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capo-cedes · 4 years ago

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Fishy Business [1]

INVOLVED: Mercedes D’onofrio, Nicholas D’onofrio, Bernice D’onofrio, & Al Mazomonie TIME FRAME: LOCATION: -; New York City, New York NOTES: Bernice goes to Al begging for mercy on behalf of Nicholas, and the young man shows up.

Nicholas ran his hand back through his hair nodding. He’d rather speak to her alone but he’d already stepped out of line once. Now was not the time to repeat the process. “Yes sir. Give me an hour. I’ll go get her now.” He said, already moving for the door.

Bernice’s hand rested delicately at her neck, fiddling absently with the string of diamonds at her throat as she pondered what she was going to say to Al. She and every person had witnessed the exchange between Al and Nicholas. The cuse had been subtle but apparent to anyone who truly knew Nicholas. Al knew the game and that meant Nicholas’ days may be numbered. But how to ask if a Boss was going to kill your son or better yet, how to ask him not to without pissing him off?

Al walked towards the woman who came all this way to see little ole him. He walked up in a tailored suit, freshly shined shoes, and a spectacular tie. His hair was combed perfectly and he sported a small smirk of appreciation. “Well what do I owe, your beautiful presence?” He asked her, hands in his pockets and he stood before the woman taking her in. “Ever the picture of beauty Bernice…” he said softly.

Bernice turned on her heels, smiling softly at the mafia boss. “Al,”she sighed as she flowed across the floor to meet the man. A light blush crept into her cheek in the presence of the well groomed and aged man. Oh to be young again, Bernice thought tucking a lock of red curls behind her ear. “Thank you.” She said, leaning end to place a light, innocent kiss on Al’s cheek. “It’s been two long since we’ve spoken. I thought it was about time that changed. Don’t you agree?”

Al nodded his head at the woman taking her in and her words simultaneously as she ushered a small kiss on his cheek. He chuckled at that keeping his blush at bay, he respected her dearly departed husband. Had he been the animal people really thought he was Nicholas would’ve been his son. Licking his lips he said “a few months, I hadn’t kept count but you do make a fine point” he told her resting his hand on the small of her back. “It should be changed” he nodded his head at her as he moved with her into a more private area of the house.

Bernice nodded her agreement, falling into step easily, guided effortlessly by the man. She reached around and tooked Al’s arms, resting her free hand on his bicep. “Well it finally happened.” She said, a smirk of pure mischief on her face. “We are officially family. I have to say, I never suspected Tiny and Nicky” she exhaled, fondly. “Are you ready to be a granddad?” Glancing at the man from the corner of her eye.

Al looked at Bernice when she grabbed his arm, he made slight eye contact with his staff. His wife wasn’t home which worked out perfectly for him, they knew not to whistle on him. He’d been doing this for years and over time you learn somethings aren’t worth even mentioning. He nodded his head slowly “we are, amazing the way events pan” he commented. “In another life we could have been family in other ways” he said slyly. “The pairing wasn’t expected, but not shocking” he chuckled. The thought of his son-in-law still made his blood boil to no end. He wanted to fix his little ass really good. But hadn’t, for Mercedes sake. Distressing her wouldn’t prove to be a good thing right now he knew. “You know, I’m still straddling the fence… it hadn’t really caught up with me yet” he told her honestly. “I never expected her or Rebecca to settle down. They never proved to be those kinds of women. But Nicky makes Tiny a better woman…” he sighed. “Happy it is a boy” he added, rounding the corner and leading her into the private sitting area. “Someone to carry the name, generational wealth is the goal right?” He asked her as he moved to sit down, offering her any seat.

