Pork and Beans
A Chicago Story
By Ralph Marco
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Ralph Marco
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Pork and Beans is a thrilling journey into gangland Chicago set in the 1950’s in the waning days of the absolute power and corruption of the gang controlled streets.
This story is a collection of memories about true stories and actual events from one man who relates his efforts to leave the organized crime environment of the infamous Melrose Park; and his life of criminal cronies to begin a new and normal life.
The story is an incredible and revealing narrative about life on the inside of the gritty gangland lifestyle. It is a compelling and contemporary accounting that brings forth an array of emotions; beginning with a painful and barren childhood, to the streets of crime and the most notorious gangster criminals from the annals of Chicago history.
Johnny Altier finds normal life boring and far less fruitful than his former lifestyle and income. He struggles daily with day to day events and earnings; finally emerging with this collection of funny, compelling and sometimes gruesome and heartless stories!
Chapter 1. Times They Are A Changin’
Chapter 18. Lost In The System
Chapter 25. North Lake Bank Robbery
Chapter 29. That Toddlin’ Town
Chapter
33.
That’s A Wrap!
Cast
The Characters!
Pork and Beans
Figure 3. Rocky De’Grazia Mugshot
Figure 5. Rocky De' Grazia Obituary
Figure 6. Rocky De' Grazia Headstone
Figure 8. Officer Anthony Perri
Figure 9. Nagle Perri Memorial Park
Figure
10.
Rocco Pranno under Arrest 1966
Figure 11. Rocco Pranno entering court
Figure 12. Rocco Pranno leaving Joliet
This book is dedicated to my beloved sister Johanna. Though she has passed from our life far too soon, her fun loving spirit and the joy she brought to our family in those trauma filled and very dark days are shared throughout the pages of Pork and Beans.
“Once in the racket you're always in it."
~Al Capone
On a beautiful fall morning in Chicago, Johnny Altier strolled out to the front yard and picked up his newspaper. Typically on a morning like this no one is in a hurry. It’s like they don’t want to disturb the quiet, peaceful feeling of such a morning. For Johnny Altier, this perfect morning wouldn’t last long.
He unfolds the morning paper to read the glaring headline ‘Mob Trial Gangster Sentenced to Forty Seven Years O.C.’. The two letters that appear so innocent, have such an impact. ‘O.C.’ stands for Organized Crime; this means you'll do every day of your sentence. No good time, no matter how you did your time. You’re just fucked, that’s all.
This is the way the Feds were getting everyone to rat on each other. You beef; they drop the ‘O.C.’ from your charge. Rat and you get less time and you serve your time in protective custody. Ain’t that some shit? But this is how it’s goes.
Things are changing fast and that’s all there is to it. Johnny knew these headlines were becoming all too common. It was time to make a change, Johnny knew this for sure. He would need Tommy’s blessing before any changes could happen. Johnny knew time was short; a sit down was the answer.
Johnny Altier came up in the streets of Chicago. Like a lot of guys, he honored a code of silence, loyalty and respect. Johnny worked his way up and earned the respect of the older guys in the neighborhood. By eighteen he was running numbers as a regular for Tommy G., a powerful member on the street. All the older guys loved Johnny the Kid. See, Johnny had a special talent. He remembered every number anyone played. He would give the customer a receipt, but he wouldn’t write the ticket until he was back at the office. This way he couldn’t be caught carrying tickets. This was hot shit! The old guys loved it.
By the time Johnny turned thirty he had climbed way up in Tommy’s crew. He was one of the top dogs and Tommy loved him! Tommy Gun Grasso; what a guy! Here was the perfect gangster. He had it all. The right clothes, the right car, the right girl, I mean, “he had it all” right down to the gray hair over his ears. When you have jet-black hair like he does, the gray hair was like a gift from God. The girls loved it. How tough was he? It didn’t matter. When you looked like Tommy G. Nobody wanted to find out! Don’t get me wrong, Tommy G. was tough, real tough. The truth is he never had to prove it. When Tommy G. showed up at a thing, it was over. He didn’t have to lift a finger. Tommy was tough all right.
Tommy loved Johnny and that’s all it took. Johnny was in as far as the street was concerned. It was like Johnny was Tommy and that was a good thing. Tommy G. and his crew were great earners. They were street smart and never greedy. Tommy G. ran the business like a C.E.O. from Wall Street. No shit, these guys paid all taxes on time, every time. They paid taxes they didn’t even owe!
This crew was different than your run of the mill street crew. Instead of fighting over every deduction a good accountant could take, they would just pay. If the I.R.S. caught it, they turned it over to the accountants, if not they felt invisible. These guys ran stores, car lots, lounges, body shops and beef stands. Whatever business they opened stayed opened. They were operated with pride. That was their way.
Tommy G. took pride in another fact; none of his guys spent one night in jail, with one exception, Frankie Peppers. Now keep in mind that Frankie was a tall, gangly fast talking guy with a great smile. I guess you could say he was a special case. He loved to mess with the cops just for the hell of it. He was truly a mad man but everybody loved him; Truth be known, even the cops that knew him, loved him.
Anyway, he just came back from Jew town. That’s correct, there’s a place called Jew town and it didn’t piss off no one. At the intersection of Maxwell and Hallstead Sts., in downtown Chicago was the place every hustler went to buy wholesale. It was great! Suits, sweaters and double knit suede sweaters, whatever you needed to make a deal!
This is how it worked; you could go into Harry Hartman’s and many others like Smoky Joe’s and so on. If you knew your way around, you could make some great deals. Like a suit with a jacket, vest and two pair of slacks for a saw buck, that’s ten dollars. You believe that shit? Frankie would make a deal, shoot back to the suburbs and from the trunk of his car, sell a suit or sweater for good mark up depending on how big a “chooch” he was talking to.
