Jonny drove up East Edgar Road, in search of some food. It had been years since he'd had a nice, hot homecooked meal. At least Rome had a loving family to go to, and a warm bed. Jonny had no one's company, except the occassional rats scampering in the factory. He pretended often, that this didn't bother him. In reality, he envied Rome. He wish he had someone to curl up to in a warm, clean bed every night. Someone who loved him.
Johnny pulled up into the parking lot of a White Castle. He stepped out of his Buick, clutching his leather jacket close to him. It was a frigid 23 degree night, and it didn't help that the wind was blowing. He supposed he could buy a new coat that sufficient for the winter.
He stepped into the White Castle and inhaled deeply. The smell of those tasty burgers were like Heaven.
He ordered a Big Crave with chicken rings and a large Sprite. While he waited for his order, he whistled tunelessly and looked around. There was barely anyone in there. Only a trucker and a worker mopping the floor.
After he got his food, he sat down and ate. The sliders eased the longing emptiness in his stomach as he wolfed them down.
Another person entered the White Castle. Jonny originally ignored him until he heard him speak.
"I'd like a Crave Sack with a large Sprite."
It was Will. Jonny peeped him, but continued to keep eating. Will had his back to him, drumming his fingers on the counter as he waited for his food.
Will finally noticed Jonny and walked over to him, sitting across from him.
"You following me or something?" asked Jonny.
"Yeah, stalking people has always been a favorite pasttime of mine," said Will sarcastically, as he took a bite of his slider, "got the munchies and decided to drop in."
Now that Will said it, Jonny noticed that his eyes were rather red. He also detected a strong whiff of marijuana emanating from him.
"Mind sharing some of that mean green?" asked Jonny.
"Sure thing," said Will, "you're still sleeping in that rat pit?"
"Yep," said Jonny.
"Not anymore, you're not," said Will. "I'm renting a motel room just up the road from here. It's modest, but it has two beds, proper plumbing, and heat."
"Sharing a room with you?" said Jonny, raising an eyebrow, "no offense, dude, but you just got out of prison. How do I know you won't try anything funny?"
Will laughed.
"Don't flatter yourself,"
"A couple of weeks ago, you said you'd have turned my homeboy Rome out," said Jonny, "I have every reason to worry."
"I wasn't serious," said Will, "I was just putting it on a little extra."
"Why are you offering me a place to stay?" asked Jonny, "you barely know me. And a couple of weeks ago you busted my head open."
"That again?" said Will, "I told you I was just defending myself. I thought that was all bridge under the water."
"It is, man," said Jonny, "I'm just wondering why do you care that I'm sleeping in an abandoned factory."
"Are you kidding me?" said Will, "that's no fucking way to live, kid. In a run down death trap like that. No one deserves to live in conditions like that. You're coming to the motel and that's final. And once the money comes in, we're going clothes shopping."
"Yes, sir!" said Jonny sardonically, putting his hand up in a salute.
After they ate, Jonny drove Will to the Swan Motel. While Jonny drove, Will wondered whether he ought to have told Jonny that he might be his son. Will had his doubts at first, but the more he hung out with Jonny, the more he saw a likeness between the two of them. They walked similar, they dressed similar. Jonny even bore a resemblance to Will, even if Jonny didn't notice.
Will didn't know how he was going to go about telling Jonny, but he knew that it would have to be soon. He had to know.
"Well, make yourself at home, Jonny," said Will when they made it to the motel. Will sat on the sofa where he began to roll up a joint.
"Don't mind if I do," said Jonny, plopping on the bed , turning on the TV. Reruns of Family Guy were on.
"What the hell is this show?" asked Will.
"Damn, Will," said Jonny, "how long were you locked up that you don't know this show?"
"Fifteen years," said Will.
"That's a long time, man," said Jonny.
"I know," said Will, "I was so fucking stupid back then. I had a damn good job. My wife was so happy I was working. And I fucked it up. Like I always did. It's like I'm not happy unless I'm involved in some kind of craziness. Like part of me will always love sticking up people, stealing everything not nailed down, all that crazy shit. It's like a part of me will always be addicted to chaos. And I lost the only person I truly ever loved because of my tendency to destroy everything I came across."
Tears threatened to spill from Will's eyes. He wiped it impatiently and lit up the joint, taking a long pull from it. He coughed a few times before passing it to Jonny.
"So, I have to ask you," said Jonny after they both were sufficiently stoned. "You can't have possibly wanted to be a criminal your whole life. Was there anything you wanted to be? Did you have dreams and ambitions?"
Will looked at Jonny thoughtfully. No one had asked him that before. Not even Jenny.
