Mean Little People

by Dearth, Paige

  Tony understood quickly the influence and power that Johnny Morano and his mob had on the city. Everyone who lived in South Philadelphia knew of the mob boss, even if they didn’t know him personally. And Tony quickly found out that Johnny had store owners and businessmen at his mercy for goods. If Johnny found out that the goods he provided were being bought elsewhere, the owners turned up dead or their stores were destroyed.

  Before lunch Salvatore and Tony entered a restaurant owned by Alberto, an Italian immigrant. Alberto was having a hard time making a profit, given how much he had to pay the Morano family, and he informed Tony and Salvatore he wasn’t paying them anymore.

  “I’m-a tired of-a Johnny thinkin’ he can-a take-a my money. I don’t-a get nothin’ for payin’ him this-a money. You can-a tell-a him to kiss-a my ass. I’m-a finished with all of this,” Alberto argued.

  “Alberto, you know very well that my father provides you with a service. He makes sure that all of your licenses are renewed with the city, and he supplies you with the produce and meat that you need to run this place. You don’t want to do this, Alberto. So go and get us the money you owe, and we will never speak a word of this to him.”

  “What did I-a just tell-a you? I’m not-a gonna pay-a no more money to Johnny. I can buy all my-a meat and produce at half-a the price I pay-a Johnny. He’s a thief. I can-a not even make-a any money from-a my business. I’m-a sick-a this shit, and I say-a no more.”

  Salvatore’s eyes narrowed, and he gave Tony a slight nod of his head.

  “Look, I just met cha. And here’s the thing, ya gotta pay what ya owe,” Tony warned. “Nobody wants to hear ya cryin’ ’bout money. It ain’t such a good idea not to pay for the stuff ya got. So why don’t cha be smart and go get us Johnny’s money?”

  “I just tell-a you—I ain’t gonna pay-a no more. Johnny Morano is a thug who-a rips off hard-a working people. So kiss-a my ass,” Alberto said.

  Tony turned as if to leave but quickly spun and grabbed Alberto by the arm. He forcefully bent it behind Alberto’s back, and with a quick movement, an unnatural popping sound filled his ears as he dislocated Alberto’s elbow and shoulder. Alberto’s scream pierced through the peaceful music playing in the background of the empty restaurant. Tony pressed him against the wall and put his own body weight against the man.

  “Maybe you-a go and-a get the money now, Alberto?” Tony said.

  Alberto nodded in jerky movements.

  Tony escorted Alberto to his office, where he used his left hand to fill an envelope with money. Tony took the envelope and headed for the front door. He turned to look at Alberto.

  “I suggest ya don’t do this again. I’m tryin’ to help ya out here. If ya don’t pay like you’re supposed to, you’re gonna end up dead. That much I know,” Tony said.

  Tony followed Salvatore out into the warm sun.

  “Man, is that guy dense?” Tony said.

  “Once in while these store owners forget who they are dealing with, that’s the kind of shit we take care of real fast.”

  “Was that Alberto guy tellin’ the truth? Does the mob make ’em pay more for stuff that they can buy cheaper on their own?”

  Salvatore glanced at Tony. “There’s a markup on things. Think of it this way. You just moved in with Kate and want nice things. Maybe someday get married and have a family, right?”

  “’Course I do.”

  “The only way we can make money is if the family makes money. That means whatever we supply to people—food, weapons, drugs, women, you name it—we have to charge more than we are paying. That’s how we make a profit.” Salvatore chuckled. “A good fucking profit too. Anyway, that’s how you make your money. If the mob didn’t make a lot of money, then my father couldn’t afford to pay you, right?”

  “Yeah, I see that.”

  “Good. Consider the markup necessary to keep you and Kate able to live.”

  Tony shook his head. “I’ll do whatever I gotta do to make Kate happy. Let me ask ya, though: do you ever feel bad for these people?”

  “Nope. My father is a businessman. Just like any other business, he has to make sure the family earns a living. Do you see doctors and lawyers giving their services away for free? No, you don’t, because it’s a business. Think of it that way,” Salvatore said, patting Tony’s arm. “The Slayers did the same shit that we do: protect their assets and build their business.”