Sometimes Frankie would make two trips to Maxwell Street the same day. He loved going downtown and buying shit and acting like it was hot. People loved to buy shit if they thought it was hot! It was like they had an ‘in’ with the mob, it was great.
Now Frankie is so excited at his success, he gets stopped for speeding. Normally anyone else would mind their P’s and Q’s and get the fuck out of there, but not Frankie, nope not him. He has to fuck with the cop’s! He just loved to fuck with cops, any cop. You believe that shit? He was a mad man! He makes a deal with Tuppie Raegoli, a Melrose Park cop. After showing him the goods he had in his trunk, Tuppie was all ears. “What’s the deal?”
Frankie, just to bust balls, tells Tuppie to take him to the station so they could let Tuppie’s buddies in on the deal. Of course, Tuppie would get a kickback.
So, adding insult to injury they head for the Melrose Park police station. Frankie couldn’t wait to sell every cop a suit and sweater. Frankie sells almost every cop a suit and sweater. Now, what he forgets to tell them is that while the suit looks like a million bucks on the hanger, when they put them on they would wrinkle like an accordion if you wore them for an evening. You could never get the wrinkles out, never! Anyway, this is how Frankie ends up in the Melrose Park jail for three days; cuz that’s how long it took to let every cop who bought a suit get their licks in. Frankie had to pay back every penny. If you ask Frankie today, he would tell you it was worth it, and if he had the chance, he would do it again. It took a set of brass balls to want to mess with Melrose Park cop’s for any reason.
It was a small town by comparison, but let me tell you it was one tough place to be. It was all Italian and you could find any character you could think of. For instance, guys like Lefty Bertello, Mike ‘the Brew’ Marino and Ralph ‘Babe’ Serpieo, ‘Faccia Bruciato’. This is not a name, it means, face that burned. Now here’s a story; remember all the characters in this story have passed decades ago. So here goes…
In a restaurant in New York City, a great guy named Tony M. Started his night shift as the second line cook. Every time Tony started a shift; one of the other cooks would leave soon after. This happened time and time again, until one night a co-worker asked Tony if he thought it was a little funny that every time he came on shift, Nick, the first cook, who was on the same schedule, would leave and did he wonder where he might be going? Tony, who was known to be a little temperamental, grabbed him up by the scruff of his neck and said, “If you know something I should know, you better spit it out or I’ll break your fuckin’ neck!” With that, the little creep spilled his guts. He tells Tony he overheard Nick talking on the phone. He goes on to tell Tony the call was one of those girly calls and he wasn’t sure who he was talking to. Then Nick called her Nina, like your wife. I didn’t know what to do; what if I was wrong?
“I’m real sorry Tony. That’s all I know for sure, the rest I put together on my own.” Cringing, he says, “but I think I’m right.”
Now the story goes like this. Tony, enraged by the thought that this could be true, runs out of the kitchen and heads for home. He keeps thinking over and over again how he noticed a recent change in his wife, but hoped it would be ok.
He approaches his house on foot, slips in through the side entrance and quietly makes his way to the kitchen. The partially filled wine glasses on the table and the squeaky sounds of the bed from upstairs, removed any doubt he may have had. A cold calmness came over Tony as he picked up each glass and finished the wine. He drops his coat to the floor, exposing the large knife in his belt. He climbed the stairs, careful to stay to the left, avoiding the creaking steps he was so familiar with.
Reaching the landing, the sounds of betrayal filled his ears. Tony felt a physical sense of heat behind his eyes. He could feel the fire behind his neck and ears and his heart was pounding as he stepped from the dark hallway into the dimly lit room. There was no doubt what Tony had to do. With no hesitation, Tony closes the distance between him and Nick, and in an instant, pulling Nick’s head back; he cuts his throat with one hand and throws Nick’s flailing body to the floor.
Nina lifts her head and opens her eyes. She felt a warm spray cover her breasts and in the candle light she could see it was blood.
She calls out in a whisper, “Nick? Nick?” There is no response. Nina clutches the white sheet to her breast and slips out of bed. Before she took the first step, she could see Nick’s lifeless body at the foot of the bed. She knew she was next. She steps back and sits up on the bed, motionless, as if waiting her turn.
A whisper from behind breaks the silence. Just two words; “I’m sorry.” Tony pulls her head back and with one motion, delivers her fate.
Tony, completely detached from the reality of his deed, holds Nina in his arms until her life runs out. At a point of complete exhaustion he collapsed alongside the blood soaked bed. It was deadly silent but for the beating of his own heart. He could hardly remember the last sound he heard. This ghastly deed was perpetrated in almost complete silence!
For Tony, this would be a blessing. Could it be? Did his horrific act go unnoticed?
He pulls himself together, washing the blood from his hands. He could only think that he wasn’t sorry for killing that rat bastard, Nick, but Tony knew he had to get out of town.
He showers, changes clothes, grabs the bill money, his stash from the dresser drawer. Stepping over Nick’s naked body, Tony checks the pile of clothes on the floor for a wallet. He starts to take the cash out of Nick’s wallet. Tony hesitates. He leans against the wall and looks at Nick’s driver’s license and thinking out loud says, “what if we switch identities? I’ll burn this to joint to the ground and nobody the wiser! I’m going to Chicago as Nick and he can stay here as me.”
Tony put on Nick’s coat, then switches his clothes with him, soaks Nick with lighter fluid and places his body over some of the clothes. He takes the time to do a good job of soaking those clothes.
Now to ignite the fire, Tony needs time to be out of the immediate area. He looks around the room then he moves a candle in close proximity to Nick’s body. As it burns down, it should start the drapes first, and then the fluid soaked clothes and that will be that. Tony figures this gives him twenty minutes or so, and he finishes by soaking the bed where Nina lay.
Tony pulls the door closed. Quietly he leaves through the side yard to the ally. Nick’s car should be parked in the empty lot next door. Sure enough, it is. Tony starts the car and backs slowly into the ally. He waits to turn on the head lights. No doubt Chicago is the place he could hide out: the Italians were a closed mouth group.