"Well, I wanted to play basketball," said Will. "I was a center forward at my old high school. Averaged twenty-four points a game. Lead in triple doubles three years in a row. I was going to get a scholarship to Texas University."
"What happened then?" asked Jonny.
"Suffered a knee injury," said Will, "after that my dreams went down the drain. None of the scouts were too keen on recruiting me after that. It was a shame too. I was hoping to play for the Nets someday."
"Life never works that way," said Jonny.
"For sure," said Will, "so what about you? Did you have dreams and ambitions too?"
"Yeah, but I ain't telling you," said Jonny, "you'll only laugh."
"I won't," said Will, "promise."
"Well, I wanted to be a farmer," said Jonny, "growing up, my school librarian used to read Laura Ingalls Wilder to us all the time. Then we'd go on class trips and visit farms, and I loved seeing the farmers work, helping them feed the animals and what not. I thought to myself, this is what I want to do. Own a big farm with a wife, children, and animals, working hard together."
"Well, shit, kid," said Will, "that ain't nothing to laugh at, that's a pretty damn good ambition. How come you never pursued it?"
"Lack of funds, mainly," said Jonny, "I wanted to grow things in my backyard, but my mom would whack me around the head every time for messing up her lawn. She'd go in my room and throw away the seeds I attempted to hide from her."
"Wow," said Will, "no offense kid, but your mom sounds like a real bitch."
"That's the understatement of the year," said Jonny, "she just about blamed me for all the woes in her life. For us being so poor, for her losing her figure, for ruining her chances of being rich and famous. She often told me she wish she'd aborted me."
"Goddamn," said Will, "that's unfair, blaming you for everything wrong in her life."
"It's alright," said Jonny, though the misery in his reddened eyes said otherwise, "I don't need her. I don't need any fucking body. I can take care of myself. I've been on my own all this time and didn't die, did I?"
To Will's alarm, Jonny burst into tears.
"Do you know what it's like?" asked Jonny between sobs. "Do you know what it's like to have your own mother look at you with such hatred in her eyes? Do you know what it feels like to have your mother tell you that you're a waste of space? Do you have any idea how it feels to grow up without your father in your life? I hate it, man, I fucking hate it. I wish I was dead. FUCKING DEAD!"
"Fuck," said Will heavily, "don't say that, kid."
"I mean it, man," said Jonny, "I wish I'd die. "It's why I always do stupid things. Part of me hopes I'll be killed. And every day I'm disappointed."
He put his hand into his knees and wept earnestly. Will wished he wouldn't have gave him the joint. He walked over to the bed and sat next to Jonny and patted him consolingly.
"Don't man-" said Jonny weakly as Will tried to hug him.
"Bullshit," said Will, "you need one."
He hugged Jonny tightly, patting him on the back. Jonny relented, continuing to sob into Will's t-shirt. Will wanted so desperately to tell him. But not while he was in such a vulnerable position. He'd have to keep his counsel until after they got the money.
A few days later...
"HE WHAT!" Will roared, "tell me you're joking, Eddie, tell me you're fucking joking!"
"I'm sorry, Will!" said Eddie, "I went to his apartment to pick up the money and he was gone. Whole place cleaned out."
"Well you'd better fucking find him!" said Will in a dog like snarl as he stalked toward Eddie, who cowered in fear.
"That's impossible!" said Eddie, "the guy could be anywhere in the world."
"Well you'd better be prepared to scour the Earth for him," said Will in a deadly tone. "If the mother fucker goes to Italy, you'd better be hiding in a bowl of spaghetti ready to cap him! Find that money or the cops will never be able to find you!"
He stormed out of the pawn shop and got inside Jonny's Buick, where Jonny and Rome were waiting."
"Everything good?" asked Rome.
"Bad news," said Will, "the guy who moved the jewelry for us ran off with the money."
"WHAT?!" said Jonny and Rome at the same time.
"You've got to be kidding!" said Rome.
"Does it look like I'm fucking kidding?" snapped Will. "I hope Eddie finds him before I do, because I'll kill him and feed his corpse to a pack of wild wolves!"
"I knew it was too good to be true," said Jonny. "What're we going to do?"
"Well not all hope is lost," said Will, "because there's one thing I've put off. But since this is an emergency, I might as well tell you."
"Tell us what?" asked Rome.
"Fifteen years ago, before I got locked up I robbed a mob boss," said Will. "Over 50 million dollars worth of gold and diamonds I took from them. I hid them in a wall in an abandoned factory in Maplewood, but I got arrested before I could go back for them."
Jonny let out a low whistle.
"Do you think it's still there?" asked Rome.
"That's what we're going to find out," said Will. "Jonny, drive us to Maplewood."