THE YOUNG SOPRANOS (TYS) PART 6--X

THE

YOUNG SOPRANOS

(TYS)

PART 6

MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL

100TH STREET EAST HARLEM--NYC

DON ANTHONY JOHN SOPRANO JR

DIMEO CRIME FAMILY

CREATED

J. BECK

2026

SATURDAY AFTERNON

AUGUST 5 2017

AJ left Cleo Pagilieri at Cafe Napoli in Hells Kitchen Neighborhood after she had measured & fitted him for a new Pagilieri Dress Suit. AJ drove West over the George Washington Bridge for Amherst NJ & the BBW BING to "MAKE" Patrick Parisi & Guiseppe Scerbo & Hold a Young Sopranos Crew Celebration Party for them.

Bobby "Baleno" Baccalieri Robbie "Apollo" Pontecorvo Tommy "T-3" Giglione Raymond Curto Jr attended while Vito remained in Hells Kitchen w/Venus the night before her late retired mob boss father George Pagilieri's Funeral.

After steaks & lobster dinners they had rounds of drinks at the bar of their private banquet room with a single pole-dancer's stage. There were lines of coke & joints being passed around in the cover of the dense low hanging smoke of cigarettes & cigars.

Sadrine was the hostess bartender with a full "Tip-Jar" from the Young Sopranos' Evening of Vice & Excess.

They all gathered aound surrounding the single pole-dancer stage as the music began to play with flashing lights to preview a "New Girl's" Premier Performance at the BBW BING.

Afterwards an unexpected spectacle began between Raymond Curto Jr & Bobby Baleno at the bar.

Raymond eases his electric wheelchair up uncomfortably close to Bobby sitting high above him on a bar-stool.

"You don't like me do you Bobby-Boy?!"

Raymond says matter of factly while he lights a cigarette to exhale the smoke up into Bobby's face waking it away with a cough.

Suddenly it became silent as Raymond's surprising comment landed.

"What do you mean Raymond?!--I've never said anything about you?!" Bobby half laughs awkwardly not knowing what to make of Raymond's aggressive posturing.

"You don't have to say it--Everybody can see it on your face when you look at me!" Raymond claims as he peers around at the others seeking validation which backed everyone a step back.

"NO RAYMOND!--It's not like That!"

"What are you calling me a Liar Now?!

"Goddamn it Raymond--No. I am not calling you that!"

"So What is it Like Bobby?!"

"You are OK CURTO!" Bobby says standing down off his tall bar-stool beginning to get aggravated by Raymond's insolence.

"SO I'M OK?!" Raymond declares in a mocking manner with a big teeth smile glaring around them until he finds AJ wearing a shit-eating grin standing back leaning against the bar across from Sadrine watching with everyone else.

"Well--I'm glad to hear that Bobby! That I am OK with you! That makes me feel so much better to know. I was afraid you didn't like Cripples?!"

"I'm Not like that Ray--Ray!" Bobby says lifting his drink to finish.

"SO--YOU WANT TO ARM-WRESTLE ME BO--5-BOY?!--50$!"

Bobby almost spits out the remainder of his strong mixed drinks.

"WHAT?!--ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Bobby looks around unable to believe his ears.

"You Really Want to Arm Wrestle Me for What?!--50 Bucks?!"

"YEA.--WHY NOT?! UNLESS YOU ARE AFRAID OF BEING EMBRASSED BY A FUCKING CRIPPLE IN A WHEELCHAIR BEATING YOU ?!"

No one moved. Everybody held their collective breath while Watching & Waiting to See What Bobby would do?!

Bobby begins to see through Raymond's Bullshitting.

"Actually Raymond I'd be more embarrassed Taking Money from a Fucking Cripple--Like You!"

Then everyone erupted in laughter until Bobby calls Raymond's Bluff:

"HELL--ONLY 50$?!--MAKE IT 100$."

& Bobby slaps down a C-Note atop the bar.