Here is where he becomes ‘Faccia Bruciato’. He settled on a small farm-like property at 23rd Avenue and Augusta, in the town of Melrose Park IL, and for the next three months Tony felt like it might be ok. Sunday mornings after breakfast the men would sit out front. There would be a life changing moment, as Tony sat down on his favorite bench one Sunday and Fat Joe, a tenant next door, hands a newspaper to Tony. “Hey, isn’t this where you come from? “
“No, why?” asked Tony.
“No reason, just that killing on page three, maybe you know these people?” Tony opens the paper to page three. There it was the whole story! Tony knew it was just a matter of time now, somebody would figure it out. That night Tony creeps into a barn and sets himself and the barn on fire. He burns 90% of his body with third degree burns and lived to talk about it. These burns would surly hide his identity. That’s the story! Hard to believe? Think about this, it is a true story!
Now on a lighter note in this town, for instance on the corner of 23rd and Augusta, (yes the same corner as we were just on) across the street, sits a wonderful old church, a catholic church called Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is the starting place of the Procession of the Madonna, a tradition that lasted well over one hundred years. This event is surrounded by the Italian Feast. The best food you’ll ever eat is spread over city, block after city block, and even on parkways. (You know the strip of land between the street and the houses.) It was great! Canvas stands manned by the residents of Melrose Park!
Every stand is unique, the food is all home cooking and you never had better. I’m not kidding when I tell you; you’ll never taste better food.
But let’s talk about the procession, the Madonna; a near life size statue is carried thru the streets of Melrose Park. As she passes the home of a family that needs a special blessing, they set off fire crackers and m-80s. As long as the fireworks keep going, the precession stays in front of the house. The longer She stays, the greater the blessing. Some of these displays last for twenty or thirty minutes, it’s fantastic! You need to see it for yourself. It’s still going on ‘til this very day. Stop by and get a peek at the good old days.
“Trust your instinct to the end, even though you can’t give a reason.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The sad thing is, Johnny knew times were changing and with the passing of the next few years surely this way of life would end. Whoever was dumb enough to hang on would either end up in jail or dead!
Drugs were becoming a bigger part of everyday business. Along with it came a kind of violence which would break every street rule. There will be no such thing as respect for the sanctity of the home or the family. This is the first mob rule, but you won’t be dealing with the mob. These new gangs would be run by drug cartels, a ruthless group of drug lords that will stop at nothing to take over. Violence will spread across this land until no man, woman or child will be safe anywhere. Johnny brings his concerns up to Tommy G. He listens for a short time, then breaks in on Johnny and suggests they meet at the ‘Little Egypt Lounge.’
Johnny gets there early; he parks just one parking space to the right of the front door. The door opens and catches Johnny’s eye. Coming out the door, bigger than life, was Casper Cicero, the owner of Casper’s restaurant. Johnny and most of his friends hung out there for years, all through high school. Casper and Johnny were good friends. Johnny jumps out of the car and yells out to Casper, “Yo, my friend, how you doing?”
Casper slumps down and grabs his chest. Johnny, startled by this, runs up the stairs. “Casper, you ok?” He reaches out to hold Casper up; Casper stands up straight, laughing. “I’m ok. I’m ok. Take it easy!”
Johnny grabs his shoulder, “what the fuck is wrong with you? I’ll kill you!”
Casper, still laughing, tells Johnny, “what? When I saw you I thought I saw a ghost! How long has it been? Over a year! A fucking year! I thought you were fuckin’ dead, what’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?”
This was a great time for Johnny. He loved Casper. They talked until Tommy G. pulled up. They said their goodbyes, Casper gave Tommy a wave and left.
Tommy joins Johnny at their favorite table. After the usual nods, waves and gestures of recognition to the cohorts and patrons, a conversation started between the two old friends
When this sit-down ended, the future of Tommy’s whole crew would change. Tommy and Johnny walked away from the table, knowing they would never meet this way again; this truly marked the passing of an era.
Johnny, in a troubled state of mind packs the things that were important to him, at the same time leaving many things behind. He knew in his heart of hearts it was time to go! So on a dark dusky evening Johnny leaves Chicago.
As the plane leaves the ground and climbs to thirty thousand feet, he feels a strange kind of peace.
“Excuse me.”
Johnny turns to the person sitting to his right. “Me?”
“Yes, do you mind changing seats with me?”
“Why what’s wrong with your seat?”
“Oh, nothing, I’m just afraid of heights,” the lady said.
“You’re afraid of heights? Why the hell, are you on a plane?”
“Well, you see, I’m ok if I don’t look outside.”
“Ok if the stewardess doesn’t mind its ok with me! Let me ask a question, said Johnny, “if you don’t like heights how did you end up in a window seat?”
“Well I thought I could do it, you know, with the therapy. Yeah therapy, that’s great, four hour flight and I’m sitting next a nut, fabulous!”
Johnny reclines his seat the full three inches, then start the slumber he so looks forward to on a plane.
“Excuse me!”
It was that same voice from before. Johnny slowly opens his eyes to see the same neurotic, round faced, middle aged woman; he had just changed seats with. With great patience Johnny asks, “How can I help you?”
“Oh, I hate to bother you, but I left my things under your seat; so would it be easier if I just got up, or should I step out into the aisle?”
“It’s your choice.”
“Oh, I can just reach under the seat; you just sit there, ok?”
With that, she puts one knee on the seat next to Johnny, and with her head almost buried between his legs; she reaches up under the seat. At this point her ass was straight up in the air. Johnny can’t take anymore, “Ok! Ok!”
“Take it easy I’ll get your stuff, just sit up!”
Finally the stewardess speaks up, “Can I help you with something?”
“Yes!” Johnny said, “Please find me another place to sit, Thank you!”
“Why, is there a problem?”
