The Deeper End of Friendship
Elliot pulled his truck into the small parking lot of the Cuban owned meat store in a faltering part of down town Miami and took a deep breath. Unfortunately, lately, no matter how often he went in the greeting he received made him cringe. He'd been shopping in the little place for several years; initially going in after hearing that they sold custom, handmade Cajun Boudin Noir, a sausage staple he'd grown up eating in Louisiana and still loved dearly despite his tepid appetite. Boudin one of very few good memories he had of his childhood. Committed he pushed through the door and before the joyful bells could stopped clanging he was greeted boisterously by the owner's twenty two year old son as the man forced his way through waiting patrons.
"Hola, Papi! Que pasa? What's up? Pop it's Elliot; make Espresso! Papi been a while again, too long, come in, come in, Papi! Don't mind these people, come here, step on up."
"Hey, Calixto; nothing much. Need some steaks, my Boudin; you know the normal, shit. Grilling out at Rios'." He answered shyly after pulling free from Calixto's crushing embrace. "Everything cool here? No problems?"
"Nada, no." Then in a whisper. "Not since you, Papi. Look they line up round the aisle. We owe you, Papi. You just name it. And you? You're a bad liar. Nothing's up? You look like you lost your best friend again. The fat one's bitch chewing at your skinny ass again. Look at this." He tugged at the waist of Salem's Levis. "Pop's gonna have your head, Papi. You lost weight again. What ten pounds easy! He's gonna want to feed you my friend."
"Nah, I'll eat out at Rios' promise. And Calixto, Tyse he's not fat. Not an ounce a fat on him man, trust me. I train with him, no fat."
"My Cuban ass! He's fat, she's a bitch and you're too thin again. Missed you at the gym, been what, a month? Where do you hide, Papi? "
"Around."
"Right Papi, around, good answer and always the same you wily bastard. Diaz that slouch outta Philly; man Fortner bashed his face in good. Little Mexican fuck won't be bragging for a while. Broke the fool's jaw in three places."
Salem took in the news and followed Calixto to the meat counter cutting ahead of the twenty people waiting in line. It might not be much but V.I.P. status in his butcher shop of choice always filled Salem with a jolt of pride. Conversely it irked him that Calixto knew about Samantha's hate for him and that folks tended to think Rios was fat.
One of the only activities Salem did without Rios was to train Combat Sambo, which is where he first met Calixto. His Sambo Dojo was located in the same dank down town warehouse turned gym that the younger man boxed and trained mixed martial arts in. Salem's Sensei often paired him with Calixto for sparing and extra tutoring. They got along well but because Salem held people at arm's length the classes framed the extent of their friendship and Elliot had no idea that the he was the son of his favorite butcher. As he studied the fresh meats in the case he recalled how he'd become so entwined in the world of Gimo's.
For two decades the little Bodega and café, affectionately called Gimo's, was a popular gathering place for the citizens of that block. The shop also drew out of area customers who made the trip into the neighborhood to take advantage of the shop's high quality cuts of meats, produce, excellent Espresso and authentic Cuban deli dishes. Then a local gang strong armed, Calixto's father, Gimoaldo, asking for protection money and selling drugs on his stoop. The gang's presence was scaring the once loyal customers away. Business was dying off and feeling he had no recourse, after the local authorities failed to interceded, Calixto's father, not wanting to involve his son, who'd opted to leave the turbulent neighborhood to work to live downtown, confronted the gang alone and lost. The brutal assault landed the critically wounded man in the hospital for months.
Then three months ago after returning from a long and protracted mission and weeks after the incident, Salem with Rios in tow ventured in to pick up some steaks and were astounded to find Calixto working the counter. A sign for a vigil for his father hung limply on the window behind the register. Calixto explained the situation to a stunned and furious Elliot. Over the years Gimoaldo had been uncommonly kind to Elliot, always seeming to see through his façade, something that had endeared the elder Cuban to him. He worried and fussed over Elliot's weight and health. If Salem ordered a pound of Boudin he'd find two in his package, along with a new blend to taste test, bags of fancy coffee and extra steaks. The old man would stick delicately cooked vegetables in too; tucked and hidden in the sack with a gentle scolding note to eat them, something despite feeling guilty Elliot rarely did.