  Tony nodded quietly. He thought, Salvatore is right; the Slayers hurt innocent people to get what they needed to survive. It didn’t make it right, but like the bus driver, Marge, told me as a kid, it’s a matter of eat or be eaten.

  Chapter Ninety-Two

  Within a few weeks, Tony and Kate had a livable apartment. They had bought a few pieces of furniture at a thrift shop and retrieved other discarded items that people put out for trash. Nothing matched, and the apartment still had a dreary overtone, but Tony felt good about the home they had created.

  On a warm, rainy Wednesday night, Salvatore and Vincent came over to Tony’s apartment. Kate was making dinner for them all. The three young men sat at the table as Kate rushed around the kitchen, excited to be serving her first guests.

  Kate put a pan of lasagna in the middle of the table, between the salad and garlic bread.

  “Damn, that smells real good,” Vincent said, reaching for the spatula.

  Salvatore waited until Kate took her food before he filled his plate. “Thanks for having us over for dinner, Kate,” he said, giving her a genuine smile.

  Kate giggled nervously. “Don’t thank me yet. I don’t know how good this is going to be. Donata gave me the recipe, but she’s a great cook. I hope it’s OK.”

  Tony put a forkful of lasagna into his mouth. “Mmm, it’s delicious,” he mumbled through his food. He believed that everything Kate did was perfect. Tony didn’t care what other people thought, not even his friends—Kate was the center of his life, and he felt lucky to have her.

  Salvatore rested his fork on his plate. “I wanted to tell all of you that my mom rented a suite in Atlantic City next week. If you’re up to it, we can all go for a week. It won’t cost you anything but the food that you eat.”

  Tony looked at Kate, and she looked back at him. Her eyes glimmered with excitement. Tony took her hand. “What do ya think?”

  Kate’s smile lit up her face. “I think that would be great. I’ve never been to the ocean before.” She turned her attention to Salvatore. “Are you sure your mom doesn’t mind?”

  Salvatore grabbed another piece of garlic bread. “Of course not. That’s why she got a suite. She loves having all of us around.”

  “What about your dad?” Tony asked skeptically.

  “What about him? He’s not going,” Salvatore said.

  “I don’t mean that; I mean, what about work?”

  “It’s fine. I’ll have a couple of the other guys cover for us. My father doesn’t care as long as shit still gets done.”

  Tony breathed a sigh of relief; he didn’t want to disappoint Kate. “All right, then; that sounds great. We’re in. Kate don’t start workin’ for a couple more weeks, so we ain’t got nothin’ holdin’ us back.”

  “I didn’t know ya got a job,” Vincent said, giving Kate a smile.

  “Yeah, I did. I’m working at Osteria. They’re starting me as a dishwasher,” Kate said, flushing with embarrassment as the words left her lips. “I start in two weeks. I…I…I’m just starting out as a dishwasher, but I hope that I can be a server. There’s a lot more money, because of the tips.”

  “Good for you,” Salvatore said, noticing her red face and nervous demeanor. “In fact, I know the owner, so after you work there for a month or so, I can talk to him for you.”

  “That would be great,” Tony cut in. “Kate’s real good at everything she does. Once she gets to know the place, she’ll be runnin’ it.”

  “I’m sure she will. I’ll talk to him, Kate.”

  Kate brushed the top of Salvatore’s hand with her own.r />
  “Hey, don’t be hittin’ on my girl,” Tony joked.

  Salvatore rolled his eyes at Tony.

  “So when do we leave for the shore?” Vincent cut in.

  “Saturday.”

  Tony sat back in the wooden chair and rubbed his full belly, taking loud breaths. “Yeah, Saturday is good.”

  When Tony and Kate lay in their narrow bed that night, they talked about the things they would do in Atlantic City. Kate rolled onto her side and flung her arm around Tony’s waist.

  “We don’t really have money to go away.”

  Tony kept his eyes closed, soaking up the softness of the pillow that cradled his head. “Well, we ain’t gonna get many chances to go to the beach, so we gotta take what we can get. We got about two hundred bucks saved.”

  “But we need so many things.”