Bernice cut her eyes up toward Al’s distinguished face, a deep rich laugh emanating from her chest. “I won’t ask how. But I’d wager the world wouldn’t have been prepared for such a union.” She said as they strolled. “Oh… Nicholas was such a quiet child and an even more reclusive man. I never would have thought he'd catch Tiny’s eye.” Bernice inhaled thoughtfully for a moment. “She’s a remarkable woman. I don’t think Nicholas has a clue. Who he’s married. But in a good way.” She corrected smiling in a thoughtful manner. Bernice held her face steady as Al commented on Nicholas. She couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not. Though even if he meant what he was saying, admiration has never saved anyone in this world’s life. She lowered herself elegantly, crossing her one leg over the other. “Yes, I suppose. It’s what we all strive for, yet few actually get it and know that it’s inheritor will make good use of it.” She said staring at Al pointedly.

“I can contest that” Al said back to the woman smuggly. “Tiny’s choice of men… sketchy” he said gesturing with his hand and he waved it back and forth. “Not to take away from Nicky” he said in a gruff voice. “He uh” he said trying to say something nice about the man but he really had nothing to say. “Makes her a better woman” he repeated before he cleared his throat and moved to stand back up. He fixed himself a drink “wine?” he asked her curiously as he poured some Scotch into a glass for himself. “What is your favorite drink again?” he asked her.

Bernice watched Al stut towards the bar. Ears intent on every word he said. His struggle to find a compliment for Nicholas brought another unpurchased smile to Bernice’s face. “Nicholas is an acquired taste. In that I have no doubt. I raised him. Remember.” Bernice ran her hand down her thighs, buying time. “Better?” She repeated the word tasting it, then clicking her tongue. “Protected… And more dangerous. If that’s what you mean by better.” She glanced around wondering where the Mrs was. It would be rude of her to leave without saying hello. “No wine. Thank you. Hmmm.. I can’t believe you’ve forgotten. My, my it has been a long time. Tom Collins is my drink of choice.”

Al turned to look at the woman only for a moment before he dropped a cube of ice into his drink gently. He dropped the tongues back into the bucket, her comment could have won her a slap but he liked Bernice too much to harm her. “She has claws to her, but you know that first hand right?” He asked her slyly. “She’s no more dangerous than she was before she met him, I’m no less protective” he shrugged “so you may be right” he corrected. “Is that why you are here? To try and protect your very lucky cub?” He asked her. “Tom Collins” he said back to her, nodding his head in remembrance. “Never was a gin guy” he stated as he moved to sit back down before her. “When I said better I meant, I actually see the qualities of her now that I tried to ignore over the years. She’s softer” he said with an eye roll. “All that bite I built over the years just gone like that” he snapped “motherhood is more enjoyable for her than cutting off heads… marriage is more important than my respect…” he growled.

Bernice's smile slipped into a heavy chested sigh, “She’s one of your daughters. Claws and teeth are par for the course.” She said matter of fact. “No. That’s not what I meant.” She shook her head, red curls moving lightly against her shoulders. “No that’s not what I’ve come to do either.” She leaned forward, eyebrows raised curiously as Al expressed how he felt about Tiny’s changes. Falling back against the back of the chair chuckling. “Do you believe becoming a mother made me less or more dangerous?” She sighed, “What you see is the novelty of becoming a wife and a mother, all rolled into one. Tiny is no less the woman you raised than she ever was. Nicholas makes that better as you say, not because he made her a wife, because like you he wants her to be who she was born to be.” She licked her painted lips, then stepped off a cliff. If she died today, oh well life had been good to her. “Al, you have all you need right here in this house. Mercedes and Rebecca will require the same. Yet, they can align themself with me who they perceive as less than them. It would never work.” He exhaled. “Did you expect Nicholas to take it? And If he had what would you think of him?”

