My aunt Kathy asked my cousin, Nate and I, to go down to Willies and get her some cigarettes and cleaning supplies for the house. She also needed some other personal supplies, which was why she asked that I go with him.
Nate and I started our walk to Willie's. It was about six blocks away; so much as a good little work out, to say the least. Through sign language, he was telling me about the streets of Sunset Park, and then going into his take on the Vipers and Deuces. I replied back speaking with sign to him. I lit up a cigarette, looking at the buildings and taking in the Brooklyn air.
Nate got ahead of me, waving to the people who passed him. He was a good kid, even though he was deaf, he put others before himself… he was a good kid. I smiled, watching how the elders reacted to him. I took in the toxins of the cigarette, and exhaling as the elders passed me. It made the dim light I had inside of me light up, because of the good hearted people who took time to speak and make nice gestures to my deaf cousin.
I watched as he walked up to Willie's, only to be held up by a bunch of punks, my guess it was the Deuces. I hated guys who started shit.
"Hey asshole, you know who'd turf this is?" A punk yelled out, walking behind Nate. "This is the Deuces turf. You fuckin listenin to me?" He growled at Nate, hitting him in the back of the head. I watched him push Nate, that's when I had enough.
"I'm deaf, Imna deaf!" He flailed trying to get the boy to understand.
"The fuck? Shut the fuck up!" The guy yelled, punching him in the face. I ran up to him, pulling the guy up and punching him in the nose. I heard the door open, not noticing another guy coming out.
"What the fuck lady?" He boy, I punched, asked.
"Bobby, what are you doing?" The guy wondered. I looked back and saw Tino holding Nate.
"He was disrespecting our turf." Bobby said. I shook my head, getting pissed again.
"What the fuck ever, kid! He was going on a supply run for my Aunt!" I yelled.
"He's one of them!" Bobby yelled, "One of them Garfield boys!"
"No he ain't, they don't take rookies." Tino spoke up for his defense.
"This is Betty Ann's brother, her deaf brother." The older guy spoke to Bobby, walking over to Nate.
"You alright big guy?" He asked Nate, who was still rubbing his head. I used sign language to tell him to go back home and I'd get the stuff. He nodded, running off. Tino walked over to me.
"You hit one kid a year, and he's fucking deaf. Nice Bobby." The guy spoke, shaking his head.
"Well his mother should hang a sign around his neck." Bobby piped up. I looked at him like he lost it. I walked up to him and punched him again.
"Hang a sign around his neck… What are you, fucking twelve? Who the fuck are you to decide what his mother should do, you fucking grease monkey?" I yelled, being held back by Tino.
Bobby spat out blood on my shoe. I looked back at Tino and whispered for him to let me go. I walked back to Bobby and kicked him in the head. The boys behind him got him up before I could do more damage.
"You're a psychotic bitch!" He spat, all I could do was laugh.
"You say you're a Deuce, Bobby?" I questioned. He nodded, getting in my face.
I shook my head, pretending like I was turning away. He thought he had won, but he didn't. Not by a long shot either. I turned around, clocking him in his jaw, hitting in nose as well. He fell on the ground, once again. I kneeled down on his chest.
"Deuce, aye? Coulda sworn you were more of a Douche. Next time you ever think of putting your hands on my cousin, I will do more than hurt your face." I spoke, getting closer to his face.
"Understand?" I seethed. He nodded and I patted him on his head like a dog.
"Good boy." I said getting up and walking into Willies. I ended up buying two cartons of cigarettes, all the cleaning supplies, and Aunt Kathy's personal items.
I gathered my bags, turning but only to become nose first in a chest. I backed up and saw the guy that had stopped Bobby.
"Sorry about what my brother said and did to Nate. I'm Leon." He spoke. I smiled and nodded.
"Hi Leon, it's nice to meet you. I would say sorry for your brothers face, but I don't like to lie. I'm Erica Rose." I introduced myself. He nodded.
"I understand completely. It's nice meeting you." He replied, smiling.
"You're the girl Tino was telling me about. You're from Boston, right?" He wondered, I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm from Boston. Born and bred, had family problems so I'm here now. " I shrugged, looking at Bobby who walked back and started over to us.
"Yo, Leon, why you talkin to her?" Bobby interrogated.
