Mobster's Girl (4 page)

I walk to school because like I said before
my Dad refuses to buy another car. I am halfway to school and a
little blue hatchback rolls to a stop next to me.

“Hey girl! Get in.” It’s Raven Ramirez, the
only other medigan at school. She’s Hispanic and just about the
only person I talk to or hang out with there. We have most of the
same classes together. We’re a lot alike-neither one of us fits
in.

“Congratulations!” I tell her. Up until last
year, both of us didn’t have cars.

“Thanks! My mom and dad gave it to me over
the weekend. They have been talking about it for a while. Now they
finally bought it. Yeah ME!” she screeches. “And to top it off, I
am going to take you home too, Homegirl.” Raven beams with
pride.

“Now it’s, ‘yeah me!’” I say. Raven starts
looking at me closely.

“You look different,” she pauses, “You have
sex or something?”

“What?!” I squeal.

“Whoa, take it easy, I’m just messing with
you.” Raven laughs.

Raven drops the subject as we head to school.
The subject changes to classes, teachers, and summer gossip.

“How many blow-off classes did you take?”
Raven asks.

“Home Ec, Music appreciation, and Auto
Mechanics.” I reply

“Auto Mechanics! Why would you take that? You
don’t even own a car.” Raven says laughing.

“I think it’s important to know the basics
about cars. How to change the oil, fix a loose hose… the
basics.”

“I guess,” she says as she turns her car in
to a tiny spot near the picnic tables. I unbuckle my belt and reach
for my bag. I get out of the car still defending my class selection
of Auto Mechanics to Raven. I hear laughing and glance towards the
picnic tables. Sitting on top of the one in front of us, looking
like he doesn’t have a care in the world is Antonio. Sitting next
to him is Alessandra, and that kid Vito.

Alessandra’s thick chestnut hair is styled
into perfect soft waves. She has on designer ripped jeans and three
inch high heels. Alessandra is an Italian goddess. And she’s
sitting with Antonio. I always suspected they might be secretly
dating or something. It’s a rumor I’ve heard, and I have seen them
together a lot over the years. Just seeing them together confirms
my suspicions that Antonio is just playing with me.
What would
he want with me?
A stab of jealousy punctures my stomach where
butterflies for Antonio hide.

A guy, whose name I don’t know, calls out,
“Hey, Red?!”

I try to ignore them while I sling my bag
over my shoulder. I steal a glance and Vito is elbowing Antonio.
Raven is on the other side of the car, waiting for me.

“Hey Red?” the guy calls again.

Alessandra shushes him and says, “Ashbet,
Ronnie!”

I feel my face flaming. I keep walking. Raven
falls into step with me and we speak quietly to each other until I
hear footsteps behind us.

“Megan, wait up.”

Alessandra is catching up to us. Raven and I
stop.

“Hi,” she says.

“Hi,” Raven and I say simultaneously.

“I just wanted to apologize for them.” She
points back to the picnic table. “They can be obnoxious.” My eyes
shift to where Alessandra is pointing and my eyes lock with
Antonio’s. Heat crawls up my neck and face. It’s not just
embarrassment but intense desire.

“Yeah, well.” I didn’t know what to say. They
are obnoxious.

“I’m having a party at my house Saturday
night. You know a back to school party. I thought you might like to
come.”

“Ummm,” again speechless. I have never ever
been invited to Alessandra’s house.

“Both of you.” She pulls out her cell phone.
“Here, give me your number and I’ll text you my address.”

“Ummm.”

“Come on. It’ll be fun.” She says encouraging
me.

I give Alessandra my number. Raven and I walk
away in stunned silence.

True to her word, Alessandra texts me her
address about a half an hour later. I send back a T.Y. for thank
you. Electives don’t start until next week so I have three long
hours of study hall.

During hour number two, when I will be having
my auto mechanics class, Antonio comes strolling in late. He scans
the room. I hastily look down at the notebook I am scribbling on
because I finished all my homework during hour one. I pretend that
I am immersed in doing something important when I hear books thunk
down on the table next to me.

Shit!
I glance over my shoulder as
Antonio sits down next to me.

“Hi,” he whispers.

