Mean Little People

by Dearth, Paige

  Vincent nodded, and the two boys raced toward the entrance of the school as the bell for homeroom rang. Tony sat in class unable to shake the awful feeling from his body. He suddenly felt as though he was once again in a situation he didn’t know how to get out of.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Now listen. My mother doesn’t like rude people, and my father demands respect,” Salvatore instructed as they walked to his house after school the next day. “In fact, it’s the first time my father has ever asked to meet any of my friends. Don’t screw this up. Just act normal…if that’s possible.”

  Tony laughed. “Act normal? Vincent don’t know nothin’ about actin’ normal.”

  “Hey, fuck you, Tony. I know how to act normal. What the fuck is normal anyway?”

  “Normal means you can’t curse and act like fools,” Salvatore chided.

  When the boys walked into the Morano house, they stopped short in the foyer.

  “Holy fuck,” Vincent said breathlessly, looking around the enormous entryway and staring up at the six-foot, round chandelier that hung in the middle of the vaulted ceiling above their heads.

  Salvatore cast a scathing look in his direction for cursing.

  “Sorry,” Vincent muttered.

  Tony and Vincent followed Salvatore as they walked through the pristine home, following the delicious aroma of homemade tomato sauce and garlic bread. They stood in the oversized kitchen behind Salvatore.

  Tony watched Alessandra Morano closely as she moved about the room. She was a small, thin woman. Her brown eyes were warm, but there was also a hint of sadness to them.

  ***

  Tony couldn’t have known that Alessandra and Johnny’s marriage had been arranged by the head of the Bonanni family. They had been introduced at a wedding and had only gone on half a dozen dates. Within three months, they had been married. Alessandra had felt the burden of marrying a stranger on their wedding night.

  “Come to me,” Johnny had said when they were inside their hotel suite.

  Alessandra walked hesitantly and stood before her new husband.

  Johnny ran his hands over her breasts, and Alessandra began to cry.

  “Now, now. There’s no need to cry. This is our wedding night. Let’s get you out of that dress,” Johnny said, lust welling up inside of him.

  Johnny slowly unbuttoned her dress until it slipped off of her shoulders and fell to the floor. A mound of satin and lace wrapped around her feet. Then he studied her body, circling her like a tiger about to eat its prey.

  “Take off your bra.”

  Alessandra slowly unfastened the hooks, but held the material over her breasts.

  “Take it off, Alessandra. I want to look at you.” His voice was steady, emotionless.

  Alessandra let her bra drop to the floor, and Johnny gently took her wrists and pushed them out to her sides. Her breasts stood firmly in front of him.

  “They are beautiful, Alessandra.” He bent slightly and took one of her breasts into his mouth. His tongue circled her nipple lightly, and she felt a slight stirring.

  Johnny pulled her close to him and ran his hand down the small of her back. He kissed her softly, gliding his tongue across hers. Alessandra was petrified, and yet, there was a burning desire for him to continue. Johnny slid one hand into the back of her underwear, and pulling away from her slightly, he ran his other hand down the front of her stomach and slid his fingers inside of her. Alessandra was a virgin, and while it felt good, she also felt violated.

  “Yes, Alessandra, that’s it,” Johnny whispered in her ear.

  He stepped away from her. “Take off your underwear.”

  Alessandra was mortified and humiliated. She stared at him.

  Johnny took Alessandra by the hand and led her over to the sofa. He sat down and rested his head on the large cushion as she stood over him.

  “Go on. It’s your duty as my wife. I want to look at you naked.”

  With trembling hands, Alessandra slid her lace panties past her thighs. She knew about sex but now that the moment had arrived, she was scared.

  Johnny took in all her curves. He had been aroused by Alessandra being a virgin, but now as she stood in front of him with her silky, smooth skin, he couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He led her into the bedroom, where they stood facing each other.

  “Take my clothes off, Alessandra,” he instructed.

  Her fingers felt as though they weren’t attached to her hands, and she clumsily undid the first two buttons of his shirt.

  “No. Undress me slowly.”