"Uhm, excuse me, this conversation is between Leon and I. Bobby is neither mine or his name, so go somewhere." I smiled bitchily. He huffed and walked out. Leon chuckled, as did Leon's girl. I smiled over to her and she returned the favor.
"Wow Erica, you got some nerve , miss." Leon laughed.
"Well, he and I will never be friends. He's like a pussy for beating a deaf kid, no offence." I offered, he nodded.
"None taken. He's a bit off lately." He proposed. I thought about it and nodded.
"Well maybe, I'll see you around. Your girl is waiting for you, and I need to get this stuff back to my Aunt. Bye Leon, and thank you for doing what you did for Nate." I smiled, waving to Leon's blonde beauty. She waved back as I walked out the store.
I crossed over to the Vipers turf. I saw more than fifteen of their gang walking up to the corner. I noticed Vinnie was with them. He shot me a smile. Another familiar face I knew.
"Hey Erica, you okay?" He wondered. I smiled and nodded.
"Hey Vin, yeah I'm fine now." I smiled. He grinned giving me a hug.
"I saw what Bobby did to Nate. Such a pussy." He spoke truthfully. I nodded.
"Well, you'll see what I done to Bobby. You'll be proud." I laughed.
"I'll see you later, Eri. I have some work to do with your Uncle later." He replied. I nodded giving him one last smile.
"See ya, Vin." I spoke, walking off. I started humming to myself. I rounded on corner, noticing an older couple trying to unlock their house door. I walked up to them.
"Hi, would you like some help?" I asked up to them.
The lady smiled and nodded. I gave her a smile, taking the key from her. I got the door opened for them, then offered to help them get their bags in. They agreed, and I grabbed most of them. I followed behind the lady. The lady who I found out to be Mrs. Ellen Vendetti. After setting the bags down, I helped her put the stuff up.
"You are so sweet Erica. If my Marco was here, he would've helped us. He lives right down the street. He's my grandson." She told me with a smile.
"Marco Vendetti?" I questioned. Her eyes lit up.
"Yes. He's in jail right now. I miss him. His friends come over to check up on us for him." She explained, smiling.
"He sounds like quite the man. I bet you're a proud grandma of your boy, Marco." I suggested as she nodded in reply.
"I am, so is Don. He misses Marco so much. We still don't understand what happened for him to have him in jail." She admitted, as I bit my lip.
"Well, I can assure you that you'll be the first place he comes to when he gets out. I guarantee you, that he misses you." I smiled, grabbing her hand. A tear slipped down her wrinkled cheek.
"I wish I had my grandparents. Marco is lucky to have two amazing grands that care about him." I tried calming her.
"You're by yourself?" She wondered, almost like she guessed it. I shrugged. Truthfully, I was.
"My dad flaked out on us when I was little. My mom got into drugs and was arrested. I moved here from Boston to live with my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Frank." I explained. Her face softened.
"Oh sweetie, what about your grands?" She wondered.
"My Papa was in the war, he was killed. That man was my heart. My grandma died three weeks later. Everyone said it was an aneurysm, but I knew she died from a broken heart. Her and my papa was high school sweethearts. They done everything together." I replied looking over at the picture of Mr. Don and Mrs. Ellen, both in Navy uniforms.
"That's a beautiful picture." I noted, she handed me a smile.
"Thank you Erica. I can't wait for Marco to meet you." She happily spoke. I laughed and nodded.
"He sounds like an amazing guy, Mrs. Vendetti." I smiled.
"Oh please call me Nana. That's what Marco and his friends call me. You can call Don, Papa, as well; ain't that right, Don?" She called out over to him. He looked up and over to us and smiled, nodding.
"Of course you can dear. Make sure you come back tomorrow, yeah?" He wondered. I nodded.
"Yes, sir. I will. Thank you for welcoming me into yal's home." I smiled, hugging 'Nana'. She kissed my cheek.
"Thank you for helping us into our house, and thank you for helping with the bags and putting the things up for me." My new Papa called.
"Anytime. Yal have a great afternoon. I'll be over tomorrow to help with anything else." I smiled, hugging Mr. Vendetti. He kissed my cheek.
"You can help us with Sunday dinner, you're more than welcome." Nana offered. I nodded and smiled.