“Hi,” I say back. Panic is building in my
stomach and my thoughts stray back to the kiss yesterday. Startling
me, my phone buzzes with a text message from Troy:

How’s ur day goin? Can I come over
2nite?

I’m holding my phone in my lap so it doesn’t
get taken away by the study hall teacher. Antonio is watching me. I
text back

Okay. Weird actually. Yeah, definitely come
over.

Troy: C U @ 6

“Friend?” Antonio asks quizzically, part of
his mouth turned up in a half smile.

“Yeah,” I respond shyly.

Antonio:

I feel my breath getting shallower just
looking at Megan. She is stunning. I want to talk to her more but I
don’t really know what to say. That is new for me. I am never
feeling out of my element. Talking to girls has always been easy
for me. But no girl has ever been Megan. There is something so
wholesome and good about her and it draws me.

Seeing her four times in a three day time
span is not good for me. The sad part is
yes, I’m counting
.
Maybe I’m being punished. My punishment is seeing her everyday but
not being able to do anything about it. I had to keep saying the
Hail Mary
to myself for my unclean thoughts about her during
church. That dress was my undoing. Kissing her cheek and whispering
in her ear was definitely a bold move, especially in front of my
Father. But I loved every second of it.

“So you’re taking Auto mechanics too?” I
ask.

“Yeah,” she says not looking at me.

“That’s cool. Everyone should know a little
bit about cars.” As I talk to her quietly in study hall, I just
want to reach out and touch her long hair.

She glances up at me, a small smile on her
face, “That’s what I said. Raven thinks I’m crazy.” How could
anyone think this girl is crazy? I’m the one who’s Oobatz!

Oobatz (oo-bot-z): Crazy

On the drive home from school, I think back
that this is the first time in my entire life that I didn’t hate
study hall. Megan and I didn’t say a whole lot. I just loved
looking at her.

I know where she lives. Hell, I know where
everybody lives, what they do for a living, who they’re related
too. I have to know. Pop has maintained his position so long by
knowing everyone else’s shit. I typically avoid her street. It
always helped me over the years not to think about her. At first, I
thought it was because Pop said she’s off limits. I know deep down
that’s not the reason. I’m drawn to her; always have been.

I pull up to my house. Donny’s car is parked
out front. I can hear Pop and Donny talking on the side of the
house. They wave me over.

“Hey, Pop. Donny.” I say.

“Tonio, you need to take a ride with Donny to
take care of some things for me.

“Okay. Let me throw my books in the
house.”

Donny and I ride in his Lincoln to the
docks.

“Your Pop says you had some trouble the other
night.”

“Yeah, me and the guys got jumped by six
dudes with ski masks. They tried to beautify my face but I pulled a
glock on them.”

“Yous remember anything about them?”

“Nah, it happened fast and they took off
running.”

“Well, if you or the guys remember anything
you tell me, Eh?”

“Yeah, Donny, I will.”

Donny slowed the car down to a crawl scanning
in between the crates and stuff that litter the docks this time of
year.

“Who we looking for?” I ask.

“Johnny Nero.”

“Johnny Nero? Didn’t you fuck him up
already?”

“Yeah, but he still hasn’t finished
payin’.”

“Fanabola! he’s walking with a limp. I saw
him at church yesterday.”

“Well, he betta start prayin’ because here’s
your first beatin’as an enforcer. This is how it goes Tonio.
Collect whatever money you can. Give a couple of hits, and I want
you to break two of his fingers. I left the fingers for you ‘cause
I knew your Pop was going to send you in when Johnny didn’t have
all the money last night.”

“Now repeat to me. What do ya do?” Donny asks
arching his ear to me like I’m repeating a grocery list he gave
me.

“Collect the money. Hit him a couple of
times. Break two fingers. Got it.” I say matter-of-factly.

“Good boy. This is an easy one. He ain’t
gonna run on ya. Make it quick ‘cause it’s easier on everyone.”

Thinking back to the drive home from school,
the last thing I thought I was going to have to do tonight besides
homework is kick the shit out of someone.

“Look, here he comes. He just got off work.
Take him behind the building. GO!” Donny yells.

I jump out of the car. I saunter over to
Johnny. He’s talking to some guy I don’t know. He breaks his
conversation immediately and we walk out of ear shot of the people
milling around after work.