“I think she’s leaving herself wide open, yes” he nodded as he looked at her. “No one has time for marriage and kids…” he offered “I couldn’t always be there because I had a damn job to do” he argued. “She’s all in on this motherhood business” he added. “Nicholas has done more draining of the woman she is than anything, part of this is his damn fault” he told her. Al tossed the drink back and sat the glass aside. As she went on he looked her up and down, a chuckle left him before he sat back in his chair. His hand rested against his temple and he squinted. “Yes” he told her simply, a shrug falling from his shoulders. “Nicholas is only alive because it would break her heart if I killed him” he told her coldly. “You are the only reason your baby boy is alive Bernice” he said pointing to her. “You have a hold on me like Mercedes does. Women” he said licking his lips. “Why did you come here?” He asked her one eye squinting as he shifted his coat jacket, damn he was going to have to shoot one of the loves of his life if she didn’t shut the hell up. “I loved Nicholas as if he were my son, you and I both know he could have been” he said winking at her, a wicked grin graced his lips as he got up to pour him more to drink.

Bernice sighed, “So which are you arguing Al? Your wife raised your children. So why are you surprised they want families? You and I both know it’s either in them or it’s not. I did everything in my power to turn Nicholas away from this lifestyle and just like your girls -here he is. My husband had a hand in shaping Nicholas the same way you shaped Tiny.” Bernice pursed her lips into a straight line. She pushed herself from the chair and moved up beside the man taking the neck of the bottle, before he could reach for it. Jaw tight she poured him another drink, before she turned to look at him in the eyes. Leaning back against the bar, she took a sip from the glass, then offered it to him casually. .

“Tiny is different” he told her quickly “she was supposed to be different, I knew the moment I saw her” he said shaking his head. “Even as a baby she was just as fiery just as domineering” he chuckled. “I poured everything into her I could so that… she understood. So that she prepared for the power I was going to bestow upon her” he told the woman, why he didn’t know. She was the last person he should have told that too, Bernice was nosy as hell. Al looked at the woman studying her watching her closely, she didn’t deny nor confirm his comment. Right. “Why are you here?” He asked her again, accepting the glass and moving in closer to her, if they were any closer their noses would be touching.

“And you think all your grooming was undone by a baby and man?” Bernice countered giving the Don a withering highly skeptical look. “It was in her and there it will remain.” Now that was a piece of the riddle Bernice had never been quite able to figure out. Rebecca wasn’t the name sake she’d always thought. “Then you’ve chosen wisely. And your years of tending your daughter are about to bear fruit.” Bernice had made a lifelong habit of keeping away from the Don. Point of fact, she liked him. Even now he had her behaving in ways that were too young and forward to be her own. She’d never asked for too much, never pressed her luck too far. She'd allowed herself one tremendous favor, for her husband a seat at Al’s table. And that had only been to keep the man and her family alive. “I told you why I’m here.” She whispered into the millimeters between them. “I missed you. I’m too old not to check in on my friends.”

He wasn’t too sure about that, but he didn’t let her know that in the slightest. As she stated that she was there to check in on a friend he smirked and drew back only a little. Al swallowed down some of the liquor from the glass before he rested it aside. “My phone works” he reminded her in a joking manner before he stood upright sliding his hands into his pockets once more. He drew in a deep breath “Chanel number 5” he breathed before he smirked again “never smelt quite the same on Donna” he told her.

Bernice’s eyes stayed fixed on his as he drank from his glass. A light laughter fluttering from her, responds to his jest. Nodding she folded her arms over her chest, tapped her finger on her chin, “Phones are so impersonal. Some things should be taken care of in person. Unless you prefer I call. I thought you might enjoy my company.” She stayed put as he stood, hands moving to the countertop on either side of her frame. “Since you introduced it to me. It’s remained my favorite. It’s also got a knack for making each woman feel uniquely special.”

“I always enjoy you Bernice you know that” Al said to the woman as he raised the glass to his lips again and finished off the drink resting the empty glass aside once more. He licked his lips and stood there watching her as she spoke again. “Is that right?” he asked her, nodding his head at her he sighed. “Well” he started “despite what you’ve offered me” he told her, resting his hand on his chest. “It is very endearing… but” he paused. “You don’t have to worry” he said as he leaned in and pecked her lips. “He’s safe… I happen to admire him more than he probably thinks. I won’t harm your boy Bernice” he said as he nodded his head turning to walk away from her. “Against my better judgement that is..” he walked back over to the chair he was in and lowered himself. “I do have to make an example, if I let him slide these other pathetic excuses will think they can bitch me in front of a multitude of people. You do understand that right?” he asked her.