Johnny looks at the little round faced person, who obviously had her share of troubles. “No, not really, we just need to get settled, but thanks for asking. Ok! Shhh, now let me get your stuff,” Johnny whispers.
“Thank you, that’s ok.” Now maybe I can get some sleep, Johnny thought to himself. He gives one more look at his seat companion. She seemed to be settling down.
Johnny closed his eyes and drifted off to vision the sounds of music and laughing, what the hell is this?
“Hey Johnny, come here, did you take care of that thing?”
“Yeah, of course, what a piece of work, this guy is really nuts!! I mean nuts, he’s just sitting there on a little stool, with no intention of giving the money back, and he’s waiting for a beating! You believe that shit? This ain’t your normal Mook! This calls for desperate measures, so I introduce myself. Now, I explain that I’m his last chance to pay and there ain’t going to be no beating, it’s going to be worse!”
He says to me, “Do what the fuck you gotta do Pal, I ain’t got your money!”
“So, me? I head for the cemetery, knowing his mother just croaked. Thirty minutes later, her headstone comes crashing through his front window! I nonchalantly knocked on his door. He appears at his door with a horrified look on his face, and I inform him that if he don’t pay, in thirty minutes his mother would be coming through that fuckin’ window! Thankfully, I didn’t have to dig her up.”
“Why not?”
“The Mook paid me, another fucking miracle!”
“Excuse me! Excuse me!” Johnny wakes to a voice that was getting all too familiar, “Excuse me! I don’t mean to wake you but we’re getting ready to land.”
Johnny groans. “Where am I? Oh it’s you, now I remember. Vegas, right? Thanks, I must have dozed off. Sorry about that.”
“Yeah, that’s ok, are you awake now, you were having some dream! You ok?” she asked.
“Yeah I’m good, thanks.”
Just then, from the overhead, “Ladies and gentlemen, we want to welcome you to sunny Las Vegas, good luck and we ask that you stay in your seats until the craft comes to a complete stop and the captain turns off the seat belt sign. Thank you for flying with us and have a great stay.”
Johnny left the plane and followed the signs to Baggage Pick Up. He wondered about Sandie, and thought of how fast time passed. It was like yesterday they were kids on the corner. He thought about the good times they used to have, and oh! How they were in love! There was nothing better than teenage love, thought Johnny. Anyway it’s funny how things work out.
Baggage was just ahead. Johnny looked for his claim ticket.
“Well what are you looking for? I’d ask if you lost your best friend, but I know that’s not possible, cuz I’m standing right here. Johnny Altier, you look wonderful! I can’t believe my eyes. I hate you men! You just get better looking the older you get. Women just get old!”
“Sandie, is that you? Turn around and let me look at the most beautiful woman in Las Vegas!” Sandie turns and stops. She looks into Johnny’s eyes.
He sees the expression on her face and said, “Hey kid what’s up? Why so sad? I thought you would be a little glad to see me? Come on let’s see that great smile!”
“Oh Johnny, I’m not sad, I’m so happy! I thought I would never see you after our break up and I left Chicago! Vivian called me from Chicago, and said she needed a place for a client to rent short term so he could look around until he found something more permanent. Then Vivian and I discussed the airport. She thought it would be great if I could pick up our client, so I agreed. Then she said I’ll just send you the paper work. Call me with any questions. Needless to say, when I saw your name on the paperwork I damn near died!” exclaimed Sandie.
“I immediately called her for a physical description. But when she gave me your address, I knew for sure you were coming to Vegas! My heart almost pounded its way out of my chest, like in some Si-Fi movie!”
Sandie abruptly dropped her arms to her sides then stamped her foot lightly and says, “Johnny! If you don’t hug me right now, I’ll explode! Wow! You always could talk, Johnny!”
“Ok! Ok! Come here.” Johnny pulls her close. “I’m still nuts about you.” He holds her for a long time. Not another word was spoken. After awhile they just walked away arm in arm. The ride to Johnny’s new apartment was quiet. Johnny was comfortable with his decision to leave Chicago. As far as Sandie was concerned, there was nothing that could make him happier.
The car pulls up to the curb in front of a real nice place. “Wow! What a joint, is this my place? What’s a place like this cost? I don’t know what that lady in Chicago told you, but there ain’t no way!”
“First of all, take it easy,” she said. “This is my place; you live just across the street, right on the top floor of that beautiful high rise.”
“Wait a minute, even that looks like too much, Sandie! We need to talk!”
“Relax, I own that condo, so if you’re nice to me, I’ll put in a good word with the land lord ok?” “Wow, that sounds great, but I can’t take advantage of your good nature like that!”
Not ready to give up, Sandie says “Hang on for a second and let me show it to you. Then if we can’t work something out, we can make other arrangements, ok?”
“Yeah, ok! Come on lets go for a little walk.”
Sandie holds Johnny’s arm, he really liked that about her, and she made everything feel right. After a short walk, they stood in front of a large staircase that led to, what else? Two great doors, and stationed just in front was a rather stout and well adorned attendant.
“Wow! I feel like I’m here to see the Wizard of Oz!”
“Good evening, Miss Beltron!”
“Good evening! Sam, it’s good to see you! I would like you to meet one of my very best friends, Johnny. Sam, Johnny may be staying upstairs for a while, if he likes it! Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”
“Very well Miss Beltron, I’ll keep everything crossed since it means so much to you!”
“Oh thanks Sam.” Quickly the attendant swings the door wide open. As Sandie passed by, Sam whispers, “You make a very handsome couple Miss Beltron.” Sandie gives him a wink and walks in. As the penthouse elevator is nearing the top, Sandie says to Johnny, “Ok! Close your eyes!”
“Oh come on, I don’t want to close my eyes.”
“Oh please! Johnny.”
“Ok! I’ll close my eyes!”
“Are they closed?” she asked.
“Yes I Swear!” The elevator stops, and the doors open.
