Thursday 22 July 2010

All In A Day (Eve)

(Prompt: a mystery parcel arrives with something in it which changes your life)

The road wound lazily from Conshohocken to Phoenixville through short hills that were a bedazzling shade of emerald green at this time of year. This breathtakingly beautiful landscape somehow managed to maintain some of its verdant unrestraint even though farmers had tried to tame the terrain for a couple of hundred years.

Brad’s mail run started at Valley Forge, meandered along the very same ridge where George Washington’s Continental Army bivouacked, and finished up in charming Chester County, known for its delightful covered bridges and historical taverns.

What a great job, thought the mailman, as his compact red van smoothed out another bend in the road. Well, not so terrific in the winter months when snowdrifts could finish up10 feet high, the icy road was undriveable and it was 15 below outside. But today was a near-perfect sunny summer day.

Brad was feeling particularly cruisey, listening to his iPod and singing along with his favorite rapper, Drake: It’s more than just a mission
, Hey, Hey, Hey,
 you hear but you don’t listen. 
Hey, Hey, Hey, 
You better pay attention. 
Hey, Hey, Hey. 
And get what you been missing. He was putting himself in a fine hot mood for Cherel of Number 363 R.F.D.

So far, Brad had made points with the object of his fantasy by being very polite and very competent. He could tell that the older woman (at least 5-plus years on him, he guessed) had her eyes on him. One sweltering mid-morning while delivering a package, Brad was offered a cool glass of lemonade, which he of course politely accepted. On that occasion, Cherel didn’t invite him in, but he could tell she wanted to.

Brad pulled over and parked at the top of the hidden driveway. The van’s glove compartment was fitted like a mini grooming salon - spray mouth freshener, hair product, comb and facial moisturizer. Just a quick flick of the comb would do today, as he impatiently jumped out of the vehicle. He sauntered along to the front porch, noticing that Cherel had peeked at him through the closed living room venetians.

He didn’t have time to knock as Cherel swung open the big oak door straightaway, and he was happy to see she stood there smiling and baby-less.

“Parcel delivery for you, Mrs. Robinson,” Brad said in his most professional voice. “I’ll need you to sign for it.

“And, oh, I was wondering if I might just get to use your bathroom before I get on the road again. It’s sort of an emergency.” He grinned sort of bashfully.

As Brad stepped into Cherel’s home, he registered two green-light items: (1) Cherel firmly closed the door behind him, and (2) she was still wearing her bathrobe.

Brad grinned unabashedly.

Monday 5 July 2010

Guido's Pizzeria by Peta

“Psst. Don’t turn around. Move against the wall of the booth and turn side on.” The voice was deep and husky. Unfamiliar. I did as I was told.

“Are you sure no one followed you?” the voice said.

“What? No I am not sure. Who the hell would be following me? What is going on for God’s sake?”

Through the lattice divider I could see a person I didn’t recognise in the adjacent booth. Red curly hair, framing a pale face with thick dark oversized glasses. A heavy woollen scarf was wrapped around the neck obscuring the man’s jawline.

“Jamie its me, Tyrone.”

“What the??? I thought it was some kind of sick joke when I got the postcard. I only came out of curiosity. Didn’t expect any one to show.” I paused, took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. “I think you owe me an explanation.”

“Stay cool and listen. I need your help.” Ty looked around. Except for a waitress shining glassware, we were alone in the pizzeria. The lunch rush would start soon enough. Ty moved quickly into my booth and shuffled close to me. Now I could seek his trade mark aqua eyes. It really was him. We huddle together conspiratorially.

“Remember the Roller that burnt out in Cavill Ave?” He asked. I nodded. “I did it. I was walking home when I saw the Roller. This guy was doing something in the boot when he got spooked by a passing cop car. He slammed the lid and raced off. As I got closer, I could see the boot lid hadn’t closed. For some bizarre reason I went over to close it, don’t know why but it wouldn’t shut. I opened it up to see if something was blocking the latch. Seemed a good idea at the time. If only I had just pissed off then and there but I didn’t. Inside was a bag of money. I looked inside. It was a lot of money. A shitload. I grabbed the bag and ran home.”

“Tyrone. What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking. I was drunk. I just saw the money there for the taking and that’s what I did. Took it.”

Ty’s breathing was heavy as he continued.

“Some one followed me home. Then it started. Notes in the letterbox. Threatening me and ma. They wanted the money.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.” Ty was verging on hysteria, his shoulders collapsed forward over the table.

