COOL JOE, Chapter 10

Family saga (contd)

COOL JOE, Chapter 10

DANNY

 

 

I could practically hear those screams at my house, because I live near Margaret. She went with Pete to see Robbie; now I feel it was the wrong thing for her to do. Pete dropped her off at home and boy was she a mess. Ted (her hubby) told me he could hardly understand her words. She goes running to him, muttering, holding on real tight. He just let’s her bawl before Ted opens his mouth, or she gets over her crying. Minutes go by and she finally calms down, sits on Ted’s lap. Whew, what a scene that must be.

 

I heard all this from Pete who was with Margaret, my sister. Yeah, Pete calls me after he drops off Margaret, poor thing, she had to actually witness this mess, thank God Pete was with her. Pete and I discussed how to break these awful details to Sylvia. So, here is the gruesome news: the bosses smash Robbie’s teeth out, then they break his nose, punch him in the eye and smash his ears. That’s of course according to what Pete saw and heard from Johnnie, finally. When I hear what Pete says, now I feel weak and dizzy, have to sit down and pour some bourbon for myself.

 

Phone rings.

“Hey Pete, still standing?”

“Barely”, says Pete with a tired voice. “It really is a mess, and I’m trying to think of the best way to tell Sylvia and Simone.”

“I’m willing to go with you, being that I’m still a lonely bachelor with few obligations, ha- ha.”

“I’d like that, and I know that Sylvia would appreciate your presence. Let’s see it’s about 4:30PM now, we could meet at Joe’s bar at 5:30, get a table and figure out the scheme, yes?”

“Yeah, that’s sounds fine, I should be able to leave my office by then.”

“Okay then” says Pete, “see you at Joe's.”

I hang up. I’m thinking, how the heck are we going to tell Sylvia all the gory details, she’ll faint, but she’s fainted before, so I guess she can handle it, even if she faints again.

 

I take the rail to meet Pete at Joe’s bar in Brooklyn. It’s an old raunchy place, but has some character, peanut shells on the floor, tables with uncomfortable wooden chairs, and a large bar that runs the length of the place. People tend to stand at the bar, those heavy drinkers, but we’ll sit at table like gentlemen. I arrive before Pete and order Bourbon and soda, my favorite drink and tip the barmaid before Pete arrives. I let her know another person should be here shortly, probably got stuck in traffic.

Here comes Pete now walking slow with a kind of frown on his face, he doesn’t look happy.

“HI there, brother, how are ya kid”?

“Tired and worried, I guess”, says Pete as he looks around the place, trying to find a barmaid.  “Guess I’ll just wait til she comes around, in the meantime we can chat.”

 

The barmaid comes along just as we begin our conversation.

“Can I help you guys?”

Pete says, “I’d like a Manhattan please, and another one for my buddy here.”

“That would be Bourbon and soda, right?”

Pete nods and she waddles away, thinking boy does she have a big a*s on her.

“Well, let’s think about our scheme”, says Pete, seemingly ready to fly.

“I think Robbie will be home in three days, so we have to prepare Sylvia and Simone, not surprise them. They already know that the boss had his teeth smashed in, but they don’t know about the broken nose, the blackened eye, and the smashes, which could be a bigger injury than we think, and his emotional status too”

“Okay, so when should we tell them? I don’t think Margaret should go, she’s too emotional and weak. Come to think of it, maybe just you and I go, leave the girls out of it, and we can’t have too many people mixing the broth, you know?”

The barmaid comes with the drinks.

 

After a little more conversation, Pete and I come up with a plan.

Pete is going to call the boss after our visit to make sure of the release date, but he’s pretty sure it will be in three days, according to boss Johnnie. Then we’ll tell the rest of our sibs that we think only two people should go to Sylvia’s place. Then, sometime tomorrow, around 5:00PM, we will go with a large bottle of red wine. She needs some advance notice and has to learn the gory details so she’s prepared for the worst and may need to make doc and dentist appointments, or even a hospital visit, who knows. Robbie is in pretty bad shape.

 

Next Day

I call Pete around 4:30pm to make sure we’re still on for Sylvia’s house, which he confirms.

I decide to take a taxi and we’re going to meet outside the house and go in together.

I see Pete coming now, we’re both a little nervous about doing this job.

I ring the bell, wait a few seconds, then ring again. Sylvia opens the door.

 

“Oh, my goodness, what are you two bros’ doing here? Want to stay for dinner? I’m making pot roast, plenty for everybody.” “I’m thinking when do we tell her, but I’ll let Pete take the lead.”

“We were in the neighborhood, so we went to a liquor store and bought some red wine, your favorite,” says Pete.

“That’s lovely” says Sylvia with a half-smile on her face. “Is there something else that you came to tell me?”

“Let’s sit down and open the wine. By the way where is Simone?”, says Pete

“She’s upstairs, I call for her. Simone! Please come down, your two uncles are here.”

Simone comes running down the stairs, gives each uncle a peck on the cheek.

“Sit down with us honey, we’re having a discussion.”