“Ok! Ok! Open your eyes!”
Well, there it was; the palatial palace of King Farook! “Oh my God! Holy Shit! I guess you did ok with the divorce?”
“The divorce? I earned every dime!” She retorted.
“Well, however you did it, you did ok! This place is a palatial palace! You did all this yourself? Outstanding! I would be proud to be your guest, but let’s find me something a little more mannish ok? Let me ask you a question? What’s the rent?”
“In season?” asked Sandie more calmly.
“Yeah, whatever,” Johnny said.
“Around seven G, Johnny.”
“Seven grand a season?”
“No, Johnny, seven grand a week!”
“A week! Oh, my heart,” he gasped.
Sandie reaches for Johnny’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. Maybe things can work out. Maybe this is how it was supposed to be?”
“Maybe so,” he said.
“So what, so let’s go eat!”
“Ok, where?”
“Where? You’re in Las Vegas! Anywhere! The food is great and its dirt cheap!”
“Wow! Sounds like my kind of town.” Sandie tells Johnny about a little out of the way Italian place she likes. Johnny agrees to try it. She knows how fussy he is but Sandie is sure Johnny will love it.
A wonderful meal comes to an end and the small talk has runs its course. “Forgive me, I don’t mean to pry Johnny but, what happened in Chicago? Why did you leave? I would have bet my life that Johnny Altier would die in Chicago! I mean, of old age! Can you talk about it Johnny?”
“Well yeah, but not right now, let’s have a cup of coffee and let this great meal have a little respect, then maybe a Connolly, a nice ride home and we can talk tomorrow, ok? I will say this much, you’re right, I thought I would live the rest of my life in Chicago, but let’s talk later, ok?”
“Sure Johnny, ok.”
Sandie pulls up in front of the condo. “We’re here, now you could unload your stuff and I’ll help you bring it upstairs, or you can grab your overnight bag and stay at my place tonight, unpack and move the rest in the morning, it’s up to you!” “You know, that sounds good. I think I’ll take you up on that. I don’t sleep good in a strange place until I get used to it. If I can cuddle, I sleep better!”
“Ok Johnny, it’s a deal. I can use a little cuddling myself, just cuddling deal?”
“Deal, you’re a great kid, you know it?”
“Yeah?” questioned Sandie
“Yeah, you are.” Johnny reaches in the trunk and pulls out his overnight bag. “I don’t have any pajamas in here.”
“That’s fine; I still have your old ones.”
“What old ones? You mean with the teddy bears on ‘em?”
“Yeah, you remember that night?”
“I remember, said Johnny. “We were so young, my god!”
“Yeah! We thought we knew it all, but I bet you can’t tell me what we talked about.”
“Yes I can!”
“Get out of here! That’s almost twenty years ago, how can you still remember?”
“I don’t know but I do! Would you like me to repeat some of it?” Johnny teased. “I’ll repeat all of it if you would like?”
“Oh stop, Johnny. Don‘t make fun!”
“Hey, I‘m not kidding!”
“Really, Johnny, do you remember?”
“Yes, well here I go! We were at the Blue Horizon Motel. When we pulled up I told you motel spelled backwards read ‘let em.’ You slapped me, right? Anyway it was our first time alone together. You looked at me and asked me not to make fun of our first time, remember?”
“Yes!” Sandie was surprised that he could remember!
“Then, I went to rent the room. The guy behind the counter asked how long I thought I would need the room. I thought about it for a while then replied, “I think my need will easily outlast my financial ability to retain your room!” “The man says “Let me help you out, kid. What time do you have to be home?” “Oh, ten o’clock p.m. sir.” “Ok kid. Four hours, twelve bucks. Cough it up or beat it. Did I say something wrong? What’s your problem kid? Twelve bucks or hit the road!” “I paid the guy and I wrote down his name.
Then I asked, “Are you guys doing any hiring, you know for clean up or anything?” He says “I’m not sure; I’ll ask the boss when he gets back. I’ll let you know.” “What time you going home? Maybe I could stop in before I leave?” “Yeah sure, I ain’t going nowhere till at least midnight.” “Ok great, so are you the only guy working here tonight?” “Yeah, why? “Well I thought I might call from the room.” “The room? That’s rich, where do you think you’re at, the Waldorf Astoria? From the room! Wow that’s great! Here’s your key, room 39A just on the right. You can’t miss it.”
“Pretty good so far, huh?” Johnny laughed. “Do you want me to go on?”
“No, but why didn’t you tell me that you asked for a job? You never said one word!”
“First of all, it wasn’t about a job, it was about his lack of respect for his fellow man.”
“What do you mean Johnny?”
“Never mind, it doesn’t matter.”
“Johnny! That phone call you made, before we went upstairs! You called Tommy? That’s why you asked if he was the only guy working there, right? You had him beat-up! Oh Johnny how could you, on our special night!”
“Wait a minute, are you saying our night wasn’t special?” Sandie swings around and punches Johnny with one hand, then grabbing him with the other, she pulls him close. “Yes, the night was special. I have never known another night so special, never.”
Johnny held her hand. “Come here, I’m here and we’re good! And, I’m for more special nights in our future, can’t you feel it? Trust me. Now, shall I go on or should we get ready for bed?”
“All right, but I want to say one thing. You got some memory! You should do something with it! That’s all I’m going to say. You heard it all before.”
Johnny followed Sandie into the front entrance of a most beautiful home. It was every inch Sandie. Johnny just went on and on; he couldn’t help but wonder, if they would have stayed together, how different life may have been. Well, maybe it wasn’t too late for them. Sandie offered a glass of wine. They toasted Johnny’s new life.
“Thanks for that, now let’s toast to your beautiful home, to our friendship, a toast! Ok now I think we can’t put going to bed off for any longer, what ya say, kid?”
“Yeah, it’s time. I laid your PJ’s on the bed. You go change. I’ll be right in, ok?”
