THE YOUNG SOPRANO PART 2--XXV (CONTINUED)
THE YOUNG SOPRANO
PART 2--XXV
BY
J. Beck
2024
...
(CONTINUED
XXV
Compagino opens the funeral home office door to inform A.J. that Josie Palmice & her family was there to see him.
A.J. stands up from the corner table announcing: "I'm Out!" Pretending to be pulling out his empty front dress slacks pockets. "We should start calling Rob the "Rabbit's Foot" Either he's really good card-player or he's the luckiest motherfucker I've ever seen?! He cleaned me out in short order too!" Raymond agreed slapping Robbie across his broad back laughing! A.J. could see Raymond had as much fun loosing as Robbie had winning as he counted his money.
The two young men left the office as Josephine Palmice leads her three grown children in past Raymond in his wheelchair looking up at each of them with Robbie following behind him.
Josephine Palmice bowed her head to lift A.J.'s ring hand to kiss it with her back to shield herself from her children seeing outwardly. "My Don" Josie sighed as she leaned up to kiss Anthony's cheek.
Before spinning around to proudly introduce her three children after rebuking first Michael Jr for loudly raddling the dice in his pocket. Secondly Albert Francis. & Lastly her lovely daughter Rosemary Palmice. They are 21--19--18 years old! They're all growing up so fast on me! A.J. shakes hand wth each of them.
Josie went on further to say that Rosemary graduated at the top percentage of her class & was accepted & enrolled to attend Columbia University in the Autumn.
But her two sons didn't have high school diplomas so they have a more differcult time getting hired for good paying jobs let alone staying employed.
A.J. warmly smiles asking them if they had jobs now? (No Sir.) Do you want one? (Yes Sir.) GOOD! "A.J. hands them his T STORAGE UNIT RENTAL Business card.
"I need two strong backs & sharp minds to work for me. If you want to work for 500$ a week to start with potential Raises--Show up at this address Thursday morning at 7AM to 6PM w/an hour lunch."
"Thank you Anthony!" Josie gasped grasping his sturdy arm.
"No Thank you--I really need the help. I will send a car to pick you up then if you decide you want the jobs?" (Yes Sir--Yes Sir) " OK--Great! You Boys introduce yourself to that shady character outside the door & tell him what I said & he will work out the details with you."
Then A.J. turned to face Josephine & asked her if she was still working at the factory? "Oh yes--I will die in that dungeon! Almost 25 years now." (What shift are you on?)
"I'm on third trick during the summer because it's cooler shift and then I will work 2nd shift during the winter because it's the warmest shift & the I miss most of the traffic jams. I will go to work tonight then I will run home and get a nap before attending the funeral services tomorrow at noon. Then I will go home to sleep before going in for my Thursday shift."
A.J. smiles warmly commending her as he escorted her kindly towards the open office door where her children cornered Compagino at his desk & chair in the hallway.
"Thank you Again Godfather ." Josephine Palmice whisper in A.J.'s ear before kissing his near cheek to go mingle with the others viewing Corrado laid-out in his open silver casket surrounded in piles of smelly flowers.
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