At first they'd not openly discussed Elliot's profession but it was common knowledge that in his younger days Gimoaldo had been a fierce guerilla fighter of renowned back in Cuba. Salem just figured it took a soldier to know one and accepted Gimoaldo's friendship unconditionally, secretly wishing on yet another level that he could allow himself to just trust enough to open up and talk to the kind yet strong old soldier. Then one night about a year and a half ago Elliot staggered up to the shop's front door, drunk, distraught and painfully beaten from a bar fight. He'd gone to Rios but the big man had turned him away after Samantha complained and lost he'd fled back into the night. Angry and desperate Salem had pounded on Gimo's front door screaming for Gimoaldo not even sure why he'd gone there or how he'd even arrived. Gimoaldo took him in and listened silently to the young man's story while gently and reverently treating his wounds. Ever since that night Gimoaldo was the only one Elliot ever spoke with about work. Gimoaldo was his ears, his secret source for unconditional compassion, his confessor.
Now Gimoaldo, Papi to Elliot, lay paralyzed in the hospital and rather than give in and close the decade's old shop Calixto left his city job in trading and took over vowing to continue his father's battle. He still bore the bruises of a recent beating.
The following evening at the gym Salem confronted Calixto and got the whole story from him. Then he promised the trouble was over. Calixto had laughed and thanked Salem; saying that if the police could do little what could one man do? And that he'd die before giving up the shop. Elliot smiled and shook his head correcting Calixto, 'Not one man mi amigo but two. Leave it to me. It's what I know.' Three months later the gang was still gone, Gimoaldo was home from the hospital and business was once again brisk. Calixto knew enough not to ask for more information. He moved his wife and daughters into the apartment upstairs and gratefully accepted their new life for what it was.
Calixto's voice drew him back to the task at hand.
"Talk to me Papi; what do you need? A big Prime Rib for Gordo? Here look at that one. Not good enough, Jorge can cut another fresh, that's fresh too but you know…"
"No that one's a good size, leave it sit though and get him to cut me…I got Rios, Giddy, Heck, Tyse and Sam's old men, Bree's dad so gimme seven just like that and six of those Fillet Mignons for the ladies and no wait, there's Sam's girlfriends men so make that eleven and two extra…"
"So, fourteen, you skinny boy! You count yourself, Sancho? I hear this one and that one but no me! Fifteen of the Prime Ribs, Calixto! That's fourteen and one for him to take to his home for tomorrow. Feed my favorite son, my Sancho here well. Come here Elliot kiss your Papi's cheek and let him see you."
Salem shrugged to Calixto and crossed to Gimoaldo wheeling his way through the parting crowd. They met and Salem leaned down for his obligatory kiss and tug of his waistline.
"Ah, you're skin and bones again Sancho! Come your table waits for you. Come, Calixto will make your order right. And if he tells me you tried to pay, Sancho, ach, you'll have more than the fat one's wife biting at your skinny ass! I have Espresso and a new Boudin. Little fried slices made from seafood, you'll love it, come taste."
Once in the back room Elliot took his seat after gentle wheeling Gimoaldo into place then sat quietly while the man poured them each a strong Espresso and served a small portion of the newest Boudin.
"How are you, Papi?"
"Good, great now that I am back sleeping in my old room. I missed my poor lost beautiful Clarita, but now again her spirit keeps me company in bed. Funny thing happened. A company, they come and install an elevator, Sancho. Just a small one but it goes up and it goes down. Then another company they come and put in a new bathroom and redo the kitchen fix the doorways wider, renovate for Calixto's family to fit better; good work too. Funny thing though my beloved Sancho, I did not order these things. Calixto he cannot afford these things, so Sancho my Sancho will you tell your Papi the truth?"
"He used money from the benefit maybe, Papi? Didn't want to worry you. I don't know. This is wonderful Boudin though. You have some ready I can take with me? It'll be a great in between food with some little crackers and sour cream and chives maybe."
"Yea, that could maybe work. Ah, so my elevator's just another secret, like your secret rib marinade recipe, Sancho?"
"Yea s'pose so, Papi."