“See ya. Hey is this still ok?”
“Yes Johnny! Now go change!”
“Oh Jesus! You weren’t kidding, the teddy bear pajamas, oh Christ! You got to be kidding me, Sandie. Wait till you see this, you’re not going to believe this!” Johnny looks in a full length mirror, “Oh my, I think I gained a little weight!”
“Oh yeah, how much?” Johnny replies, “about double! My ass is about to rip out of the bottoms!”
Johnny looks up and sees Sandie in the mirror, he stops talking and he turns to her. She’s so gorgeous. He starts to speak with a soft and sincere voice, “You’re as beautiful as the first time, I think more beautiful, if that’s possible, maybe I’m still dreaming … are you a dream?
Please don’t speak, don’t pinch me, I don’t want this moment to end. Maybe you’re an angel? That’s it! I died, and if that’s it then please let me spend all eternity with you. If I reach out to touch you, will you be there? If you are flesh and blood when I touch you, then are we here, together? Can this place be of the living? Can I be so lucky, to know you in this life? If this is so then come, be one with me; that we shall never part, or the worst, that I should wake and you be gone. Oh dread, then a nightmare death first before such a nightmare. Oh angel, tell me, shall I open my eyes?”
“Ok, Johnny, now you’ve gone too far. You’re so full of shit!”
“Oh come on, you think I don’t know a hot chick when I see one? I gotta give it my best shot don’t I?”
“That’s your best shot? You sound like William Shakespeare!”
“Well, what’s wrong with that? Some people think I’m a good writer!”
“So you think I’m hot, huh?”
“Sure I think you’re hot; how about me, nice PJ’s, sexy even?”
“You think? I think those PJ’s are going to pop,” she laughed. “Come to bed.”
Johnny put his head on the pillow, Sandie lay next to him, “You ok?”
“Sure this is great; you miss your bed I bet?”
“A little, but this is real good too.” They lay looking into each other’s eyes; it’s quiet for a time then Johnny says in that soft voice, “I meant what I said before.”
“Don’t start!”
“Hold it, I’m being serious!” said Johnny.
“I was afraid of that, so what should we do now?”
“I got a good idea,” he said, “Let’s sleep on it!”
“Oh, you’re very funny, Johnny! Because of you I have no choice but to sleep on it.”
“Why because of me?”
“Did you look at yourself in the mirror?”
“I did!”
“Why Johnny Altier, I think you’re trying to break your promises!”
“What promises?”
“Johnny, let’s go to sleep, you promised!”
“I did, ok! But you didn’t have to wear the same baby doll PJ’s did ya?”
“Yes, now go to sleep, I have to be up in five hours, so go to sleep!”
“Hey!” he nudged her gently.
“What?”
“Good night.”
“Good night Johnny, I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too; night, night.”
“Good morning, everybody up!” Johnny wakes to a sound; it’s Sandie humming while cooking breakfast. It smells so good, Johnny leaps out of bed and heads for the shower, he yells to the kitchen, I’m up and I’m on the way! Johnny showers and with his bath towel wrapped around his waist appears in the kitchen like a starving child. “What smells so good?”
“Good morning Johnny! How did you sleep? Good I hope?”
“I slept like a log; I can’t remember sleeping so sound, ever! Thanks for inviting me as your guest. Not to mention such a great way to wake up! The sound of your wonderful voice, then the smell of your cooking, I mean it don’t get better than that.
It makes me want to wake everybody up! I want to open that window a yell, good morning; everybody up!”
Sandie breaks out laughing, “This is Vegas, and you’ll get shot!”
“Yeah, well that’s how I feel, let ‘em shoot me, it’s their loss.” Johnny puts his arms around Sandie’s waist and kisses her on the neck. “Good morning, guess I got lots to do?”
“Yes, you do and I have to go to work, or you’re never going to get settled! I’m having a phone conference with Vivian in Chicago. I have client interested in your town house, its right for him. Keep your fingers crossed; this could be one of the fastest sales in real estate history!”
“Wow I just got here, that is fast!”
“What’s wrong Johnny, you don’t look happy?”
“It’s not that, it’s just that it’s so fast, it don’t seem real, the whole thing don’t seem real, you know what I mean?” he asked.
“Oh Johnny, sure I understand, if you want to think about this, I could put it off for awhile? I’m sorry Johnny; I should have been more sensitive. I forgot that, after all, this is your life, not just real estate. I’m so sorry!” Sandie was a little embarrassed.
“No! No! I’m ok, I just have to get used to the whole thing. Go ahead, do your job!” Johnny assured her.
“Are you sure?” “Yeah, yeah it’s good, sorry I panicked, you go for it!”
Johnny unpacks and Sandie goes off to work. Johnny looks around the new digs, it just don’t feel like home to him. How in the world would Johnny tell Sandie? He was very worried; however this wasn’t going to do. He needed the time to look, and this was the opportunity to do it. 10:30 a.m., a job well done Johnny thought. I’m all moved in, now to find some place to live.
Johnny orders the car around; this should be fun, a car and driver, nice! I could get used to this, perks. Perks are real nice. Johnny feels he will never fit in at the penthouse, it’s just not who I am, I hope Sandie understands.
The car is ready; Johnny tells the driver he’ll be right down. The driver tells Johnny that he knows some real nice places in good areas, Johnny introduces himself and the driver does the same.
“Hi! I’m Rick; I’m yours for the day. Do you have any place in mind?”
“No, no I don’t, I’ll leave that up to you; I’m told you’re the man.”
“Thanks, then I know just the place to start with, would you like two or three bed rooms?”
“Three, you know office, guest room and my room, eat in kitchen?”
“Yeah, sure,” said Rick, “and how about a nice screened in porch?”
“Yeah! That would be great, what’s something like that go for?”
“Oh you mean money! Let me make a call, and then I’ll let you know.”
“Great go right ahead, I’ll wait right here.” Rick gets a kick out of Johnny’s sense of humor!