"What time?" I wondered.
"It's at 12, but come around 10. I can tell you can cook." Nana spoke with a laugh. I laughed with her and nodded.
"I love cooking, Nana. I'll see you two tomorrow!" I smiled, walking out of their home and back onto the street heading to my Aunts. I smiled thinking about the nice could I just got to now. After a couple of minutes, I finally made it home. I walked inside and my aunt ran up to me.
"Are you okay?" She wondered. I nodded handing her the bags.
"I'm fine. Is Nate okay?" I wondered, following her into the kitchen.
"He's fine. He told me what you did. I really appreciate that, Erica." She hugged me.
"That was no problem, Aunt Kathy." I smiled, taking my seat at the table.
"I met two older people who invited me over to their house tomorrow." I started, she looked at me.
"Who?" She wondered.
"Mr. and Mrs. Vendetti. Very nice couple; I helped the in their house." I spoke, smiling.
"They are a very nice couple, sweetie." She replied. I nodded and smiled.
"They are. They remind me of Ma-Ma and Papa. I love how they're so nice and thankful." I spoke, getting up. I bit my lip and sighed.
"Do you mind if I go take a nap? I wanted to go to the feast tonight, if that was alright with you." I wondered. She nodded.
"Of course, dear." She spoke. I walked into my room and lay on my bed. I thought about the pictures of Marco that I saw. He was surely handsome.
I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep. What felt like minutes later, was really two hours. I felt a weight on my bed. I opened my eyes and it was Vinnie.
"Hey Vin. What you up to?" I wondered. He shook his head.
"Notta thing, Eri. Kathy said you're going to the festival tonight." He smiled as I nodded sleepily.
"Yeah, I was wanting to. Guess who I met today." I urged, he looked clueless.
"Santa?" He questioned. I giggled shaking my head.
"Mr. and Mrs. Vendetti. Very nice couple, I'm supposed to help her cook tomorrow for Sunday dinner." I said sitting up.
"Nana and Papa? I love them, they're great people. Sunday dinners are the best!" He exclaimed. I laughed, rolling my eyes.
"So you're gonna be there tomorrow?" I asked, he nodded.
"Of course. She's the best cook!" He smiled. "Besides, you'll get to meet Marco tomorrow!" He finished.
"And what meet you think I want to meet Marco?" I questioned. He shrugged.
"He wants to meet you." He said, winking. I rolled my eyes, foaling back into my bed.
"Fucking greasers. I swear!" I groggily spoke. I heard him laugh.
"You did a great job on Bobby. Marco will be impressed." He slid out. I shook my head.
"Vinnie, you are unbelievable." I said getting up. He laid on my bed.
"You're unbelievable." He mocked. I looked at him and furrowed my eyebrows.
"What are you, nine?" I wondered, he just shook it off with a laugh. He got off my bed, as I started to freshen up. I looked at him,
"I'm going to the beach, you comin?" I wondered, he nodded, following me outside. We started our journey to the beach. We sat under the pier. Vinnie became a brother type to me. We sat on the Brooklyn sand.
I noticed Bobby was with Tino, Allison and another girl, who I didn't know. I sighed, looking at Vinnie.
"You's ready for the pool?" I heard Bobby ask. The others nodded. Alison saw me. She smiled and waved; I returned the gesture. Tino saw me and walked over to Vinnie and I. He swooped down and hugged me, looking at Vinnie. I knew they were fixing to saw something to one another. I shook my head.
"Not around me. I'm neither with the Deuces nor the Vipers. When you're both around me, you be nice and civil to each other, understand?" I gritted, they both nodded and shook hands.
"Eri, you gonna be here tonight?" Tino wondered. I nodded.
"Yeah I am." I spoke, as he smiled.
"Take care of her Vinnie." He nodded over to Vinnie. He smiled.
"Of course." He replied.
"We'll see you tonight, Eri." He smiled, walking back over to the others. I watched them leave.
"Well, that was nice." Vinnie started. I chuckled.
"Vinnie, Vinnie, Vinnie… haven't you learned I'm neutral? I'm friends with everyone, duh!" I laughed aloud. He nodded.
"Neutral, friends… right, okay." He laughed, as I hit his arm.
