Presents !! for You — A Serialization !!
The story continues. Please enjoy this is the next chapter of my life in the Middle of the Mob ! —The Gang
As printed…
Note: This should be about 14 to 19 minute read as we did a double-episode (though your mileage may vary)…
As seen in the Print Edition…
I worshiped the ground Nicky walked on and no one could tell me different. I had to see for myself. I closed my eyes to all the warning signs: he went from job to job, broke all of the time, no money to buy me an engagement ring (I bought it and paid for it myself), never took me to nice places, hung out with a bunch of really rough guys playing gin rummy and poker, spent more time with them than he did with me, and borrowed a ton of gambling money.
Actually, the gambling felt sort of familiar since Papa gambled all of his life too, so I convinced myself that was normal…
Actually, the gambling felt sort of familiar since Papa gambled all of his life too, so I convinced myself that was normal.
Nothing normal about playing cards with the mob, then writing checks on an account we had previously closed, to pay them off. The gambling syndicate in North Sable was big business, financed by loans from Carlo Russo, the big boss. Frantic to pay off his gambling debts, Nicky begged me to borrow money from my dad.
“They said by next week, or else,” Nicky screamed at me.
The “or else” came with a reminder in the form of a heavy knock on our door at six on a Sunday morning. Dragging himself out of bed half asleep with me trailing behind, Nicky opened the door to the face of Big Bobby Bruisio, whose name was an understatement.
Bobby extended his hand for Nicky to shake and said, “Hey, good morning, Nicky.” By the way Nicky grimaced, I knew the handshake was strong.
“Just wanted to catch you before you went off to Mass this morning,” he said, sarcastically, making his grip even firmer.
“Carlo says to remind you… Friday, don’t forget, ya know?”
The handshake became a vice that brought Nicky to his knees. When he released his grip, Big Bobby’s fist went straight to Nicky’s nose and blood poured out.
That was enough to scare the shit out of me and I asked Papa for the money.
Screaming and yelling at one another became our daily exercise and Nicky used it as an excuse to leave for hours, coming home at three, four, or five o’clock in the morning, which added to my rage.
His gambling, fishing trips, and new clothes took precedence over paying bills. There was no trust on my part, so I questioned him on every move he made. I’m no saint either, believe me. I can scream over most Italians and have a quick temper, so I’ll take some of the blame. We were both so young and immature, both raised around screaming Italians, both trapped in a swift downward spiral, but I wasn’t the one borrowing money from the mafia.
His abuse escalated. On waking, I would reach over to give him a kiss and he would pull away saying, “God you look ugly, go put some make-up on before you try to kiss me.” If he didn’t like the food I fixed, “You’re a lousy cook. Can’t do anything right, can you?” Even his “affectionate” pinches to my cheeks became rough and painful, accompanied by his, “How’s my big chicken nose doing today?” referring to my Italian nose.
When I told him I was pregnant with our first child, his response? “Now you’ve really gone and fucked things up.” I would feel hurt all of the time. Completely insecure, no self-confidence left, no one to tell and nowhere to turn, I filed it all away with the rest of the secrets in our lives and I had quite a collection. But the survivor in me still had hope and determination to make this marriage work, feeling sure in my heart that I could change him and if not… this baby would.
THE LADIES – 2nd Trip to Vegas
Sami phoned Lena to set up a meeting in Vegas; said she had something to share with her. A week later, their separate planes arrived into McCarran International Airport within minutes of one another, as Sami had carefully planned. When they spied one another, they waved frantically, running across the crowded baggage claim area into each other’s arms.
“Oh, Sami, honey, isn’t this fun?” Lena exclaimed.
“Yes dear, I still can’t believe we are doing this.”
They started giggling out of sheer excitement as they retrieved their luggage.
Outside the 105° temperature hit them like a blast from an inferno and the cab line was as long as you might imagine the entrance to hell would be.
“How could this many people arrive in one city at the same time?” Sami said under her breath.
“If we ever manage to survive this line we’re heading directly to the 3535 Bar and the first round is on me,” Lena offered.
“I’ll take you up on that,” Sami said. “And if our book doesn’t sell we’re coming back here and selling iced water at the top of this damn line. We’ll be rich in no time.”
Once they reached The Linq, they had their usual shot of tequila, which brought the silliness that always followed. Then Sami announced that they were going on a field trip.
Field trip, here in Las Vegas?
“Field trip, here in Las Vegas?” Lena inquired.
“That’s right,” Sami said. “A surprise I wanted to share with you.”
“Whatever you say, cuz, love surprises. Where are we going?” Lena asked.
“I found out that many years ago, in the fifties, there was a notorious mobster named Eddie Trascher who owned a bar at the end of the Strip called Ringside Liquors. In 1962, a man named Dino purchased the bar, renamed it Dino’s Lounge and it’s still going strong after all these years. We are going to go there and have a drink. Call it a research project for the book.”