"You still pretend to make it? Still, Gordo is fooled?"
"Of course."
"How do I thank you, Sancho, my heart's favorite son?"
Gimoaldo reached across the small café table, grasped Elliot's hands in his and squeezed them his eyes welling with tears. Elliot basked in Gimoaldo's reverence yet desperately feared it would come between the father and son.
"Just keep listening when I need to talk, Papi. Just be here to listen. Look I gotta scram. Rios'll think I'm bailing on the BBQ."
"Ok, Ok. I'm here. My ears are getting full of hair, Sancho, but they still listen good. Calixto will have your order by now and here, here's the new Boudin and some nice fresh Broccoli, Spinach and Asparagus. Toss the crackers and cream in on your way out. You need these greens, Sancho promise your Papi, promise and go with God always."
Elliot took the basket, studied the green vegetables and sighed.
"I promise, Papi. Love you always."
He kissed the man's leathery cheek, daubed away the final tears with battered right thumb and slipped away.
Thirty minutes later Salem pulled onto Rios' street and parked his truck behind Giddy's Suburban. He smiled, despite his gloomy mood, at the big silver vehicle. Giddy hated the truck but his wife had insisted upon buying it. They had two boys and no need for third row seating but some of the other wives at the boys' private school drove them so she had to have one too. The most she ever toted in the big vehicle was a week's worth of groceries and a mountain of cash for gas. It was situations like the Suburban that made Salem thankful he had no wife or kids to appease. That alone just might be worth the price of feeling lonely now and again.
As he gathered his packages he took note of the other cars lining the dirt road in the rural deed restricted subdivision. Samantha's Forest green Range Rover, and behind it Heckler's little red Honda Prius, which the man despised, but drove to keep his eco-friendly wife who also drove one happy. Last Christmas Salem had stolen both cars and had them wrapped at a local sign shop. Heck's in a camouflage wrap to man it up a bit and Zoe's in a zebra pattern but with fluorescent pink and green stripes. The couple had quite the shock on Christmas morning and he wasn't sure Heck's wife had entirely forgiven him yet.
Rios' parents' silver rental Honda came next. They were visiting from New York and had flown in early that morning. Sam's parents' fully loaded black Volvo wagon, purchased of course by Rios, was there and Bree's father's 1989 F-150 that he'd wrangled away from Salem two years ago. Salem missed the old blue truck and regretted losing it Frank in a Craps game. The rest of the company consisted of Samantha's girlfriends all of whom despite varying states of wedlock or relationships insisted upon trying to get Salem into bed. The sick part was, that having failed, they all told one another elaborate lies about their supposed escapades with him. He figured he should feel flattered but in reality him, Rios, and the guys all felt the situation was tad sick.
Packages in hand he trundled up to the big stained glass double doors of the sprawling ranch style home and jammed at the doorbell. Moments later it pulled inward and Rios' mother greeted him with a broad smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"Elliot, finally! Nala and Tyson are both beside themselves worrying you wouldn't show up. Here let me take something the basket, here hand it over. Oh, you look tired honey, I'm so glad you came. Come on follow me, Rios is out at the grills with the guys and Samantha's well…" She stopped short causing Salem to bump into her and wagged a finger at him. "She's out back with those harpy girlfriends of hers. Ugh that woman! And the kids are swimming."
Salem followed along dutifully listening to the woman chatter on about their flight and subsequent nightmare getting the rental car which was why they'd missed Nala's game, until finally they made it to the kitchen and deposited the groceries.
"Now honey go get a beer and get out to Tyson; I'll put this stuff up."
"Ok but did Tyse and Giddy make the rub for the steaks? And here, this is a new Boudin. A Shrimp Boudin. Little thin slices for an appetizer the crackers go with it and the Sour Cream. That can get set out if you want."
"Oh, it looks and smells wonderful. I received the package you sent us last month, the Noir, and oh my word my Bridge group absolutely loved it. You are such a doll."
"Ugh, don't tell Tyse I'm a doll, Ms. Mimi. The guys'll never let me live that down."
"Oh stop it, they love you. Now go, go you have time before the smoker's ready for the ribs and just try and enjoy the day."