  “We’ll get things later. Right now, we’re goin’ on vacation. I don’t want cha to worry ’bout stupid shit like that, OK? I’m gonna make plenty of money, so much money that ya ain’t gonna worry about workin’ if ya don’t wanna. Just like Mrs. Morano.”

  “That’s great, Tony Bruno, but I want to make my own money. If my mom taught me anything, it was to be independent.”

  “Strong women turn me on,” Tony murmured, running his hand up her shirt.

  That night, just like other nights prior, Kate woke Tony from a nightmare. He had been yelling and thrashing in the small bed. When she woke him, he was soaking wet and breathing hard.

  “It’s all right; you’re at home. It was only a nightmare,” she cooed.

  Tony looked at Kate with sad eyes. Then he put his arm around her, no longer feeling alone, and went back to sleep in a dreamless state.

  Chapter Ninety-Three

  On Saturday morning Salvatore pulled his car up to the apartment. Tony threw a small bag in the trunk and slid into the backseat next to Kate, nuzzling close to her. When they arrived at the hotel, Tony stood in the lobby and looked around. The hotel, also a casino, was filled with noise from the slot machines. He scanned the elaborate pictures and lighting throughout the lobby.

  “This place is pretty fuckin’ great,” he whispered to Kate.

  The four of them went to the front desk, and Salvatore gave the women his name. “Yes, Mr. Morano, welcome. Your mother said you’d be arriving soon. Here are your keys; take the elevator to your left up to the top floor. You’ll need to swipe your key card in the elevator to get you up to the penthouse.”

  Tony took Kate’s hand and followed Salvatore onto the elevator. When the doors opened to the penthouse, Tony’s breath caught in his throat. “Wow, are ya kiddin’ us?” he said aloud.

  The elevator opened to a large living room. There were light-brown leather sofas and chairs in front of a large window and a solid mahogany coffee table that ran the length of the largest sofa. To the left were two doors, and in the corner, a large bar with granite counter tops and high-back barstools.

  “My mom’s and sister’s room is over there,” Salvatore said, pointing at the master bedroom to the right. Their double doors were left open, and Tony could see the king-size bed and some of the impeccable furnishings.

  “Vincent and I are in this room,” Salvatore said, continuing his tour. Tony looked inside at the two queen beds in the middle of the room. Off to the left was a sitting area with a television. “You and Kate are in here,” Salvatore continued and stepped into the last bedroom.

  Tony walked in behind Salvatore. “No shit, this is where me and Kate are sleepin’?”

  The room had a king-size canopy bed. The sheer fabric around the bed was drawn closed, and through the fabric, the bed looked serene and inviting, a safe haven tucked away from a cruel world. The glass wall at the foot of the bed ran from floor to ceiling overlooking the ocean. In the opposite corner of the room was a huge gas fireplace made of stone. A cream-colored velvet love seat perched before it, inviting romance into the room. Kate grabbed Tony’s hand and squeezed it softly.

  “Unpack your stuff and meet us out in the living room,” Salvatore said, closing the door behind him.

  Tony turned to Kate. “I can’t believe all of this,” he said. “This is the nicest place I’ve ever been.”

  “Me too,” Kate said with a giggle. “And we’re here a whole week.”

  Kate followed Tony to the enormous window and stood next to him.

  “Ya know, I ain’t never did anythin’ in my life that made me feel special. This place, this room, it makes me feel special. Look at all the people on the beach. All the families. I ain’t ever had none of that. They all look so happy; now I get to be happy too,” he said, pulling Kate into him.

  Chapter Ninety-Four

  Tony and Kate explored all the nooks and crannies of their hotel room. They found one delight after another. Expensive soaps, shampoo, and lotions. Thick fleece robes in the closet. They opened what they thought was a closet door and found a refrigerator filled with drinks, fruit, cheese, and candy.

  “Do ya think we can eat this stuff?” Tony said, worried about making their money stretch.

  Kate shook her head skeptically. “We better ask Salvatore first. We have to keep track of what we’re spending.”

  A short time later, Tony joined his friends in the living room, and Kate sat next to him.

  “There’s a fridge in our room,” Tony said.