“But is it safe for two old ladies to go to some random bar in Vegas?” Lena asked concerned.
“How would I know, I’ve never been there before. But, it won an award for Best Dive Bar in Las Vegas. Hey, we have each other. We’re strong, we just need to put on our gangster faces,” Sami said, as she pulled Lena off the bar stool and herded her toward the door.
“Sami, what if I don’t have a gangster face, just this ancient one and it shows fear easily?”
“Oh, come on girl, we’re going,” said Sami as she hailed the cab.
When they arrived, they were greeted by a large sign out front:
DINO’S THE LAST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR IN LAS VEGAS
Old orange brick surrounded the lower half of the building while the top half was gaudily wrapped in a cherry, corrugated tin. It appeared to be untouched since the sixties and seemed shoddy compared to the beauty of the hotels on the Strip. The main entrance stood with one of its two red double doors open. However, that didn’t make Lena feel any more welcome. Upon entering, Lena’s mouth dropped open when she read the first sign she saw:
COME IN FOR A STIFF ONE. IT’S LADIES NIGHT EVERY NIGHT.
The sign…
A small raised, semi-circular, stage-like platform with plenty of room in front for a dance floor was highlighted by small ceiling lights and a sign on the wall behind that read:
GETTING VEGAS DRUNK SINCE 1962.
Just to the left stood a DJ station, with a large jar of bills and a sign warning:
I PITY THE FOOL WHO DOESN’T TIP DANNY G!
The ladies found the last unoccupied table, sat down and ordered margaritas. Sami noticed a menacing deer head with tall antlers mounted on a wood pillar with its head cocked to one side, mouth open, looking directly at them.
Sami nudged Lena and pointed up at the deer. “He looks surprised to see us.”
“More like horrified,” Lena retorted as they clinked glasses and downed the first of three margaritas.
The bar vibrated with loud music and too many inebriated people shouting over it. The ladies couldn’t help but “people watch.”
“From the looks of things, I’ll bet you get drunk automatically when you pass through those red doors,” Lena said, observing two men in leather pants and open vests adorned with tattoos on their chests and arms, trying to play pool but unable to steady themselves with their cue sticks.
A couple dancing to “Somebody to Love” looked more like they were having doggie-style sex standing up. Sami whispered into Lena’s ear. “The only thing preventing those two people from having actual intercourse are their jeans. Should we yell, ‘get a room’?”
“Oh my God, look to your left,” Lena said. An elderly, heavy-set version of a bad Marilyn Monroe look-alike in a white halter dress, plunging neckline (fashioned after The Seven Year Itch) and a platinum blonde wig slightly askew, undulated to the music with her eyes closed, as her withered red lips whispered, “Oh…Ahh, Oh…Ahh.”
“See, we’re not so bad-looking after all, are we?” Lena asked Sami as the two of them stared dumbfounded at Marilyn.
Suddenly the music stopped. Danny G, the M.C., stepped up to the microphone and announced it was karaoke time.
“Who’s going to start us off tonight?” Danny G asked.
“Come up and sing your favorite song. If I don’t have the music you get a free drink. Come on, who’s going to challenge me?”
When no one volunteered he started it off himself, singing “Mr. Bojangles.” The crowd loved it and Sami and Lena were impressed with his voice and stage savvy.
Next, a couple attempting to look like Sonny and Cher (only he had a pot belly and she had dark roots with long, blond hair) gave their rendition of “I’ve Got You Babe.” The crowd went wild with applause even though they were awful.
“That’s the act to follow; nothing could get worse than that,” Sami said as she stood up.
“Lena, this is the surprise I wanted to share with you,” and she strolled up to the small stage, put a ten-dollar bill in Danny G’s jar and asked him to play “Unforgettable.”
As the intro started Sami took the mike into her hands and announced that she was dedicating the Nat King Cole song to her ex-husband—without love. That line got a laugh and the crowd’s attention.
When Sami’s voice floated over the crowd, Lena got chills and tears in her eyes.
The crowd was mesmerized by the talent of this sophisticated senior citizen, not to mention the humor she brought with her own lyrics.
UNFORGIVEABLE
Unforgivable, that’s what you are
Unforgivable, you left a scar
Like a pile of trash that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more
Unforgivable, in every way
And forever more, I’ll make you pay
That’s why, Nicky, it’s regrettable
That someone so darned un-incredible
Thinks that I am unforgivable too
Dino’s audience erupted in applause and gave a standing ovation. Danny G, shaking his head looked toward the bar, ordered, “Give the lady with the velvet voice a drink on the house!”
-30-
That’s a Wrap…
Stay tuned to find out WHAT. HAPPENS. NEXT…
Next up…
[Targeting 5 July for next installment]
Thanks for hanging with us! Please to share AND if you haven’t done so already, we invite you to sign-up (see below) -The Gang
Speak Your Mind