Raymond Curto looks up at Big Bobby standing like a giant beside him in his wheelchair as he rises pushing himself up out of the leather padded seat to stand up on his own to Bobby. Slapping a matching 100$ bill atop Bobby's.

Then the chatter & cheers broke out amongst the Young Soprano Party making/taking side-bets between Bobby & Raymond as they stood off across from each other at the bar.

"Whose Refereeing this Unsanctioned Contest?!" Bobby asked looking around.

"APOLLO!--YOU REF!" Both men agreeded as they locked hands & fist to begin.

'Aren't you going to remove your dress-jackets?!" Robby questions the two opponents.

"NO NEED!" Bobby confidently states as leans in to square off awaiting Robbie to release their clutched hands & squeezing fist.

"GO!" Robbie Commands releasing his hand atop theirs to step away as the cheers began amongst them. By the Sounds the crowd was leaning towards Raymond being the frail cripple Under-Dog vs Giant Bobby Baleno--The Whale.

Raymond put up a strong effort for longer then anyone thought including Bobby until he automaticly takes over to slam Raymond's hand down. (AWWW Murmured)

Raymond raises his head to flash a sweaty grin: "YOU Win!" Sliding the money across the bar to Bobby. Who half laughs only taking back his C-Note leaving Raymond's bet.

"YOU KEEP IT RAYMOND-,IT WAS HARDLY FAIR."

Raymond snaps reaching across the bar grabbing Bobby by the shirt:

"You listen to me You Big Fat Fuck--You'll Take my goddamn bet & put it in your pocket before I whip your ass right here in front of God & Sinner--for Disrespecting Me."

Raymond hissed pushing Bobby off away from him while maintaining his awkward upward balance.

"I don't play that "Double-Or-Nothing" Crap" Raymond said staring & waiting for Bobby to physically claim--Taking his Won Wager.

"REMATCH--300 BUCKS?!" Raymond proposed as he begins removing his suit-jacket to blindly toss behind him onto his idling wheelchair.

"WHAT THE FUCK RAYMOND?! 300?!" Bobby asked with a disturbed look.

"YEA--300! WHY NOT?! I ALMOST HAD YOU!" Raymond laughs slapping down 3 100$ bills from his money-clip.

"OK--SURE RAYMOND--I'LL TAKE YOUR FREE MONEY! ITS ALL GREEN & SPENDS THE SAME FROM YOUR HAND TO MINE!"

Bobby agrees more amused this time then challenged as he too removes his jacket this time.

The crowd pressed in closer making more side bets in anticipation I f the rematch.

Then Raymond pauses as the two men locked fist together facing off for a second time & Raymond quietly offers: "500?!"

Bobby squeezes Raymond's smaller hand & peering up at Rob w/ an acknowledging knod:

"500!"

"GOOD!" Raymond says as Robbie releases his gate-hand resting atop their's commanding:

"GO!"

AND--IT IS INSTANTLY OVER;

Raymond defiantly slams Bobby's larger hand down backwards landing loudly w/ one violant motion.

Pausing to strike a pose holding Bobby's hand down atop the hardwood bar laughjng in Bobby's shocked face Raymond smiles:

"I WIN!"

Raymond declares looking back at AJ before releasing his grip of Bobby's hand to allow him to fall backwards struggling to keep his balance leaning up against the wall bent over w/both hands on his knees. Lifting his hanging head he cracks a warm knowing smile:

You

"Snake in the Grass"

Motherfucker

Raymond Curto!"

Bobby concedes to regain his upward posture while gathering himself & removing a 500$ bill from his pocket to pay & shake hands before bear-hugging & assisting Raymond back down into his familiar wheelchair to the cheers & jeers of the others gathering around.

AJ is exhausted after a series of big days with bigger days ahead. AJ hand gestures a wave as he makes his informal departure leaving his Young Sopranos Crew's Celebration to return to NYC to spend the night at Meadow’s Dumbo Luxury Hotel suite to attend George Pagilieri's Sunday Morning Funeral in Hells Kitchen.

. . .

(TO BE CONTINUED)