It was Bernice’s time to smirk. Slick as melted butter she thought shaking her head. She didn’t move as he claimed a quick, respectable, friendly kiss. Yet felt completely unrelieved when he tried to assure her Nicholas would not be killed. “You won’t harm him? There’s a lot of wiggle room there Al.” She frowned, despite herself. Not for the first time she’d wished Al had fathered Nicholas. It would have protected the man more in his chosen life. “Al” she pleaded, walking over to set herself in front of him again. “I can understand. Of course, but what did you expect him to do?” She asked again. “In his shoes what would you have done?”

He hated to hear her beg, it didn’t sit well with him and the funny feeling it left in his stomach made him a little sympathetic. “There were no expectations, Bernice. I own New York City, if I told Mercedes to bark like a dog she damn well better had. And Nicholas' only job was to stand there and look cute in his thousand dollar suit strolling in late as hell might I add” he barked at her, eyes darkening. He swallowed hard and fell back against the seat he didn’t want to yell at her. Hm, in all the time he’d known her he’d never come out of character. She was the picture perfect woman, classy, and poised. She wasn’t Donna. Al exhaled sharply “I obeyed the men before me. I knew my place, Bernice. And Nicholas has seemed to have forgotten his” he told her. “I don’t care what name Tiny carries, she is still mine until the day they lower her into the ground….” he said seriously. “I won’t kill him, I won’t harm him, but he will be dealt with. Even you can’t stop that Bernice, not even on hand and knees” he said. “Besides, how could I keep you close if I did kill him after all?” he asked her. It was his time to question the room. “How could I ever expect Tiny to walk a straight line if I didn’t leave him on this Earth?”

The Don’s storm rose and if Bernice hadn’t been planted it would have blown her away. With an effort, she looked down at her lap and smoothed her hands down her pants, crossing her legs, she rolled smoothly back in her seat. Her face was unguarded, the mask of composure gone momentarily, she licked her lips, never acknowledging the remarks Al made where she was involved. It was a trick she unized for years. Keep things separated by who you needed to be in each little pocket of your universes and leave them where they were when they weren’t relievent. Al seemed determined to strain her limits today. “Fine.” Bernice said, closing her eyes she rubbed at her temples with her finger tips. She exhaled after a moment looking away from the Don. “I swear. Our children will be the death of us. I have your word you won’t harm him?” She said resigned to the idea there was nothing more she could really ask of Al.

Al watched the woman and he sighed again “forgive me Bernice, I would never raise my voice at you again and disrespect you in such a way” he said seriously. “I agree” he told her “I am truly getting too old for this shit” he said in a low groan as he ran his hands over his hair. “You have my word” he repeated “you know I am not a man that shall lie to you” he breathed. “I just want to talk to him,” he added. “Explain where the error was made and how I feel” he said.

“Thank you.” Bernice said accepting his apology and respecting him more for offering it. There were few men like Al left and each year the list only got shorter. “I’ll talk to him. He’s careful Al. I’m shocked he hasn’t come to you already, but…” She shrugged. “He most likely believes he is a marked man. But I’ll talk to him.” She said reaching across the place her hand on Al’s knee. “Thank you, for hearing me out.”

Al nodded his head knowing Bernice talking to the man would mean nothing at all, Nicholas was bound to do what he wanted either way. But he’d let her go down that road if that is what she desired to do. “Anytime,” he said to her, patting her hand “you are always welcomed to voice your concerns and opinions. You are one of few I actually allow to do so” he told her.