“Hello Ma?”
“Hi.”
“Yeah it’s Rick, good, good Ma! Listen you know that rental you got? I have a friend that needs a place, but you got to go a little easy Ma, you know what I mean? How much? That don’t sound easy, whadda ya say, Ma? He’s a good guy! You’re gonna love him, he’s a friend of Sandie’s, yeah Sandie! That’s right. Oh thanks, I’ll tell him. Yes, Mom, I love you too, you’re my sweetheart, bye Mom, see you soon.”
“Ok Johnny, you’re in!” smiles Rick.
“What do you mean I’m in; in what?”
“In your new home, for three seventy-five a month!”
“Go on! What? Three seventy-five a month, that’s impossible. A rat hole cost more than that where I live.”
“You’ll see, you’ll see!”
“Ok! Show me, can’t hurt to look right?”
“Right!” “We’re on the way, it should take about ten minutes so sit back and relax. Hey maybe you could call Sandie, have her meet you at the new place? She could say hi to my Mom. Just take the phone out of the cradle and dial like any phone!”
“No thanks, I think I’ll wait. I’ll talk to Sandie if I like the place.”
“Well you’re going to find out now because we’re here! Let’s go in, I’ll introduce you to my Mom.”
After a brief hello, Rick takes Johnny on a tour of a great place, one he could call home.
“Well what do you think?”
“I’ll be honest with you; I’ll take it right now.”
“Is that right? Come on in and let’s tell Mom, she’ll tell you all the details, ok?”
“Yeah, great!” Johnny walks out with the keys in hand.
Johnny stops and turns back, he excuses himself; “Would you mind if I tell Sandie first? I would like to surprise her!”
“Oh sure Johnny I won’t say a word, I promise.”
“Thanks Rose, I’ll let you know when I’ll be moving, not that there’s much to move. I’m sure I’ll be here Saturday morning.”
“Oh good, will you bring Sandie?”
“I’m not sure, her work, you know!”
“Oh yes, she works so hard, that’s some woman Johnny, a man, would be very lucky…”
“Hmmm, I’m sure you’re right Rose. I’ll see ya Saturday!”
Johnny was quiet on the ride back to the condo. Rick kept to himself; he knew Johnny had lots on his mind. A couple of red lights and two or three turns and home again, home again, jig a de jig; the car pulls up. “We’re here Johnny.”
“Oh ok, wow that was fast, thanks kid, I appreciate your help.”
“Hey Johnny, if you need help moving let me know, I’ll be glad to help.”
“No thanks, you’ve done enough! You go have a good weekend, enjoy yourself.”
”Hey Johnny, I would like to talk to you about something when you’ve got a minute? You know not today or nothin, just whenever you have time. Maybe we could have a cup of coffee? What do you think Johnny?”
“What’s it all about Rick? What’s on your mind?”
“It’s a favor Johnny, I need a little help.”
“Well I don’t know what kind of help you need, or what you think I can do? You know, I’m new in town?”
“Yeah, yeah I do, but I know you can help me with this.”
“Ok, how about this, call me and I’ll do what I can.” Johnny wasn’t sure what the kid could want in a favor; but there was something about the kid Johnny liked, maybe it was that he was tall and lanky like Frankie Peppers. Johnny wasn’t sure but if he could help the kid he would, he seemed stand up. Anyway this would be a problem for another day. Today he would have to deal with Sandie and try with all his heart not to hurt her. Sandie is a dear friend. God, I hope this works out, I gotta think positive, this is the best arrangement for now. I need space and I know Sandie’s aware of that; no doubt. It’s almost six o’ clock; Sandie would be home in a few minutes. He ends this thought as his telephone starts ringing!
“Hello!”
“Hi Johnny what’s up?”
“Oh, hi Sandie, nothing, actually, I’m waiting for you.”
“Well, I’m just around the corner, what about dinner? Did you eat?”
“No, I’m waiting for you, Babe, but I am starving. How long do you think you’re going to be? I’ll get cleaned up, fifteen minutes ok?”
“Great, I’ll get ready and run across.”
“Ok, I’ll see you at the house.” Johnny crosses the street; he goes over what he’s going to say, to no avail, he just couldn’t think of any good way to tell her.
As Johnny crosses the parkway and turns towards Sandie’s he sees her standing on the front porch. “Hi! You must be hungry, you’re on time!”
“I am, and may I say, you look lovely;” in a funny accent, he made Sandie laugh. “Hey all kidding aside, I got something to talk to you about, it’s real important.”
“Let’s wait till after dinner, ok? Is it bad?”
“That depends on your point of view; I think it’s good, you may see it differently.”
“We will see, let’s eat.”
After a nice dinner, Johnny orders a cup of coffee for Sandie, and then himself. “Can I order you some desert?”
“No Johnny, I’m very full, you go ahead, order something for yourself.”
“No, I’m fine,” he said.
“So, what’s up Johnny? I can’t take the suspense, tell me! What’s up, come on!”
“Ok, I met Rick’s Mom today.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Did you rent the house?”
“How did you know that? Who told you?”
“No one, it’s a great place isn’t it?”
“I love it!”
“I knew the penthouse wasn’t your cup of tea!”
“Wait a minute; you’re not hurt that I don’t want to live in your penthouse?”
“Hell no, now I can rent it for a little better rate, so I’m happy.”
“You’re something, you know it?” Johnny told her.
“Yeah, you think so; why don’t you take me home and show me!”
“That’s a date, wow what a relief, you have no idea.”
“Well you think I have no idea, but I do, I know that you need your own space, you’re not ready to get too involved with anybody, right? And that’s just fine, I’m just happy you came here instead of somewhere else.”
“I can’t believe you, you’re great! All these years lost, what a shame, well, we’re here now, so let’s make the best of it, I think the best way is to always be honest with each other like now, don’t you think?”