“What discussion?” says Simone with a worried look on her face. You mean about Dad?”

“Yes”, says Pete in a very soft voice. I feel awful to have to break this news

I open the bottle of wine and actually pour four glasses, one half for Simone.

“Don’t tell me he died”, says Simone, as her cheeks begin to flush. “I always knew it.”

She sits with us with her head bowed. I’m glad Pete is doing this, not me, I’m a wimp.

Sylvia is looking pale and very drawn.

Pete clears his throat.

“The good news is that Robbie is alive! The not so good news is that he is injured.” Sylvia gasps and Simone covers her eyes with her hands.

“It’s so painful to hear this and to wait all this time,” Sylvia starts weeping softly, Simone goes over to comfort her, puts her arms around her mother.

Pete continues.

“I know it’s really hard Sylvia, do you want me to say more?”

Sniffling, with tissues in hand, Sylvia agrees to hear Pete out.

“The not so good news is more than what you were told at first. They knocked out all of Robbie’s teeth, broke his nose, and gave him a black eye. From my vantage point, that’s all I could see. They didn’t allow me to speak with him and it was a short visit. But they did tell me they would release him in three days from yesterday, so really 2 more days, but I will confirm that with the boss. They will most likely clean him up, so you won’t see blood, but you will see a battered husband.”

I feel like bawling my self but I’m trying to be strong. I’m looking at Sylvia’s face as she hears the  brutal details, it’s droopy and sad and it looks like she is going to cry any minute.

“Is he in terrible pain? poor thing, he’ll need a lot of care and rest when he comes home”, says Sylvia, wiping tears from her cheeks.

“I know”, says Pete and we’re all here to help you in any way we can; don’t forget we’re all sibs and we care about our brother Robbie. And don’t think about the money; I still have an outstanding loan with the boss, and it’s not due for three months, So I can help financially.”

Simone is quiet and softly weeping, not uttering a word, then:

“How will dad talk and eat without any teeth?”

Pete explains that he can get dentures for a while, you know the kind you take in and out.

Simone makes a cynical looking face. Sylvia needs another glass of wine.

“How about another glass of wine Syl?”, say Pete

“I can’t even think right now, I’m so upset, but okay I’ll take another glass.”

 

We all sit quietly for a while, thinking to ourselves, anxiously awaiting Robbie’s return.

Pete says, “Just think, in two more days you’ll have your hubby home alive, a though battered, but it could have been worse; these guys have hit men who will kill you for their own gain.”

“Can I go with you to pick Robbie up Pete?”

“I think it’s best if you prepare the house, bedroom, etc. and call Dr. Carramato to prepare him for what’s to come.  I think Danny and I can handle it. Oh, and by the way, he may have some mental problems we have to deal with because who knows what they said to him, how they really treated him; did they tie him to a chair? (Sylvia gasps) or who knows what else?”

“Is that what they do to a human being? Tie him up and beat him?” Sylvia’s face is all contorted

and angry looking.

“Look Syl, that’s what these guys do. Period. It’s their way of revenge or a payoff, in a way. I’m going to call all the sibs and explain everything. Then I’m going to confirm with boss Johnnie the exact time of pick up. Lastly, I’ll call you and finalize his homecoming okay? Now should we clink our glasses to Robbie’s return?”

We all clink glasses, except Simone who runs upstairs and slams the door.

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

continuation of family saga

Reviews

[Lorry]

Poor family are going through their own mental torture that started with where is he, soon diverted to is he alive and went via knowing and preparing for worst... Their nerves must be shot and I'm seriously reconsidering starting smoking again to calm me 😊 (just say no kids)
I think the phrase they've been put through the mill takes on new meaning with all the known, possibles and won't believe it to I see it unknowns.
And now my thoughts are racing to further down the line, wondering if he is released, will there be repurcussions or payback of any kind to equal a Godfather part 4...must stop jumping the gun and just turn the page... Well, click the page... You know what I mean 😊
Will pause and get back to the chase when I get my breath back ⏸️ 😊

[Betty Hermelee]

You are terrific!!! Thanks for reading and I love your comments...get more juicy!!!!
Best, B

[John the Baptist]

This installment is narrated by another sibling, Danny. Right away we are made to understand the bosses don't adhere to the Geneva Convention. Robbie has been run through the mill by professionals. His teeth have been knocked out, his nose broken, an eye blackened and ears smashed. Pete and Danny confer about telling Robbie's wife Sylvia and daughter Simone about the extent of the damages, fearful the women won't be able to cope with the grim description. Actually, Sylvia, with the aid of the wine, does not lose it entirely. In fact, her reaction is dwarfed by Simone's anger. Danny is glad Pete took the lead, not sure whether he could have done it. The story leaves us at Simone's angry exit. It holds together well once more. We have come to feel for these people. Suggestions: 1) Would guys like Pete and Danny use a word like "chat?" Also, consider restructuring the line where Pete notes the size of the barmaid's behind. It sounds as though she is making the inner comment.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks again John for reading; I hope you're enjoying it; I'll take a peek at your suggestions. Best, Betty