THE YOUNG SOPRANOS PART 5--XVIII (CONTINUED)
THE
YOUNG SOPRANOS
PART 5--XVIII
BY
J. BECK
2024
. . .
(CONTINUED)
XVIII
TUESDAY MORNING:
A.J. awakes alone in bed at their Family Condo in Bayonne. He had returned home after having a dinner meeting w/ Patrick Parisi at Coco's daughter's Restaurant. He was exhausted when he arrived only to find his mother Carmela sitting up & wanting to talk.
A.J. had begged her off until morning after he had slept. He didn't have the mind the energy nor the mood left to play her twenty questions game.
"YOU HAVENT SEEN ME SINCE I ARRIVED ON SATURDAY!" Carmela protested loudly whispering.
"Come on Mom--We are both well aware what the other has been doing since then?! Between Frannys hospitalization to Patsi Funeral. I'm just too fucking tired now. I have to go to sleep." A.J. put it to bed as he headed for the elevator to go up to his top-floor unit.
Or so he thought.
"Where is everybody?! The girls aren't here. Meadow is conveniently missing. There's no Stella or Vito." Carmela fired off as the elevator door opened & he stepped inside to answer his mother:
"They're all probably in bed somewhere already like you should be! I love you. Good night." & A.J. pushed the button to close the elevator door & go up to bed himself.
Then sure enough Carmela was up waiting for him before he tried to sneak out without seeing her.
"Did you go bed then last night? (Yes.) You didn't stay up all night did you?" (No.) A.J. asked as he prepare himself a double espresso while rubbing his sore headache.
"Did you sleep well dear?" (I can't remember!)
"You can't remember? How could you remember if you were sleeping Anthony?"
"I guess you're right?--So I must of slept well!" A.J. answered as he kissed his mother atop the head. Carmela sat at the counter bar on a tall stool to hug her son around the waist when Omerta leaped up onto her lap wanting his attention too!
"SO what did you want to talk to me about last night?" A.J. asked as he sat down to light a cigerette & drink his coffee.
"I can't remember!" Carmela answered with a dirty grin. (Funny Mom.)
"I CAN'T REMEMBER"
(ALICE IN CHAINS)
https://youtu.be/_2Wi0m5qPMc?si=uxy7jj2vPMNEtSwh
"No--I'm just teasing you A.J." Carmela pokes him in the ribs as she snatched his burning cigarette from him to take a drag & handing it back to him. (Of Course you are!)
"A.J. what happened? Did you butn your fingers?!" (Yea.--It was an accident.)
"I get that!--No one burns themselves on purpose! How did it Happen?!" (Dont Ask.)
Then after a brief awkward pause Carmela proceeded to ask:
"So are you going to Carmine Jr's 60th Birthday Celebration inTampa next month?" (I don't know if we've even been invited?)
"Oh--Trust me--You are invited!" Carmela dismissed that comment w/a waving gesture. (Are you going?)
"Well--I don't want to but Rosale wants me to go w/her then she said she'd stay in Florida to visit me in Miami." (If you go? We'll go.)
"We?"--(Meadow & I)
"Oh so you are speaking for your older sister now?!" Carmela gave him a questioning look.
"No.--I'm not speaking for my older sister! But she will come if I go! She's not going to miss out on a chance to escape Jersey--Especially to Florida!"
"Is she going to move back to Jersey & live here w/ you?!" (Now you're reaching! & Pushing your Luck!)
"I know. Meadow will do whatever she wants--Whenever she wants!" (You're not Wrong!) They chuckle together in agreement.
"OK--I have to shit shower & shave. How long are you staying?"
"I don't want to leave until Franny is released from the hospital."
"That's Fine--Stay as long as you please Mother!" & A.J. kisses her cheek as he excuses himself.
"Thank-you Anthony!" (I like having you around even if I don't see you!)
"Ahhh-I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not?! But I'm glad to be here too even if you don't see me!" (Take it anyway you like--I gotta go!)
"You gotta Go?!--Like You need to leave or you need to go shit?!" (BOTH!)
"OH--YOU BETTER HURRY THEN & GO!" Carmela laughed as her son shuffled quickly out of the room.
A.J. arrived out front of Newark Hospital's Front Lobby Entrance at 9:00 o'clock sharp to pick up Melissa Barese w/her lone flower arrangement from being discharged after ten days recovering from being brutally attacked & sexually assaulted by four men to be left for dead.
It was a displaced act of revenge against her dead father for ordering Jason Parisi's death.
& It was against every principle that was the foundation of the Cosa Nostra. To harmfully act against a Made Man or their families (Wife & Children).
Geno had personally paid the price for his wrongful deeds w/his life for crossing that line. But there were still three other guilty complacent male perpetrators that would eventually be punished as Geno had been.
A.J. felt a deep sense of responsibility to protect Melissa & do all he could to enable her full recovery--Physically Mentally & Emotionally. He could at the least provide & assure her a safe place of comfort & ease at the Bobbi House w/Neesha's assistance to accomplish that end.
After A.J. introduced the two women he could instantly see that they'd hit it off together. Neesha had a servant's heart & was compassionate towards her fellow human beings. There was not a doubt that she wouldn't nurse & take care of Melissa.
Who in turn embraced being there in the old brick Victorian manson w/it's feral gardens & unattended grounds. Melissa was sincerely appreciative for A.J.'s unwarranted mercy & unmerited grace that he extended towards her.
Neesha escorted Melissa away to install her into a large plush Queen's bedroom w/it's own personal bathroom & shower. So A.J. made his own get-away when Roxanne arrived & met him outside the door.
A.J. & Vito had lunch reservations at LITTLE NAPOLI RESTAURANT in Hell's Kitchen. A.J. needed to speak to George Pagnilieri about what Coco had told him the night before about the Wild West being an Open Range for organized crime because there were no Mafia Bosses in Las Vegas or in Los Angeles.
& Vito wanted to see George's youngest daughter Venus who was the owner-hostess of their small family restaurant.
Perry Annunziata was driving the delivery truck w/the Palmice Brothers Mikey Jr & Franky to unload the cases of smuggled volka to the three NYC locations.
A.J. & Vito would in turn meet them & the rest of the Young Sopranos Crew at Yonker's Casino after their lunch in Hell's Kitchen for an afternoon & evening of gambling & what not.
A.J. had called his cousin Tommy Giglione for him to come along w/Robbie & Bobby after their CDL School. Raymond Curto Jr would not be able to join them due to their Bondsman Business.
Roxanne returned inside the Bobbi House to gather a suitcase of her personal belongings after A.J. was gone.
"What's Wrong Roxanne?!" Neesha asked w/a concerned expression.
" I have to leave." (Where are you leaving for?!)
"I don't know yet Neesh--But I can't stay here!" (WHY?!)
"I JUST CAN'T--BELIEVE ME NEESHA--I DONT WANT TO. But Ihave to." Roxanne's voice faded as she drops her sad head to embrace & kiss Neesha before she hastefuly leaves dragging the heavy suitcase behind herself while wearing high heels out to the car & load into the backseat.
Neesha ran out after her but Roxanne sped off as if she was scared to death. Leaving Neesha stunned & confused until she realized Melissa was inside still waiting for her.
. . .
(To Be Continued)
To Read:
THE YOUNG SOPRANOS PART 1 - 4 youngsopranos.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-yo
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2024
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