THE YOUNG SOPRANOS PART 4--XXIII (CONTINUED)
THE
YOUNG SOPRANOS
PART 4--XXIII
BY
J. BECK
2024
. . .
(CONTINUED)
XXIII
Shortly after A.J. & Vito arrived early at Hyles Funeral Home in East Orange for Deanne Pontecorvo's Funeral others came filing into the office to pay Tributes to their Don Anthony John Soprano Jr.
Coco entered alone first to give A.J. a modest envelope for Robbie & his younger sister Alexandria. Coco asked about Geno & Compagino recovering in the hospital after surviving a drive-by shooting out on the freeway days earlier.
A.J. informed Coco that Geno was out of the woods but would have a long recovery ahead of him. Compagino only substained minor injuries & had been released from the hospital yesterday. He was expected to attend the Wake & come w/Carlo.
Then A.J. asked Coco to do him a Favor. "Just name it Anthony!" Coco was always happy & eager to serve his Don for his own self-gratification.
"A.J. asked Coco to arrange a meeting for a jewelry appraisal of some high end merchandise that he had in his procession.
Coco assured A.J.--"Can Do!" & He could arrange a private meeting at his daughters restaurant after closing hour the first of the next week. (Good Man!)
Then A.J. offered Coco 10K$ worth of 100$ Casino Banana Chips for 4K$ which Coco gladly accepted.
Lastly A.J. informs Coco that he is expecting everyone to attend Larry-Boy's up-coming Funeral. & He wanted Coco to spread the word amongst the Family that Albert Barese was under A.J.'s personal protection before anyone attempted to retaliate against him for his older cousin Larry-Boy's offenses.
At this time Carlo & Compagino wearing an arm-sling entered the office.
"You're Late Compagino!" A.J. looks up glaring at the wall clock. Carlo attempted to shift the blame from Cork unto himself. He gave the excuse that he had to wait to take his medicine before picking Cork up.
A.J. ignores him & instructs Compagino to go out into the hallway & man the office door. Carlo looks shocked that A J. would expect Cork to do that shortly after being discharged from the Hospital. Carlo volunteers to take Compagino's station outside the door.
But A.J. wasn't having any of it informing Carlo that his services would be needed in the basement to assist the food catering.
Compagino assured both men that he was able to Man the door as A.J. directed. Carlo reluctantly agrees as both men hand off their envelopes before exiting the office into the hallway together passing the two Palmice Brothers.
Mikey Jr & Franky came in & gave A.J. a 10K$ envelope from their mother Josephine for the past weeks "Friday Close" numbers game. Then A.J. asked them how their tutoring lessons w/Sophia & Nica going? The two brothers agreeded that it had been beneficial to them so far. & They believe they would both successfully pass their GED Test in late August! (GOOD DEAL!)
As the Palmice Brothers leave Bobby Baleno & Tommy arrived entering the office together. A.J. offered his two cousins fresh hot coffee & pastries.
Walden entered alone w/two envelopes. One from him & one from Albert who respectfully refrained from attending due to the current circumstances. Between Larry roughing up Robbie unaware that he was a Made Man & the freeway drive-by shooting that killed Jason Parisi & injuring Geno & Cork.
A.J. takes the two envelopes weighing them in his hand before knodding his head silently in approvel. A.J. then makes Walden the same offer as he gave Coco for the 100$ Banana Chips which he gladly accepted.
Lastly A.J. informs Walden that there would be a 5 Hour Capo Poker Game in the basement that afternoon before the Wake's public showing hours that evening.
After Walden left A.J. sat down w/Vito & his two cousins Bobby & Tommy. A.J. slaps Bobby across the back to tell him that he was being promoted to Capo over the extinct Aprile Crew.
A.J. wanted to resurrect & reestablish the fallen Aprile Family's standings. A.J. told Bobby that he was at liberty to offer associations to his cousin Donny Z & his crew. A.J. stressed the importance of it due to the deaths of Jake & Larry as well as Geno's long expected recovery.
The DIMeo Crime Family were in a compromising situation being under-manned. A.J. wanted Bobby to direct Bryan Spatafore & his construction crew to begin gutting out the old Aprile Social Club for remodeling & reopening to business.
Bobby was pleasantly surprised by A.J.'s promotion & proudly accepted. Then A.J. inquired about he & Robbie CDL School? Which Bobby assured him that they were both in the top grade percentile. & He could expect them both to pass their final written & driving test upon completion. (GOOD DEAL!)
Bobby & Vito leave the office to allow A.J. a moment to speak to Tommy about their BITCOIN stock investments. But before concluding their conversation A.J. asked his cousin Tommy if he had any interest in being a Made Man?