"Oh and there's some green stuff in the basket too. Asparagus and Broccoli or something. Bury it in the fridge. I don't do green stuff."
"Well you need to. Ah yes very nice green stuff at that. I'll just cook it up you can give it a try. Now skedaddle."
Salem took a beer and an extra for Tyson and headed out through the triple sliding glass doors leading from the big country kitchen out to the pool area. Ten kids splashed and hollered in the large free form pool playing water basketball; while Samantha and her friends lounged in the shallow end and just as Mimi had said Rios and the guys were standing round the grills. He made his way over trying to ignore Samantha's blatant look of disappointment and contempt.
"Hey Boss."
"'Bout damn time Kermit; fuck Nala's driving me nuts. That beer better be for me."
"Yup. What, Heck, what?" He squawked his voice a bit nasally as sometimes happened when he was angry.
"When they said pink I didn't think they meant 'pink'. Dude that outfit's gay man. Holy fuck, Fifty I know guys who'd swear all those rumors about you and Rios were true if they saw you in that get up."
His comment garnered snickering from Samantha's girlfriend's dates or husbands. Elliot bristled at the outsiders then confronted Heckler.
"Fuck you Heck, the kids love it; brings them luck and hey, hell maybe the rumors are true."
"Salem." Rios growled in warning.
"Nah, after so many years one of us would of caught you by now. Besides Giddy here always figured it was really Tyannikov you really had a hard on for."
"Honey!" Zoe snapped punching her husband of eight years in the arm.
"Ow babe. Just sayin'. Am I wrong, Giddy?"
Before Giddy could reply Salem turned the pink hat around backwards and stared at Heckler his hazel eyes glinting with rage. Heckler read the warning and grinned.
"Yea, that's the ticket, Fifty. Pink hat on backwards, way more manly, now I'm fucking shaking in my bare feet. What'd that Mozart guy say? I think the lady bitches too much."
"Shakespeare you ignorant fuck and how about I shove this hat up your…"
"You get the steaks, Elliot? Gimo do you right again?" Bree's father Frank cut in trying to diffuse the situation.
Frank owned a Concrete contracting business and although he hung out with the group frequently but he'd never really been able to quite tell when the situation was going to explode into an all-out fight. His crew consisted of tough blue collar brawlers but as far as he was concerned Rios' guys were a whole different animal. There was always far too much Testosterone floating round when the team hung out together. These were big guys who liked big guns and crazy life threatening adventures. They probably did not need to antagonize one another. Yet it always seemed that was the case when the group partied together. A continuous volley of poking and taunting of one another that the men did not seem able to control and while the spats normally ended in friendly rivalry Frank had witnessed fights between them. Usually brutal confrontations leaving someone hurt, which scared him. To compound his concern he knew first hand that Salem's temper was edgy even at the best of times. More worrisome was that the younger man's mood was already antsy from having to deal with Samantha's harassment at the soccer game.
"Yea there inside, Frankie. Tyse's mom is doing the rub." Salem answered without looking away from Heckler's teasing eyes. "Ribs gotta go on first though."
"I'll get them. Fire should be ready."
"Yea, you do that."
As Frank turned away from the group Nala charged up and wrapped her arms around Elliot's waist from behind drawing his attention from Heckler. He startled a bit and turned to face her.
"Uncle Elliot, Uncle Elliot you came!"
"Course, I did And –A-Half! Ugh you're all wet, girly."
"Course I am." She mimicked jumping up and down joyfully tugging on his free hand. "I'm swimming! Get your suit on, come on, come on."
"No, take your old man in he needs a good bath, I'm cooking."
"No, no, no! He's no fun! Uncle E, please."
"Your suit's in the bathroom in my office, Ellie. Pony up boy your fans await you." Rios prompted, thankful for Nala's timing.
"Ok, ok I'll be right back. But your old man here, he better take damn good care a my ribs."
"Yippee! Just hurry up ok. I need you for my team."
NOTE: I'm going to end this chapter here I think. There's quite a bit of stuff that still needs to happen at the BBQ. The problem is I am really struggling with this and I don't want to cut stuff out because I lost patience, shooting for completion. I Hope you all enjoy it despite there not being a mission but that will happen later. I will try to update it promptly.