Photograph by Tiffany
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Gino was late.
Shouldn't have surprised him since Gino was always late, but this time was different. This time there was a lot more than some two-bit street deal on the line... if this meeting didn't go like clockwork they'd be as good as dead.
Gino knew that.
So where the hell was he?
The plan was simple. Get the money and run like hell. No side trips, no last minute goodbyes or second thoughts. Just hand Joey's guys the tapes and get out of town before they had a chance to retaliate.
His hand nervously found it's way back into his pocket while he listened for the familiar rumble of Gino's old Torino to pull up outside, his fingers closing over the crumpled sandwich bag that contained enough evidence to send Joey Falconeri upstate for the rest of his miserable life.
But why let the Feds have all the fun, you know?
Get rid of Joey and another lowlife would just take his place. Wouldn't do the neighborhood any good... wouldn't make it any safer to walk down the streets at night.
But for two hustlers barely making enough chump change to keep a leaking roof over their head and something that could pass as food in the fridge...
Well, a chance like this didn't just come along every day.
As soon as Gino got back they could make the exchange and go anywhere they wanted. Maybe get lost somewhere on the West Coast. California looked nice in the movies, lots of white sand and palm trees.
Or was that Florida?
Didn't really matter. They'd just drive until they found some place with sky blue water and those fruity little coconut drinks with the umbrellas in them.
A door slammed and he instinctively stepped further into the shadows, his stomache churning as Joey's guys stepped out of their black Escalade and started toward the underpass.
It hit him then, his breath becoming labored under the suffocating weight of fear as they steadily approached the arched entryway, their faces wearing the same grim expressions they'd had on the night Joey Falconeri ordered them to gun down the skimming bartender in the tapes.
Gino wasn't coming.
The plan was supposed to be simple. Get the money and run like hell. Too bad nothing ever stays simple for long...
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9 comments:
He stood in the shadows waiting....hoping the sirens would stop ringing, those awful sounds that already took his younger brother and mother away from him. "I am in charge of my family now," he said to himself. He knew what he must do to bring home food. But for now, he would stand in the dark and dream.
His heart was pounding so loudly within him that the dull roar was making its way up and inside his head and it drowned out any thought processes. He could hardly think clearly.
It was her! She was coming!!
...and he couldn't think of anything clever to say or do. So, he jumped into the shadows instead.
A place to hide his awkwardness. A shadow to cover his feelings of inadequacy. A spot to watch her walk by as she talked and laughed with her friends.
He so desperately wanted to be near her. If only he could muster up enough courage to do that. If only he had the confidence to approach her and ask her for a date.
If only ....
the shadow would somehow be a covering of courage and not a covering to hide within.
In shadow he stood,
Taking solace in the silence.
Surrounded by ageless beauty,
Succoured by ancient skills.
Mosaics of jewel bright colours,
Interlocking tesselations.
Peace permeated his soul,
Soon, he would return to work.
His half hour of solitude
Shoring him up for the afternoon.
He stood in the shadows waiting-
Waiting for the light.
For so long he stood watching-
Yearning to be lifted-
Waiting for the light.
The sun would rise above him-
He'd still stand, watching and waiting-
Yearning for the light.
The sun would pass him by-
He would stand angry again-
Wishing, for once, the light would come-
Come and envelope him.
He stood in the shadows waiting-
Waiting for the light.
Yet one step forward and he'd be there.
One step forward and he'd find it.
If only he would notice-
The light was waiting for him.
In the shadows
In the arch
All around me
Columns march
In the shadows
I am waiting
I'm debating
I am hating.
Gino was late.
Shouldn't have surprised him since Gino was always late, but this time was different. This time there was a lot more than some two-bit street deal on the line... if this meeting didn't go like clockwork they'd be as good as dead.
Gino knew that.
So where the hell was he?
The plan was simple. Get the money and run like hell. No side trips, no last minute goodbyes or second thoughts. Just hand Joey's guys the tapes and get out of town before they had a chance to retaliate.
His hand nervously found it's way back into his pocket while he listened for the familiar rumble of Gino's old Torino to pull up outside, his fingers closing over the crumpled sandwich bag that contained enough evidence to send Joey Falconeri upstate for the rest of his miserable life.
But why let the Feds have all the fun, you know?
Get rid of Joey and another lowlife would just take his place. Wouldn't do the neighborhood any good... wouldn't make it any safer to walk down the streets at night.
But for two hustlers barely making enough chump change to keep a leaking roof over their head and something that could pass as food in the fridge...
Well, a chance like this didn't just come along every day.
As soon as Gino got back they could make the exchange and go anywhere they wanted. Maybe get lost somewhere on the West Coast. California looked nice in the movies, lots of white sand and palm trees.
Or was that Florida?
Didn't really matter. They'd just drive until they found some place with sky blue water and those fruity little coconut drinks with the umbrellas in them.
A door slammed and he instinctively stepped further into the shadows, his stomache churning as Joey's guys stepped out of their black Escalade and started toward the underpass.
It hit him then, his breath becoming labored under the suffocating weight of fear as they steadily approached the arched entryway, their faces wearing the same grim expressions they'd had on the night Joey Falconeri ordered them to gun down the skimming bartender in the tapes.
Gino wasn't coming.
The plan was supposed to be simple. Get the money and run like hell. Too bad nothing ever stays simple for long...
Congratulations, Sanitykill. What a fabulous story! I clicked on the link and was saddened to see you don't have a blog. Do you post your work anywhere? I'm sure we'd all love to follow you.
Thanks, Monica! I'm afraid no blog.. maybe someday, lol. Right now I'm just mostly a lurker. Really like this site though, the pics are great prompts.
Thank you foor writing this
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