Bernice slid her hand away from his knee swatting his comments away. “I’ll have to remember that and one day even actually believe it.” She smiled sweetly rising to her feet. “I should excuse myself. I’ve taken up enough of your time. Walk me out?”

Al chuckled at the woman and he nodded his head, moving stand up once more. “Of course” he told her and he moved to usher her out of the hide away just as he ushered her in.

Bernice took Al’s arm again, “laying everything aside, you’re going to love being a grandfather. Don’t spoil him too much though. Boys should be a little rough but not spoiled. Save that for little girls.” She chuckled, “Oh and tell Donna I said hello.”

“Well I see how you interact with yours. I always assumed when the baby arrived my outlook would change” he told her rounding the corner. “Now that will be hard” Al told her with a smirk “however I am sure Nicholas will keep him in line” he admitted. “I will” he said lying through his teeth and he continued to walk with her through the house.

“Those little devils are the highlight of my life. Like you said, there is something wonderful about knowing your legacy will live on.” Bernice smiled as she pictured the man, happily handing out $100 bills. “I bet it will be.” She returned shaking her head. “No, I think that will be Tiny. Nicholas is a softer soul.” The silence grew as they made it to the door. Bernice was trying to figure out how she was going to even approach the subject of the Don with her son. At the door she released his arm, “Thank you again, Al.”

Al chuckled at the woman’s words again, “exactly that is what it is all about” he told her nodding. “One day you’ll wake up and I’ll be gone” he reminded her. At her comment he smirked amused by her words no less, the kid was bound to be spoiled however you flipped it. She pulled away and he slipped his hands into his pockets once more “don’t mention it Bernice” he said to her. He leaned in and pecked her cheek.

There was nothing for it. Certain precepts must be maintained. Nicholas approached this task with the same stoic drive that he'd face many other situations. He only briefly glanced at the black Lincoln Town car already in the drive. The familiarity registered but was pushed to the side with more present danger of entering the Don's domain. He hesitated briefly, taking a deep breath as he rang the doorbell.

Al heard the doorbell and raised a brow, he watched as his butler opened the door and he glanced at Nicholas. Perfect. Had this been Bernice’s plan all along? For the both of them to ambush him? “An ambush Bernice, tsk tsk?” He asked before he looked at the young boy “Nicholas” he said standing there with his hands still in his pockets.

Bernice stepped aside as the butler answered the door. Her eyes stretched as Nicholas’ face entered in through the threshold. “Ambush?” She said, shaking her head. “Of course not.” Bernice grimaced, moving towards her son. “Nicholas, I’m glad to see you..”

Nicholas moved in the mansion, eyes flickering between Al and Bernice. “Don? Mother?” He entered as he leaned down to kiss his mother’s cheek. “I need to speak with you, sir.” He said respectfully to the Boss looking around the room. “If you’re not busy.”

Al gave Bernice a knowing look, he didn’t believe her. Damn. Now he had to go back on everything he had just told her, and he was not a man to lie. As the boy moved in further greeting him and his mother, he stood in his place. Al looked at his watch inspecting it and he said “I can give you 5 minutes” he countered coldly. “Better make it quick” he said snapping his finger once as he moved back into the home further. “Bernice, we’ll keep in touch” he tossed out cryptically.

Bernice sighed heavily, eyes rolling closed quickly, the aggravation in Al’s tone clear. She held on to Nicholas’ arm, tightly for a moment. “Yes, Yes. Goodbye.” she said eyes still on her son’s face. “We’ll speak later.” She told the boy, freeing him from her grip finally. “Dinner?”

Nicholas frowned down at his mother, “I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow.” He said, trying to read what the hell was going on. Why was Bernice meeting with Al. He stepped away following as Al snapped moving to follow. He didn’t have any place to ask but, confused he did anyway. “Was my mother here to speak with Mrs. M?” The question sounded wrong, but even a drowning man will grasp at a straw.