“Yes I do.” Johnny tips the waiter, and then says, “Let’s go to your house and have that date?”
Sandie thinks for a minute, and then says, no! Johnny is puzzled, “Why not?”
She says, “Let’s go to your new house and have our date!”
Johnny, with a smile from ear to ear couldn’t be happier. “Ok! Can I drive?”
“Sure let’s get out of here.”
The drive was wonderful; all the things you hear about Vegas! They forget to say how beautiful Vegas can be at night in a convertible. The lights are gorgeous, a cool evening breeze… it’s just not what you would expect from a desert. Johnny pulls up in the driveway of his new home and they sit for a minute and look at the stars.
A porch light comes on; Johnny starts to get out of the car to see who’s in his new house, then Rose steps into the light.
“Johnny is that you?”
Sandie answers, “Yes Rose, it’s us, Johnny and me, Sandie.” Sandie steps out of the car, next to Johnny, “How are you Rose?”
“Oh I’m good, I was just cleaning up in case Johnny stopped by with you; I had a feeling. Anyway I’m going home now, you kids come on in, and I’ll get out of your way, good night.”
“Thanks Rose, it’s good to see you.”
“Good to see you too, good night again!”
“Shall we?” As Johnny gestures toward the door, Sandie moves to the door and stops, looking at Johnny.
“Carry me Johnny!”
He sweeps her up in his arms, carries her through the door and lays her gently on the bed. “I’ll be right back.” Johnny locks the door and checks the windows; all is secure thought Johnny.
He pours the wine that Rose so thoughtfully left for them, bless her heart. Then Johnny puts on a record album, not just any album, this was the Platters song, ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.’ The memories these songs could weave; ‘Earth Angel,’ ‘My Prayer,’ God this is the best music ever!
He walks into the bedroom and finds Sandie under the covers; her dark brown hair was lying across the pillow. “You look beautiful,” Johnny says, as he puts the wine on the night stand. He reaches to turn down the light as the music starts to play.
“Oh my God Johnny, that’s the Platters! This is our music, how did you ever?”
“I have connections,” he said with a grin.
“Come here Johnny, and kiss me.” Johnny lies next to Sandie and they made up for lost time. They took turns making love and dancing to ‘This Magic Takes the Night’.
At sunrise, Johnny drives Sandie home. They talked about old times, and Sandie convinces Johnny to stay over.
The next morning at breakfast Johnny says to Sandie, “Rick the driver, you know Rick, Rose’s son.”
“Yes, what about him?”
“He asked me, to do him a favor.”
“A favor, what kind of a favor?”
“I’m not sure; I thought you might know something about it?”
“Me? No way!”
“Well he asked me to coffee so I guess I’ll find out, I’ll let you know.”
“Johnny, I hope it’s not something illegal?”
“No I’m sure not, he seems like a good kid. Besides, his mother will kill him!”
“You’re right about Rose, she would kill him, and you too if you get involved with some shit, so be warned!”
“Oh don’t worry, those days are behind me, I’m a new man!”
“I couldn’t tell last night, you seemed like yourself to me.”
“I didn’t hear you complaining last night!”
“Oh I’m not complaining Johnny, and I hope you never change some things!”
“Ok! That’s better.”
“Hey, Sandie, what happened with Vivian?”
“Oh, we talked. She met my client, I’ll find out today.”
“Great, I’m going to take some stuff to the new place, ok? Unless you need me for a little something, you know?”
“No, you get started; I’ll help you when I get home from work if you’re not done. It shouldn’t take long with the two of us.”
“Ok babe I’m going to run, I’ll see you later.”
“Call me if you hear from Vivian.”
“I will, see you later! Bye.”
Johnny was just on his way when the car phone rings. “Hi dear, you changed your mind, you need me to do something for you right?”
“Ah, Johnny, yeah, this is Rick! You know? Rick Maestro, Rose’s son?”
“Yeah! Yeah! What’s up Rick? Hey listen, I’m sorry about calling you dear, I thought you were Sandie, anyway what can I do for you?”
“That favor, I’d like to talk to you about it?”
“When?”
“Now, if possible.”
“Where you at right now?”
“I’m at my aunt’s restaurant. It’s one block before you turn on Tropicana on the way to the new house, same side of the street.”
“Yeah! I know the place, it’s got a yellow awning?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I’ll stop on my way by.”
“Thanks Johnny.”
“No problem,” said Johnny, wondering what this favor would be.
Minutes later, Johnny walks in to a quaint little Greek style restaurant. “Hey Rick! Wow this place smells great! I just ate, but I may have to eat again, I’ll call it early lunch, how about that! Then I can stay on my new diet. Anyway, what’s this favor?”
“I know it’s a little pushy, but I need your help; time is running out and you’re my only hope.”
“Hope for what? How can I help you? Listen kid, take a breath and start from the beginning?”
“I’m sorry Johnny, I just need this job, and you can hardly get a job here, unless you know someone and you’re the only someone I know, even a little! Will you help me Johnny? Will ya?”
“Of course I’ll help, I just don’t know what I can do? I’ll tell you what, write down the name of the joint and the guys name who gives out the job and I’ll make a couple of calls.”
“Wow, thanks Johnny! Auntie! Did you hear, Johnny’s going to help me get that job?”
“Oh, Ricky! That’s great, wait till I tell your mother!”
“Oh! Oh! Take it easy, take it easy! I’m not sure I can do anything, said Johnny. “Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch! Let’s take it easy!”
“No it’s going to be fine, I can feel it. Greeks know these things, take my word for it, it’s going to be just fine, now let me feed the both of you, all this talk is even making me hungry.”
“Oh Auntie Nina, you’re not going to eat? What about your girly figure?”
“Oh yeah sure, I gave up on that a long time ago!”
After a fantastic lunch, Johnny drops off his things at the new house. His promise to help Rick on his mind; he decides he’ll have to call Tommy G.