  Alessandra wanted to punch her new husband. She wanted to run from the room and never see him again. She had imagined her first time would be special and romantic, but Johnny’s words and actions made her feel cheap and dirty. When she finished undressing her husband, he took her over to the bed.

  “Lie down on your back,” he said.

  Alessandra did as she was told. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her legs were bent at the knees and locked in a shut position.

  “Arms by your side, Alessandra. A man wants to see his wife.”

  She uncrossed her arms and laid them on either side of her.

  “Yes, that’s it,” he said, playing with her nipples.

  Alessandra blushed. She wanted to put her clothes back on and go home to her parents. The urge to flee was gnawing at her.

  Johnny was still standing over her. He ran his hands over her body from her breasts down to her knees. “Spread your legs.”

  Alessandra, overcome with panic, shook her head.

  “It’s not a question, Alessandra. Spread your legs.”

  When she still refused to budge, Johnny pressed her legs apart. Alessandra lay on the bed, arms and legs spread wide open, feeling filthy and ruined. The sight of his erect penis frightened her. She hadn’t expected it would be so ugly.

  Johnny got on top of her, not able to hold himself back any longer. He thrust himself into Alessandra, and a sharp sound dislodged from her throat as he took her virginity.

  When Johnny was finished, he rolled over and fell asleep. Alessandra stayed awake all night reliving her “first time,” and in the early-morning hours, she assured herself that the next time would be better. But her wedding night had stolen a piece of her, and the sadness lingered in her eyes years later.

  As the years went by, Alessandra learned to adapt to her marriage and even found she enjoyed having sex with her husband. Johnny had always been good to her, and, for the most part, had given her everything her heart desired. Over time she grew to love Johnny, and she was madly in love with her children.

  ***

  Tony hadn’t taken his eyes off of Alessandra since he entered the kitchen. He saw her grace and beauty, yet there was something missing, some ghost that lurked behind her kind eyes, and he instantly had a stab of sympathy for the woman.

  “Mom, these are my friends, Tony and Vincent.”

  Alessandra Morano put the lid back on the pot of tomato sauce and walked over to the boys. “It’s very nice to meet both of you. I hope you like raviolis. It’s Salvatore’s favorite meal.”

  Tony nodded and stepped forward, his hand extended. “Nice to meet ya too, Mrs. Morano.” Tony was nervous, and his sweaty palm and high-pitched voice didn’t go unnoticed by Alessandra.

  Alessandra smiled. The boy was nervous, and she understood why. Johnny could make or break a person’s life, and she knew that Tony sensed this.

  “Well, come in and sit down. We will be eating in about ten minutes.”

  Alessandra turned to her daughter and gently placed her hands on the child’s shoulders. “This is Salvatore’s sister, Gianna.” The beautiful nine-year-old gave them both a smile. Tony and Vincent smiled and gave Gianna a nod.

  Alessandra nudged Gianna. “Go tell your father that Salvatore and his friends are here.”

  A few minutes later, Johnny Morano walked into the kitchen with a thick, lit cigar dangling from his mouth. “Now, who do we have here?”
>
  “Pop, these are my friends from school, Tony and Vincent.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you boys. Come now and have a seat. Mrs. Morano is almost ready to serve us dinner,” Johnny said, as if Alessandra wasn’t in the room with them.

  Tony and Vincent played along, shaking Johnny’s hand, pretending they’d never met. Johnny Morano watched them closely. He could see that Tony wasn’t comfortable being there and Vincent was too comfortable for his liking. But something about Tony didn’t sit well with Johnny. Maybe it was because the boy was too scared and nervous. Johnny liked people who were sure of themselves and didn’t care for the sniveling types.

  After dinner Alessandra sent the boys to pick up a few groceries at a convenience store a few blocks from their home. Tony was happy to be out of the Moranos’ house. After purchasing the items on Alessandra’s list, the boys stepped outside and were confronted by Rex. Rex was holding a steak knife in his hand and pushed it toward Salvatore.

  “You and me, Morano. What cha gonna do now that I got the knife?”

  “Hey, Rex, we don’t want no trouble,” Tony said.