Al continued to walk further into the home, he stopped by the common sitting area and lowered himself in a seat. At Nicholas' question he smirked at him and said “the Mrs. isn’t home at this time” answering the man’s curiosity. “Sit” he commanded as he eyed him “and while we are at that why not lay all are cards on the table” he told him reaching at his side and waving the gun at the boy as he sat it down beside him. “I’d hate for you to reach for it again and they actually kill you this time” he said, making mention of the men standing off to the side armed and ready.

Nicholas let Al’s words sink in. So, she'd come to speak with Al no doubt it was about him. He unbuttoned his jacket, but went a step further and removed it all together, showing that his gun halter was empty. He laid the jacket over the back of the chair and sat, hands gripping the chairs arms. “Let me guess, my mother was here asking you to show mercy. I didn’t ask her to do that. This all looks...” Nicholas rubbed his hands together then opened them palms up. “Planned. I assure you it’s not.”

Al watched Nicholas tilting his head as the man removed his jacket. At the boy's statement Al smirked “two old pals catching up” he said simply to him. “You and Tiny may have come up…” he toyed childishly.

Nicholas tilted his head quizzically. “Come up?” He sighed mulling over the statement. “I didn’t realize you and my mother were more than passing acquaintances. Truthfully. I don’t want you to think we are setting you up.” He held his hands out defensively, “Not like we really pull anything over on you, sir.”

“Oh, Bernice and I go way back…” Al said as he rested one leg over the other and sat back in his chair. “Way” he held “back” he emphasized. “She seems to think I will harm you… she’s not the only one though” he said with a heavy sigh. “I have thought about how I am going to deal with you,” he said as he looked over at his soldiers. “But I care too much about breaking your mother’s heart… and Mercedes thereafter.”

Nicholas’ eyebrows furrowed. There was a heavy weight to Al’s words that seemed omnious to him. “So,” he said, relaxing a bit. “It wasn't about me? Good!” Yet, his mind wanted to ask just what was he implying about his mother? He shook his head lightly, “I’m sure my wife has those thoughts....” He said looking down at the ground. Gathering himself, his eyes returned to the Don, “As do I.” He spared a glance for the men around him. “I apologize deeply Don. I had no right.”

Al didn’t respond to the boy, when he mentioned Tiny the older man simply rolled his shoulders. The simple gesture caused the men to move in closer to them both. He was the Don, sometimes he didn’t have to use words, his body language spoke for him. He gazed at Nicholas, his apology was felt half-assed in his opinion and he didn’t like that. So he said nothing and instead continued to gaze at the boy. When someone was bold enough to lift their rifle only mere feet away from Nicholas he raised his hand and “down boy” he breathed.

Nicholas shivered in the temperate room, exhaling softly as the men moved in around him. Wild dog on short, tight leashes. “I never meant any disrespect. Tiny she’s everything to me even if I act out of turn sometimes. I just....” His explanation sounded nothing like his normal controlled self. It all came out in a tumble. Words falling over themselves as he thought to save his life. “The baby, her… I was completely out of line.” He ended. “Please you have to understand.”

Al looked at Nicholas as he went on to explain himself a little more, men had been killed begging mercy at Al’s very feet. Al dropped his leg “you are begging for your life and chose to use Tiny and the baby as a ploy…” he said lowly. “Smart man” he added as he leaned up in his chair “is that why you came to beg me?” he asked him. “After all this time?” he asked.

Nicholas held the don’s eyes and swallowed hard. He nodded his head stiffly at the question, knowing the words wouldn’t come out unless he forced them. Begging on the life of his child and wife was low to him. “I..” He exhaled, trying to form the words he needed to say. “I knew, by right I should be dead. Delivering myself into death’s hands… It was a mistake.” He uttered lowly.

Al face contorted at the man’s words, he wanted him to grovel at his feet but now seeing it, it was just disgusting and displeasing. “Please, your begging is making me sick,” he said. “Weak does not wear well on you” he said rolling his eyes. Al got up from his seat and moved to fix himself a drink, 1 man yet he had a dozen little bars in the home.

