Chapter 2
Neither of us old father about the old restaurant or the game of poker. Father was already worried about us keeping our apartment and didn't need any other worries. I hoped AMA would forget about it and he'd stay away from the place. But just the opposite happened. The next day Sam dragged me along with him to play poker, much against my will. This continued for about two weeks.
"Sam, ya want me t' buy ya a drink?" asked the blond man. I glared at him but he didn't say anything. The men never took notice of me. They had gotten the hint after the second day that I wasn't fond of them. Sam, of course wanting to fit it, said yes. They gave him a glass half full. I assumed it was beer. Sam took a drink. He made an awful face showing his dislike. None the less he drank the rest. He also drank a few glasses after that one was empty.
On the way home Sam was a little tipsy. When I asked him if he was okay, he replied,
"I'se fine" as he almost tripped. "I'se don't see why ya're so worried. Dare really nice guys."
"No dare not. Don't ya see it, day got ya hooked on poker an' now day's givin' ya beer. Day just want ya're money" I tried to explain to him.
"You'se don't know whats ya's talken about" he answered as he ran into a light post. "Watch where I'se going" he yelled at the post. A short guy with an unlit cigar stopped us and asked for a light.
"Dar's a light post over dar" Sam said pointing at the post that he had ran into. The boy looked at him funny and says,
"What's wrong wid your friend?"
"He's me bruddah" I replied embarrassed.
"Oh well, I'se gonna go" he said and walked off fast so we wouldn't hear him laugh.
"Well he was rader rude" Sam commented.
Every day after that the men would buy Sam a beer, or two. Sam drank more and
started losing money. But wouldn't admit it if you asked. I went with him to the restaurant for less then two weeks before I told him I wasn't going anymore. He was too drunk to care.
I'd usually go to Central Park instead. It was really nice. I'd walk around on the paths that weaved though the park. Ever once in a while I'd see a boy or two with papers. They would be yelling the headlines trying to sell their papers. If I had money I'd buy one. I could hardly read but it gave me something to do. Sometimes there would be a man playing the harmonica or other instruments that I don't know the name of. Life went on like this for two years.
Neither of us old father about the old restaurant or the game of poker. Father was already worried about us keeping our apartment and didn't need any other worries. I hoped AMA would forget about it and he'd stay away from the place. But just the opposite happened. The next day Sam dragged me along with him to play poker, much against my will. This continued for about two weeks.
"Sam, ya want me t' buy ya a drink?" asked the blond man. I glared at him but he didn't say anything. The men never took notice of me. They had gotten the hint after the second day that I wasn't fond of them. Sam, of course wanting to fit it, said yes. They gave him a glass half full. I assumed it was beer. Sam took a drink. He made an awful face showing his dislike. None the less he drank the rest. He also drank a few glasses after that one was empty.
On the way home Sam was a little tipsy. When I asked him if he was okay, he replied,
"I'se fine" as he almost tripped. "I'se don't see why ya're so worried. Dare really nice guys."
"No dare not. Don't ya see it, day got ya hooked on poker an' now day's givin' ya beer. Day just want ya're money" I tried to explain to him.
"You'se don't know whats ya's talken about" he answered as he ran into a light post. "Watch where I'se going" he yelled at the post. A short guy with an unlit cigar stopped us and asked for a light.
"Dar's a light post over dar" Sam said pointing at the post that he had ran into. The boy looked at him funny and says,
"What's wrong wid your friend?"
"He's me bruddah" I replied embarrassed.
"Oh well, I'se gonna go" he said and walked off fast so we wouldn't hear him laugh.
"Well he was rader rude" Sam commented.
Every day after that the men would buy Sam a beer, or two. Sam drank more and
started losing money. But wouldn't admit it if you asked. I went with him to the restaurant for less then two weeks before I told him I wasn't going anymore. He was too drunk to care.
I'd usually go to Central Park instead. It was really nice. I'd walk around on the paths that weaved though the park. Ever once in a while I'd see a boy or two with papers. They would be yelling the headlines trying to sell their papers. If I had money I'd buy one. I could hardly read but it gave me something to do. Sometimes there would be a man playing the harmonica or other instruments that I don't know the name of. Life went on like this for two years.