  Rex’s eyes riveted to Tony as he spoke. In that split second, Salvatore pulled his knife from under his pant leg and stuck it into Rex’s chest. Acting quickly, Salvatore pulled the knife from Rex’s body and ran. On pure instinct Vincent followed him.

  Tony was glued to his spot. He got on the ground next to Rex and put his hand on the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. At that moment, a customer walked out of the convenience store.

  “Hey, what are you doin’, boy?” the man yelled.

  The man grabbed Tony and pinned him to the pavement while the store owner, now outside, looked after Rex.

  “I didn’t do nothin’. Let me go.”

  “I saw exactly what you did,” the man said, looking into Tony’s face. “I know who you are…I know your no-good father. You’re stayin’ right here until the police come, you piece of shit.”

  Panic stricken, Tony jerked and heaved his body until he broke free. He jumped to his feet and ran as fast as he could to get away. By the time he reached the Moranos’, he was shaking violently. Tony banged on the door, and it was quickly opened by Salvatore.

  “What happened to you? Why didn’t you run?”

  “Ya stabbed the guy, Salvatore. I couldn’t just leave ’im there. I think ya killed ’im.”

  Johnny came barreling into the foyer and pulled Tony inside with one hand. His face was flushed and his nostrils flared.

  “What have you done? Have you brought the police to my home?”

  “N-n-no, Mr. Morano. We was just comin’ out of the store when Rex…”

  “Shut up! You’re a stupid boy. Let me tell you what’s going to happen. You’re going to get the fuck out of my house and go straight home. If the police come to visit you for your utter stupidity, and you say one word about my son, I will kill you and your entire family. Do you understand me?”

  Tony looked to Vincent for support, but he lowered his head, scared that Johnny would turn on him too.

  “I understand,” Tony said, tears streaking down his face.

  “Go! Get out. There is nothing more here for you.”

  Tony made his way home in the shadows. He took the dark alleys and less-traveled roads to avoid the well-lit streets. As he walked into his house, Teresa looked up from her sewing.

  “Where were ya?”

  “I told ya, I was eatin’ at Vincent’s.”

  “No, ya didn’t. Vincent’s mother called here. You’re lying. Where were ya?”

  Before Tony could answer, there was a knock at the door. Teresa pulled the door open, and on her porch stood two broad-shouldered Philadelphia police officers.

  “Officers? Can I help ya?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Are you Mrs. Bruno?”

  Teresa nodded.

  “Is your son Tony Bruno?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  At the sound of his name, Tony vomited on the living room carpet. Teresa stared at the police officers as if they had spoken to her in an unknown language.

  “Ma’am, is Tony Bruno your son?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Is he here now?”

  “Yes.”

  Teresa spread herself in the doorway like a linebacker.

  “Ma’am, you need to let us in. We have a warrant to arrest your son.”

  “That ain’t possible,” Teresa said.

  One policeman gently took Teresa’s arm and led her into the home. Tony was on his hands and knees, hyperventilating.

  “Are you Tony Bruno?”

  Tony looked over at the policemen, and he retched again.

  “OK, son. Now take it easy. I’m Officer Malloy, and this is Officer Campbell. We have a warrant for your arrest. I want you to stand up slowly.”

  Officer Malloy grabbed Tony under the arm and helped him to his feet.

  “OK, I need you to put your hands behind your back.”

  Tony obeyed, and he panicked as the cool metal of the cuffs fastened around his wrists.

  “How old are you, Tony?”

  “Thirteen,” he said in a trembling voice.

  “All right. Officer Campbell and I are taking you to the police station to ask you some questions.” He turned to Teresa. “Do you have a lawyer?”

  Teresa shook her head. “Why are you takin’ my boy? What’s he done?”

  Officer Malloy swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. Tony looked at the cop with a sorrowful expression.

  In a low, soft tone, Officer Malloy answered, “He’s suspected of murder.”

  “What! No! Not my boy. Not my Tony. Please leave him here wit’ me. He ain’t perfect, but he ain’t no murderer. I swear,” Teresa cried.