Nicholas clammed up, biting down on his lip. Only his eyes moved to track Al across the room. He could still feel the weight of the armed men all round. It was normal but in the time he’d had a seat at the table the guns had never been levied at him. Of course he didn’t like it. Yet, it was the helpless feeling in his stomach that made him want to sick up. He licked his lips and waited for the man to address him again.

Al poured his drink and then poured Nicholas one as well, the boy needed to take the edge off. When he was done he moved back to the seating area and handed the boy the glass. “Nicky, I am going to have to kill you son” he said simply. “Here, take the edge off” he said easily. “I must make an example out of you… which is sad” he said sighing. “I really loved you like a son” he told him before he breathed “take aim” to the men and sipped his glass. “Damn” he breathed “that’s a good cocktail” he told himself, moving to sit back down before Nicholas.

Nicholas sat up slowly, reaching for the glass offered by the Don. His shoulders untightened as he moved. “What?” he questioned, the glass slipping from his fingers to shatter against the floor. “NO!” He said, arms out flung to either side. “Don, please…” He lowered his arms, “She could kill me. In a second, without thought. Yes, she loves me but she’s not mine, she is yours. I need to protect her. But I’m not Freddie, Don. Please, you don’t understand. You sit at the head of your table. In your home and mine. But I… Please. At least let me meet my son. Mercy Don.”

Al watched his glass shatter and he sighed “that was a pricey glass” he made mention as he looked at the man. There crowded around the man was over 8 guys who all had their AK’s aimed at Nicholas. If they pulled their triggers, he’d have more holes in him than a honeycomb. He raised a brow at the man, at his plea to see his child be born Al chuckled. “I snatched Tiny out of her crib and looked how she turned out. The kid will be fine without you Nicky. I’ll train him up in the right way, make sure he respects the men before him” he acknowledged. “It still amuses me, the nerve of you. After all I’d done for your little scrawny ass” he insulted “you seem to think you have bigger balls than me, I’ll make sure once they shot into every piece of your flesh that someone cuts them off and feeds them to you” he mused taking another long sip of his drink.

Nicholas only stared at the shattered glass. What did it matter in the face of certain death. He tried to think of a way out of this sinking pit, but nothing came to mind. He for a moment allowed himself to wonder if Red’s running away plan wasn’t the right one. He played the only thing he hand left. “You’re right. But we want the same thing. I have no desire to leave this life. Tiny… only thinks she does. She needs me.. We need each other. I am her calm… that extra thought” He said wetting his lip. “You live not just for power or money but family. What happens when doesn't have anything but lack luster, yes men. What will become of the family you built? She would turn in to Rebecca. And sorry Don but no one wants that. The Maz… family wouldn’t stand the test of time if that happens. I should die but then at what cost”.

Al crossed one leg over the other once more, he sat his glass aside fully prepared to tell the men to fire when Nicholas began his rant. At his words he ground his teeth together, the son-of-a-bitch was right about this one. If he killed the boy that would just send Tiny into a deep black hole no one could get her out of and the plan for his future and the families future would be destroyed. “Lower your weapons” he said to the men and only a select few did as they were told, Al had a couple ‘Tiny’s’ on his roster so he repeated himself “lower” he said and reluctantly they did so. “You lucky bastard” left one of the soldiers' lips as they backed away and stood on each side of the living room space in a single file line. “You have a point” Al said, hating to admit it as he growled lowly at the man.

Nicholas didn’t dare to breath even as Al told the men to stand down. He looked to Al, searching his face for some hint of his next move. As the older man repeated himself and one soldier came back with a smug retort. Nicholas made a mental note of who he was… Promising himself that if he lived through the next hour he’d have the man’s head in his lap before the year was out. And that was a promise. He refocused his full attention on Al. He didn’t say a word as the man grudgingly agreed. He waited, mouth drawn tight.

