[twenty years of reflection]
[by bittersweet]
'Heya Fellas," said Race, the same obnoxious New York accent, every syllable dripping with sarcasm. "Someone gonna get me a drink, or do I have to use these devilish good looks and charms to get a free beer?"
Sure he'd put on a little weight, but I guess I'd have to expect that from one of the skinniest fellows of all. Maybe this was what we call 'normal', but it still looked funny on him. His teeth were still crooked and his hair combed combed neatly on either side of his hair, he really did look just as I'd remembered him. The familiarity of a cigar perched in his lips made me almost laugh to myself, wondering what he'd do when he learned smoking stunted your growth. And of course, he'd been smoking since the ripe old age of twelve, and trust me, if ever there was an example of how smoking stunts your growth, Race was it.
"Race, man, it's good to see you," said Dave putting his hand on his shoulder. "What have you been up to?"
"Well," he paused and smirked, "Mr. Mayor," he paused again, "I opened up my own pub, I do a little stand-up every night."
Les laughed, "Yeah Race, I could only see you doing something like that, or maybe being a big gambler or something."
Racetrack laughed and then his face became completely serious. "Oh, and I bought The Sheepshead Racetrack." And then he looked down at his drink and began to drink it trying to avoid the guy's eyes.
They all stared at him with eyes the sizes of watermelons. They were in disbelief over it. "Are you serious Race?" Asked Jack, boldest to speak.
"Yeah, well." Said Race, his voice carrying off slightly. "I kinda fell for this girl, she actually used to be one of Medda's dancers. Tiffany."
"Oh I know Tiffany," said Jack laughing his way through it, nodding and bragging.
Racetrack looked at him and then reached across the table and hit him in the head. "Cowboy, do I look like I'm laughing? Didn't think so. So, I met this girl Tiffany and she said, 'Run away with me,' so, we did."
The guys watched him intently. I studied his hand movements; I studied the way his lips moved when he talked, I missed Race, just as I'd missed everyone else, so much.
"She wanted to be an actress, so we moved the best place for that stuff, Hollywood." He moved the cigar through the air carelessly creating smoke signals. "So she auditioned for this movie, to be a dancer, and they saw me and liked me. So, I kinda got the leading role. It was a huge hit back west, didn't make it as far as Montana though. It's a shame, I really looked forward to having you guys see it. But, eh, most of all I looked forward to coming back here to New York and being the King I guess. Oh well, I guess I'm the king of LA now huh?"
The guys laughed, "Was Tiffany mad?" I asked him, sipping my beer and twirling my mustache.
"Hell no Boots, she got to be my leading lady." He laughed, "So need I say more, I got rich pretty quick and bought the races, that's all I ever wanted anyways. To be funny and gamble, so now I can do both."
"Everyone's pretty late," said Crutchy glancing down at his watch. 'Where do you think they all are?"
"Lemme think about it," said Jack glancing at his watch.
"Hey Jack, you don't thinkin' yet?" said a Racetrack almost in hysterics. "You remember that one Jack?"
Jack laughed and rolled his eyes, "Yeah Race, I remember it."
"Sounds like Kelly's still doing to much talking," said a familiar voice. The company at the table turned to look over at the door.
"Spot Conlon, you haven't grown an inch."
bOuts to whom I'm shouting at /b
Slick o' Brooklyn, Drama Queen, Falco Conlon, Glimmer, Hottie5star, Kaylee, SparkHiggins
(I attempted like… to do it personal but alas, I am retarded and decided against it.) mwhaha.
MAD LOVE AND LOBSTER CLAWS!