“So you gave it to them right?”

“No Jamie, I didn’t. It was a lot of money. I needed to think.”

“So you faked your death? Put your mum through hell?”

“Not exactly Jamie. I told Ma everything. She said we should keep it and get away. I was going to find somewhere safe up the coast and send for her.” I shook my head in disbelief.

“That’s where you come in Jamie.”

“What? You are kidding me? No way man. I can’t get involved in this.” I said.

“Jamie, I’ll make it worth your while.”

“No man I’m sorry.”

“$1 million bucks. Cash.”

I looked at Tyrone incredulously. “I million dollars? Are you insane?”

“I told you Jamie, it was a lot of money.”

Friday 2 July 2010

Tony Burns - by Rick

If it hadn’t been for that “meet me at Guido’s Pizzeria” I might have chucked it in the garbage as a bad joke. But it had ta be a legit message from Tony. See, when Tony and I were kids we used to play cops and robbers all the time. Of course Tony always wanted to be the robber. Some guys never change. Even then I should’a known that he was on a dark path. I had a feelin’ in my gut, yah know what I mean? Anyways, when him and me were robbers together, he would always say, “Let’s split up and meet later at Guido’s Pizzeria.” See there never was a Guido’s Pizzeria. That was Tony’s code for the band shell in Lincoln Park. It was our secret that we never shared with the other kids and we’ld shoot over under cover to get away from the cops. Also it was a good place to have a smoke or two and not be seen by anybody, but that’s another story.

See he never left any time on the postcard which is why I’ve been sitting here on this park bench beside the old band shell since 8 this morning. I just gotta know what’s happening.

So I’m sitting there going over the baseball scores for the tenth time when this old geezer sits down beside me and say in this phony voice, “Did the Yankees beat the Dodgers yesterday?” Right away I know it’s Tony but boy has he got a good disguise. He looks 20 years older and smells like some old hobo who hasn’t seen a bar of soap for a year.

“So Mr. T.”, I says. “Nice funeral we had for yah last week. How come you weren’t the guest of honour?”

“That’s funny Rocco. I can see you should have been up doin’ the service instead of Father Liuzzo. But shut up a minute and listen ‘cause I can’t stay here long.”

“As you can see, I’m not dead, never was. But Jesus, it was close. I was playin’ my usual Friday night poker with the boys and Gino, my driver, comes down with a severe belly ache around 11. Or so he says. Anyways I tell him to go on home and leave me the car. I’ll drive myself home later. I’m on this lucky streak and can’t lose a hand if I try. Guess it was a sign or somethin’. Anyways I play until around 3 and the other guys finally start packin’ it in. No money left! I was so hot that night. (Maybe I should’a smelled a rat. Who knows? Who cares?)”

“So I go out to the street. It’s all deserted as you’ld guess at that time and I look down the block where my car’s parked, and it looks like someone’s inside of it. I go to take off when I hear the engine start and then WHAM, there’s this explosion and the whole car goes up in flames. I’m knocked to my butt and when I get up, the car’s this ragin’ inferno.”

“Well my mother didn’t raise no idiot so I turns and hot foots it the other way as fast as I can. I hide out in this sleaze-bag motel and later watch the news report of how Tony Soprano, noted New Jersey gangster and Mafioso Don, was burned beyond recognition in what was said to be part of a gang war or somethin’. Body damaged so badly that even the teeth were ashes.”

“My first thoughts? Revenge. Nobody does that to Tony Soprano. But then I gets to thinkin’. That could’ve been me. It wasn’t the first time somebody tried to take me out. And I’m not getting any younger. So I calmed down a bit and worked out this plan.”

“I’ve always had two or three fake ID’s and I’ve got five or six million bucks offshore in the Caymans. Maybe this is fate telling me to take my retirement. Maybe that was my lucky night and maybe I’ll never get a break like that again.”

I was stunned. When I finally could say something I asked him, “So Tone, We haven’t hung out since we were kids. What do you want me for now?”

“Rocco you’re the only person in the world I can trust right now. Here’s an envelope. When I leave here open it and follow the instructions. There’s $100,000 in cash for your troubles. It’s all legit. Just a few things to pass on to Carmela and how to find me later. No way can you get in trouble over this.”

I sat there and already knew what I would do. Blood is thicker than water and our friendship was thicker than blood. We said our goodbyes and I knew it was goodbye forever again.