Tommy slowly cracks a smile asking: "Does my Mother need to know?!"
"That completely up to you T3! But you know she'll eventually find out. She always does!" A.J. half laughes.
"Yea.--You're Right! But it won't matter. I am my own person--my own man! & I do want to be a Made Man. It would be an Honor to be!"
"GOOD.--& You won't have to make your bones either since I am the Don I can give you an unspoken Pass."
"But--(But?) But I want to make my bones Anthony! I want to be considered a true equal among us as well as other family members. I don't want there to be in my mind or anyone else's any doubt that I can't be trusted to keep the Omerta."
"I understand Tommy--You're a good honest man! A better man then myself & I need you by my side as that equal as you spoke! I have a piece of work in mind for you Cousin. Let us get past these 3 upcoming Funerals & such & we will address this matter T3! (Thank-You Anthony!)
"NO. THANK YOU TOMMY-BOY!" A.J. stands to shake his cousin's hand & pat him upon the back.
"UNCLE JERRY!" --"FRANNY?!"
Francesca shuffled over to hug & kiss Jerry as he sat up at the bar of his Green Dolphin Social Club.
"What are you doing here Francesca? Is everything alright?! Is your mother OK?!"
"Oh don't worry yourself about her! She's just old & tired sitting around sweating w/ the air conditioner turned off." Franny dismissed.
"Nice Joint you have here Uncle Jerry! I've never been inside her before!"
"It's hardly a place for a beautiful young lady as yourself!" Jerry comments looking around. It was still early yet & the place was empty.
"Are you going to offer me a drink or must I order one for myself?!" Franny asked as she begins digging into his jacket-pockets to find his cigarettes.
"Franny--What ate you doing?!" (WHAT?--I want a cigarette!)
"We are in public here! You need to act like it!" Jerry scolds her as he reaches her a cigeratte & hold out a light.
"Whatever Jerry!" Franny rolls her eyes as she slowly inhaled the fresh sweet cigarette smoke. The bartender served her a drink.
"This is just soda!" Franny glares.
"Do you have an ID proof of age?! You won't be 21 for another month--So soda it is!" Jerry grins.
"What's your problem Uncle Jerry? Why are you so uptight?! (I'm Not.)
"Well--Anyway. I dropped by to tell you something & I didn't want you to hear about it from my mother first."
"I already know. She just called me." Jerry admits.
"That Figures.--So aren't you going to Congratulate me Uncle Jerry?!" Franny presses him.
"I'm not so sure that Congratulations are in order." Jerry answered. (What do you mean? I'm going to be a Mother!)
"That's what I mean! Aren't you too young to be a mother already?--I thought you had aspirations of pursuing a college degree & career in music? How will you do that being a young unmarried mother of a bastard child.?!"
"Now you are just being mean to me!" Franny glares frowning slamming her soda glass down hard on the bar as she butt's out a half a cigerette to leave.
"NO Francesca--I'm only being honest & realistic w/ you! Something your beloved mother is incapable of being!" (She's hardly Beloved--What else can I do now?)
Jerry stands to his feet & straighten out his dress-suit before taking her arm to escort her to the back door.
"You can get an abortion. " Jerry said lowly.
"WHAT?!--I CANT DO THAT! Besides who is going to pay for it?!"
"I will pay for it. Plus I will pay you extra as incentive to assist w/your college fund."
"WHY?--WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?" Franny questions his motives.
"Why?--Because I love & care about your future & your dreams!" Jerry insisted.
"Are you so sure of that or is it that you are afraid it will comeback on you & you'll have to pay child-support for the next 18 years?!" Francesca snapped jerking her arm away from him.
"You make a good point Franny but let me assure you. As much as I love you? I will kill you both first before I'd pay a single dollar of it." (You wouldn't dare!)
"Well let's just not allow it to come down to that then. You think about what I said. I will pay you 100K$ towards an abortion & your college tuition. "
"WHAT WILL WE TELL MY MOTHER?! You know she is a devoted Catholic & is against such things as abortions?!"
"Simple.--Just tell her you must of had a miscarriage! It Happens. Especially to young first time females as yourself.
Franny glares staring into Jerry's cold-blooded eyes as she smiled inside herself knowing that she was getting just what she wanted!
Spinning around on her high heel to leave she tells him: "I'LL THINK ABOUT IT!--I have to go play organ derges for a funeral now!"
"Don't think about it too long Francesca!"
. . .
(To Be Continued)
ALL
AI GENERATED IMAGES
CREATED BY
USING WORD PROMPTS
2024
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