  “Ma’am, I understand your grief. I would suggest that you contact a public attorney. The court can give you the information that you need.”

  “Where are you takin’ him?”

  “We’ll take him to the Philadelphia Police Station, where he’ll be processed and moved to a facility for youth offenders,” Officer Malloy stated. “He will only be kept at the station for a short period of time, less than six hours, before we move him to a juvenile detention placement.”

  With his hands behind his back, held in place by handcuffs, Tony walked toward his mother. Teresa grabbed him lightly and kissed his cheek.

  “It’ll be OK, baby. Don’t cha worry; they’ll find out this is all a big mistake,” Teresa said.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  As Tony rode in the back of the police car, his head felt as though it were filled with a thick liquid. His rapid thoughts of what would happen to him escalated his fear. This made it impossible for him to think clearly. Tony couldn’t imagine what it would be like to go to prison for a crime he hadn’t committed, and his belly felt like it was filled with boiling acid. His new, unknown reality terrified him. Johnny’s threat played over in his ears, and nothing made sense. Would Johnny really kill me and my family? Tony had heard what people said about the mobsters…they were ruthless murderers who took what they wanted at all costs.

  Inside the police station, Tony looked around him, his eyes wide and his heart erratically pulsing in his chest.

  Officer Malloy took Tony by the arm to a room where he was photographed and fingerprinted. Then he was placed in a solitary holding cell where he couldn’t see or hear anyone. Tony looked around him. The gray block walls matched the darker gray floor. The fluorescent lighting overhead was covered by a metal cage. There was a small cot bolted to the floor in the corner, and the cell door had a narrow opening where Tony could peer out into the empty hallway.

  Two hours after Tony had been arrested, Teresa showed up at the police station accompanied by one of her neighbors. She was hysterical before she walked through the door.

  “Where’s my boy?” she called out. “Tony Bruno. He didn’t do nothin’. Ya don’t have a right to keep ’im here.”

  Officer Malloy rushed forward and pulled
Teresa into a private room. He sat with her until they brought Tony in.

  “Oooh, Tony,” Teresa cried.

  Tony buried his face in his mother’s chest. “Please get me outta here, Ma. I wanna come home. I didn’t do nothin’, I swear. I was trying to help the kid.”

  Teresa looked up at Officer Malloy. “See, he didn’t do nothin’—he just tried to help.”

  “Mrs. Bruno, I understand that you’re upset. There was a witness who said he saw Tony stab the boy.” The officer paused.

  “What happened to Rex? Is he OK?” Tony asked.

  “He’s dead,” Officer Malloy stated.

  Teresa ran her hand nervously over Tony’s head. “It’s gonna be all right, Tony. I don’t know how, but it’s gonna be all right.”

  “Mrs. Bruno,” Officer Malloy began, “we will be moving Tony to a juvenile detention center. The van arrived right before you got here. I’m sorry. I can give you five minutes, but then Tony must go with the other officers.”

  Teresa clung to Tony with all of her might. “Where are they takin’ him?”

  “He’ll be taken to a detention center in Lehigh County. Because of the seriousness of the crime, Tony will be held there until a formal hearing is scheduled.”

  “But that’s far from here. How am I supposed to see him? How can they hold him in prison wit’out even knowing for sure that he did somethin’ wrong?” Teresa screamed.

  “I’m very sorry, Mrs. Bruno. Like I said, there is a witness who alleges he saw your son stab the other boy. We have to hold him. I’m going to give the two of you five minutes; then I’ll be back in to take Tony out to the van.”

  When Officer Malloy left the room, Tony collapsed onto the floor and cried. The hopelessness of his situation was crushing in on him. Should I tell my mother that Salvatore killed Rex? But the thought of exposing Salvatore was horrifying. He could never turn on a friend. And what would Mr. Morano do? Tony quickly decided to keep silent. His fear of Johnny Morano outweighed his fear of the unknown. Maybe they won’t send me to prison. They’ll see it wasn’t me, and I’ll go home tomorrow, Tony thought in an attempt to gain control over himself.