“Give me the money Johnny.” I say.

He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a wad
of rolled up 100’s. “I can get the rest. Tell your Pop I’ll have it
this weekend.” He pleads. I shove the money in my pocket. I don’t
count it or even look at it.

“Shit, Johnny!” I say as I let my fist fly.
It connects with his jaw with a sickening crack. I don’t dwell on
the noise because an adrenaline rush hits me and my arm is cocked
back again ready to strike before Johnny can recover. SLAM! I
fucking hit him again. He’s staggering, and I have to move forward
so I can get his hand. I plant my foot, grab his pinky and ring
finger of his left hand and twist hard. It sounds like two twigs
snapping. Johnny screams. He’s on the ground writhing in pain.

I stand over him and say in a low voice. “Get
the rest of the fuckin’ money, Johnny. I’ll be back on Saturday.” I
turn to walk back to the Lincoln. Standing behind a crate watching
me is Donny. He nods to me and I nod back.

As soon as I get home, I get ice out of the
freezer for my hand. I wrap the plastic bag full of ice around my
knuckles. They’re throbbing and red. My Pop comes in the
kitchen.

“Good job, Tonio, good job. Donny was very
pleased. You did exactly like he told ya to.”

“Thanks Pop.”

When I have to do something like that, I
don’t think about it. I just do it. It’s the way of life here. You
don’t pay, you get hit. You don’t pay again, you get hit and
something broken. You don’t pay a third time you get something
really important broken. There are rules.

Pop counts out five hundred dollars from the
money I just gave him and hands it to me.

“Here get yourself something for your new car
or take a pretty girl out.” He throws the bills on the table in
front of me.

There is only one girl I want to take out and
I don’t think Pop would be too pleased.

Megan:

Troy came over after dinner. I change into
cutoff jeans and a tank top and we head outside for a walk.

“Well, I have to say one thing about starting
college. I’m glad it’s starting soon. I’m so bored at home.
Connor’s at school, Mom and Dad are working. It’s boriiiing.” Troy
drags out the word.

“Soon you’ll be knee deep in work and wish
you were alone again.” I tell him.

“You’re probably right.” He says taking my
hand. We continue down the street holding hands. It is always so
comfortable with Troy. I can be myself. We laugh, joke, and have a
great time together. The weather is hot and sticky.

“How about ice cream?” I offer.

“Sounds great!”

I lean in conspiratorially, “So this is how
it’s gonna go.” I talk to him like it is a top secret mission. “The
ice cream shop is two blocks down. Last one there buys.” I quickly
release his hand and take off running.

“No fair!” he calls.

We race down the sidewalk avoiding obstacles
like trash cans, bicycles, and people. I am still ahead and Troy
with his long legs is gaining on me.

I’m laughing when I see Troy start leaping
over trash cans instead of going around them. Then he sneaks into
the lead.

“Hey! No fair!” I yell. I speed up. We both
make it to the outdoor ice cream counter at the same time. But he
scoops me up by the waist and plops me down behind him so he’s
first.

“Hey,” I stomp my foot like a baby, “That’s
cheating!” I yell.

“I believe
Madam
is mistaken. I am the
winner.” Troy says dramatically pointing to himself. He turns to
the window to order his butter pecan ice cream. I am still fuming
and not paying attention. A ton of people are enjoying ice cream on
a hot night. I hear someone call my name.

“Megan!” It’s Alessandra.

“Oh, hi.” I say surprised. She’s with a
couple of girls from school. Troy comes over without any warning
and rubs his ice cream cone on my nose. “I’m gonna kill you,” I
hiss as I wipe my nose off with the back of my hand.

“Being a sore loser just doesn’t look good on
you.” Troy says.

Alessandra clears her throat and brings Troy
and I out of our little world. “Oh, ummm. Troy, this is Alessandra.
She’s goes to my school.”

Troy immediately sticks his non-ice cream
carrying hand out to Alessandra. “Hi. Nice to meet you.” He turns
back to me. “I believe, young lady, that you have some unfinished
business with that gentleman behind the counter.” Troy points
melodramatically.

“You are such a goof.” I say giggling. “I’m
going.” I put my hands up in defeat. I go to pay for the ice cream.
I ordered my favorite mint chip.