"Question though. What is the point of dividing the town up? Why can't the Deuces and Vipers just get the fuck along?" I wondered.
"Eri, there's a lot of things. Some of which aren't what they seem. We can get along, but things are complicated. This war we've got now is gonna end soon. Leon means well, but he needed to realize that Marco wasn't the one who got Allie-boy turned into a junkie." He started. I sat there taking it all in.
"We all dealt drugs. We didn't force people to buy it." He finished. I nodded.
"For my sake, quit with it. I lost my mom to drugs. I don't want to lose close friends anymore." I said, as I looked over to him. He nodded.
"I swear you can persuade everyone, Eri." He laughed. I smiled, watching the surfers.
"Everything's changing slowly but surely, Eri. You could be the one that does." He reasoned. I nodded.
"All I can do is try, Vin." I said with a tear falling down my cheek.
"Maybe you can change Marco, too." He nudged my arms. I laughed, drying my tears and shaking my head.
"Vin, knock it off, fucking psycho." I spoke, getting up. He got behind me. I lit up my cigarette, shoving Vinnie. I ran off. He chased me, caught me and bit my arm.
"Ow, fucking bitch, that hurt!" I yelled, grabbing my arm.
The Vipers ran up to Vinnie and I. Jimmy Pockets was there also. Something about his presence just freaked me the fuck out. I shuddered at his voice.
"Why you here with her?" Jimmy sneered looking at me.
"Dude, she's like a sister. Her cousin is Nate." He explained.
"Your point?" Jimmy wondered. I couldn't take it anymore.
"You're just like Bobby! Both of yal can be in yal's own gang called the Douches." I spat as he got in my face.
"What was that, bitch?" He gritted.
"Whoah, whoah, whoah Jimmy, don't go there." Vinnie started.
"No, Vin, let him. Wanna be a pussy Jimmy? Hit me. Then I'll ht you and you can rat on me just like you did with Marco." I sneered his way.
The Vipers looked at me gaping.
"What the fuck did you say?" He growled, I punched him.
"You heard me you fucking snitch!" I angrily kicked him in his sides. He gasped holding his left side more so than his right.
"You better watch your back bitch." He said. I laughed.
"What is it, Jimmy? Mad because I know your secret? Huh? Mad because the others now know the reason Marco's in jail?" I taunted.
"I'm gonna fuckin kill you!" He threatened. I nodded.
"Go overdose you fuckin junkie." I spat, kicking him again. I walked off towards the boardwalk. I heard my name being called behind me. I stopped, waiting for Vinnie.
"Hot damn, Eri. You're a ball of fire. They beat his ass." Vinnie smiled, I nudged him.
"Ya know, I've been called bitch four times today?" I laughed, he shook his head laughing as well.
"Well, I'll make sure he don't fuck with you anymore." He promised. I nodded. I wasn't scared of Jimmy nor was I scared of Bobby.
"I'll kill him. Vin, I'm not scared of either of them." I reassured.
"I know, but I'm just saying." I nodded, understanding. A friend of Vinnie's ran up to us.
"Marco's back, Vin. He's at the bar." Johnny spoke. I saw a light spark in Vinnie's eyes.
"Time for you to meet him, yeah?" He asked. I shook my head.
"I'll meet him tomorrow, Vin you go on. I'm gonna go back home." I said.
"I'll walk with you, okay?" He offered. I nodded.
"John, tell him I'm gonna walk to her, and I'll be there in ten minutes." Vinnie told Johnny, who nodded and ran off. Vinnie and I started off to my house.
"You sure you don't wanna come meet him?" He wondered, I nodded.
"I can tomorrow, Vin." I smiled.
"Oh, I get it. To get the man's heart, you go through his stomach." He wiggled his eyebrows. I shook my head.
"You're impossible, Vin!" I yelled. He laughed as we got to my house.
"Be careful." I told him. He nodded and hugged me.
"Of course, Eri. See you tomorrow. Be ready for Marco." He mocked. I hit him.
"Go before I beat you." I replied, smiled sweetly. He laughed giving me another hug and kissing my head.
"Bye Eri." He spoke before walking off.
"Bye Vin." I replied, going inside.
Later that night, all I could think about was Marco. I wondered if he was going to like me. I wondered about how his smiled, his attitude, everything about him.