his office. Joe and Nino enter the office once more and seat themselves in front of the doctor’s desk. Taking his seat the doctor still displaying the same stern demeanor he had when he entered the waiting room says “I’m not going to fool around with you two you have a very sick child out there.” “What do ya mean sick?” Joe asks taken by surprise by the doctor’s statement. “Look I want to know where this boy comes from, and don’t give me any trouble because if you do I’ll pick up this phone and call the police. The two men are taken aback by the doctor’s tone. Joe is the first to speak, he tell how the boy comes to be with he and the old man and how he’s been working in the shoeshine parlor and barber shop. Interrupting Joe the doctor says “I’ve heard enough I have to call the authorities, this boy needs further testing to confirm what I suspect and should be hospitalized to receive proper care.” “Hold on Doc what do ya mean he needs more testin?” Joe asks. “As I said he needs further testing to confirm my diagnosis and to ascertain how advanced the disease is. Somewhere in his twelve years, yes he’s twelve years old, the boy has contracted rheumatic fever. It is very evident that he’s never been treated by a doctor. That he’s alive is a miracle in itself. His heart is seriously damaged. “You can a fix him up no Carmello?” Then old man asks a concerned look coming to his old face. “That remains to be seen. That’s why he needs to be tested and the sooner the better.” “Look Doc you don’t have to call them there authorities me and Nino will do whatever has to be done for the kid.” Joe says nervously. “I don’t think you two realize how serious this is. This child will need constant looking after. No more shining shoes, no more sweeping up, polishing mirrors, nothing. The boy can’t undertake any strenuous activities. Oh and he tells me he sleeps in the back room what the hell is wrong with you two? This is a child not an animal.” Dr. Carponetta’s anger is very apparent. “This child needs serious attention and I’m not to sure you two are the ones to give it to him. I think it’ll be better all around if he’s placed in the hands of those who will see he gets the attention he needs.” Carmello please you gotta to a understand we find a this a kid , we fix him a up. He have a no money , we show a him how for to make a the money. He’s a good a boy, he’s la perla d I nero. (a black pearl) You tell us what a we gotta do and we a do it, please.” Nino implores the doctor. For what seems like an eternity the doctor looks at the two men. Finally he speaks saying “if you two don’t do exactly what I say when I say it I will have this child removed so fast you wont know it until after it happens. Capire?” “You don't have to worry Doc we’ll do everything ya tell us.” Joe says shaking the doctor’s hand. “Tomorrow I want you to take him to this hospital in Manhattan and see this doctor I will make the appointment tonight for you to see him the first thing in the morning.” Dr. Carponetta says as he writes on a pad. Now both of you get the hell out of here before I change my mind. And by the way Signore Ligonetti I’m like this naturally my mother living with me has nothing to do with it.” Months go by and the two men do exactly as they are instructed by Dr. Carponetta. Joe has brought the boy to live at his place, no more sleeping in the back room. He no longer works in the stores instead he goes to school, right around the corner at P.S-34. Things are going pretty good. Dr. Carponetta seems to have his medical problems under control and the boy is well liked by his peers in school and about the neighborhood. He still makes runs for Pepino Secci, he even runs errand for the girls at the local cat house. Joe tells him he doesn’t think it’s a good idea that he runs errands for the girls. The boy asks why and Joe nor knowing what to answer sends him to the old man for an answer. When the boy asks the old man why he shouldn’t run errands for the girls the old man asks him “do they a pay a you?” “Yes Harlan replies. “Then she‘s a no a big a deal for to work for them .” The old man exclaims. Returning to Joe the boy tells him what the old man said . Joe’s answers is immediate and swift “forget it kid.” As he heads for the back room on his way to the barber shop. Nino Ligonetti is shaving a customer when Joe enters saying “for Christ’s sake why did ya tell the kid it was alright to work for the puttanas?” “Did you send a him to me?” The old man asks as he continues to shave his customer. “Yeah.” “Why?” “So you could tell him not to run errands for the puttanas.” Joe replies. “Why don't a you tell a him youself?” The old man asks. “Because he asked me why.” Joe snaps. “Ohhhhh you don't a know for what to a say so you send a him to me. I don't know a why, so I say it’s a OK.. If a you don't a like a that then don't send a him to me when you don't know what for to say.” The old man replies angrily. At this point in the conversation the old man is becoming very animated waving his arms about. That hand in which he holds the straight razor he’s using to shave his customer whizzes by the man’s nose several times. Finally the man can no longer take it and leaps from the chair saying in Italian “if the kid wants to work for the whores let him just make sure he doesn’t smoke .” Joe turns and leaves the barber shop in disgust and old man Ligonetti motions the man to return to the chair so he can complete the shave. It is six thirty in the morning and the alarm goes off next to Joe’s bed. Slowly he rises passing his hand over his balding head as he does so. The smell of lilacs drifts in through an open window , it is springtime. As has become the custom these past years Joe makes his way down a narrow hallway to the boy’s room. Once there he goes to the bed where the boy lies sleeping . Shaking the bed he says “c’mon kid time to get up.” Getting no reaction from the sleeping boy Joe shakes the bed once more again saying “c’mon kid time to get up.” Walking slowly towards the bedroom door Joe turns and exclaims loudly “Harlan ya gotta get up.” Looking at the motionless form beneath the bedcovers he returns to the side of the bed and pulls down the bedcovers. There in a deep sleep is the boy . Joe puts his hand on the boy’s shoulder to rouse him it is cold to the touch. “C’mon kid get up .” Joe repeats. Dr. Carponetta said it was not unusual for something like this to happen to people like Harlan. Rheumatic fever is a deadly disease, it weakens the heart and even with the best of care people succumbs to it. In Harlan’s case there was who knows how many years of neglect. The day of the funeral St. Dominic’s church is filled to capacity. Pepino Secci, Marco Retini, Levio Spezzi, Josey, the girls and the madam from the bordello, customers of the barber shop, customers of the shoeshine parlor, school kids, Dr. Carponetta and his family, people from all over the neighborhood, even the beat cop. Joe and Nino sit through the mass which is not long. At the end of the mass Fr. Moti says “Harlan must have been an exceptional boy, the proof being all of you who are here today. At that point Joe rises and begins to speak “I gotta tell ya why everybody liked this here kid, it’s because he never once complained. No matter what ya did for him he was always grateful. I don't care how small a thing it was to him it was like ya gave him a million bucks. He always had a smile on his face. If anybody asked him to do somethin he was right there. He had a lot of good reasons to complain. Most of his life he was treated like a dog. Well he’s gone now and that’s that. But I’ll tell ya somethin, a man couldn’t want a better son.” Harlan was buried in St. Raymond’s cemetery. Someone asked Fr. Moti if the kid was Catholic. The priest replied saying “it doesn’t make a difference God knows his own.” The shoeshine parlor is gone now as is the barber shop. The neighborhood is very different from when this all took place. Old man Ligonetti died a few years after the boy and Joe not to long after him. Where the shoeshine parlor and barber shop were is now a boarded up rundown building. If you happen to be there on an October night when the wind is blowing the autumn leaves about and you listen real hard you might hear the voices of old man Ligonetti, Joe The Hatter and The Black Pearl. The End
Copyright © 1995 Lawrence Anthony Calabro |