  “Yeah, there’s one in all of the rooms,” Salvatore said, seeing Tony’s uneasiness. “Eat whatever you want. They fill them up every day. It’s a part of being in the penthouse.”

  “Yeah? That’s cool. I like this penthouse shit.” Tony looked around. “Where’s your mother?”

  “She and Gianna went downstairs to make an appointment to get their nails done. They’re making one for you too,” Salvatore said to Kate.

  “Oh, they don’t need to do that. I mean, we’re on a budget,” Kate responded.

  “My mom doesn’t care about money. She doesn’t need to. Listen, she likes to take care of people, so just go along with it. OK? It’ll make her feel good,” Salvatore said, trying to put Kate at ease.

  Kate wrung her hands. “Well…sure, I’d love to have my nails done. I mean, I guess I would—I’ve never had them done by someone before. I’ve always done my own.”

  The elevator door opened, and Alessandra stepped out with Gianna.

  “Oh good, you’re all here,” Alessandra began. “Kate, we made an appointment to get a manicure and pedicure at four o’clock this afternoon. I also ordered dinner in tonight. The chef will come up and cook it here.”

  “Where?” Tony said.

  “Where what, Tony?”

  “Where’s the guy gonna cook?” he said, looking around the spacious room.

  Alessandra laughed and walked over to yet another door that looked like a closet and pulled it open. “In here.”

  Tony walked over and peered inside the kitchen. His eyes scanned all the basics: stove, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher. “This is livin’,” Tony said, smiling at Alessandra.

  “Yes, it is. Mr. Morano works hard so that we can enjoy the better things in life,” she stated.

  Alessandra relished that she could show off a lifestyle that Tony hadn’t seen before. Only two months prior, Salvatore had confided in her that Tony had been raped in juvie only to be turned away by his own parents when he was released from detention. Alessandra couldn’t fathom turning one of her children away, and her empathy flowed deeply for Tony. That’s when she decided a week in Atlantic City would be a gift that she’d love to give to Tony. Alessandra, the polar opposite of Johnny, was drawn to the underdog. Giving to the poor and downtrodden eased her guilt about spending the dirty money her husband made at the hands of others.

  Alessandra turned to the teens. “It’s early, and I’ve asked the hotel to set up a cabana for us on the beach. Let’s all get changed and go down.”

  Everyone agreed, and Gianna ran off to her bedroom to put on a bathing suit. Tony watched Kate, her face frozen as though she’
d just seen a ghost. He walked over and sat down next to her.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Kate’s eyes filled with burning tears. “I don’t have a bathing suit. I don’t even own one. We were coming to the beach—what was I thinking?”

  Overhearing the conversation, Alessandra asked, “What size do you wear?”

  Kate nervously pushed herself to the edge of the sofa. “I’m a size four.”

  Alessandra picked up the telephone from the end table. “Yes, this is Mrs. Morano. Can you please send someone up with size-four swimsuits? I need them for a teen, so send up your trendiest. How quickly? Very good, we’ll see you in ten minutes.”

  Alessandra put the receiver back on its cradle. “I’m going to change into my suit. By the time I’m finished, the women from the boutique downstairs should be here.”

  Kate collapsed back into the buttery soft leather of the sofa. “I can’t believe this, Tony. I feel like I’m in a dream, a dream that I don’t want to ever end.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Tony got close to Kate’s ear. “Working for Mr. Morano ain’t so bad after all. Well, Mrs. Morano ain’t so bad; Johnny’s still a dick.”

  Kate turned to Tony, raised her eyebrows, and put her index finger over tight lips. “She’ll hear you.”

  Tony shrugged and went into their room to change into shorts.

  Ten minutes later, Kate was in the master suite with Alessandra and a woman from the boutique. The lady had brought a dozen different bathing suits. Several were a little too skimpy for Kate’s liking, and in the end, Alessandra insisted that she keep four. “We’re here for a whole week, Kate—you’ll need more than just one,” Alessandra said.

  When Kate was alone in the bathroom changing, she looked at the price tags. The cheapest one was $140, a sum that Kate thought was too much, yet the experience of being taken care of and catered to was one she would never forget. It was addictive.