Al picked his glass up and tossed the rest of the drink back before he sat the glass back down against the table. He exhaled a harsh breath “I wanna send your ass flying over a damn bridge so bad I can taste it in my mouth” he told him bitterly. “Get out of my sight Nicholas, be lucky I showed you mercy today. You out of all people right now do not deserve it….”

Nicholas tightened his jaw, with his head pitched low in a semblance of respect. He gave the Don one quick sharp nod then rose to his feet. Mind awash. Tiny… He limply took his jacket from the chair and pulled it over his shoulder’s processing. With a stiff tug at his lapels he walked towards the door, taking note of the faces that had seen his shame. It was an absent cataloging of the kind of thing he always did without thought. He drew to a halt, cracking his neck he turned back to the Mob boss of New York. “Do you know anything about a hit being placed on Tiny’s head?”

As the man departed Al sat there watching him for a time, his son-in-law annoyed him sometimes. However at the man’s question he furrowed his brows and moved to stand up. How did he know about this? “Some punk down in Hunts Point mentioned it, I silenced him and told him never to mention something so preposterous again. How did you hear about this nonsense?” he asked him, his features creasing in anger. “No one is stupid enough to harm her….” Al commented.

The hackles rose on the back of Nicholas’ neck. Al knew. He bit his lip trying to better gauge the man's response. “A random punk?“ He whispered as he looked away from the Don deep in thought. Al had spared him if he wanted to hurt Red his death would have done perfect. He swallowed, eyes dark. He stepped over the irony in the man’s statement as she answered his question. “Freddie.” He said plainly letting the weight hang in the air.

As the man went on Al shooed his soldiers away from his sight. “Freddie” he repeated to the boy knowing that if he were involved there was some damn truth to it. He’d taken it for a joke now the joke was on him. “I turned NYC upside down Nicholas” he said pointing a very deliberate and serious finger at him. “What did he say?” He asked him commanding answers. “What did she say?” He asked next.

“The streets aren’t talking. Especially not to us.” Nicholas shook his head. At least now he knew why. “Freddie said the price was half a million.” He rubbed at the back of his neck. “I didn’t ask Re-Tiny. Honestly until this very second I thought it was a lie or a half heart truth with no real bite. Even with your warning the street would be buzzing if it was true. That kind of money changes loyalties.”

Al ran his hand down his mouth as Nicholas continued to explain his thoughts on this topic. “Does she know there’s a price on her head?” he asked next with a raised brow, he shook his head. He didn’t know what to think. “I thought someone was trying to get my attention, to stir a pot a little” he said squinting one eye.

Nicholas scratched his chin as he took up pacing across the floor. That was a million dollar question. He’d been mulling the question over in his brain for quite some time. “She knows something. Freddie says she is afraid to leave the house. I was more inclined to believe it was for another reason…” He shrugged. He stopped and looked at all questioningly. “Who is powerful enough to challenge you in such a way. -The Russo Brother’s may be trying to make a play for power. Or some other family?” He was asking the question while still mulling it over. “It makes more sense then this being some random.”

“Is that why you came? To question me on this?” Al asked him “if so you should’ve brought her to me too” he said wildly. “How dare she leave us in the damn dark about this. It’s just like Cohen. Murdered that entire house full of people, and I had to clean up her MESS!” He growled. “Dammit Tiny” he cursed the woman.

Nicholas’ blinked rapidly, the fog of thought and worry lifting. He took several quick steps back hand held in defense. “No sir. I came out of respect for you…” He added quickly, the remembrance of death still fresh in his nose. “It’s Tiny. She always went her own way.” He said though he knew the question was rhetorical. “But who? Who is doing this?”

Al squinted his eyes. He wasn’t sure if that were the truth but he let the boy live. “Go get her, bring her to me” he commanded and there was no joking laced in his voice.

#thread.#samcedes rp #thread: fishy business 1

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silent-era-of-cinema · 4 years ago

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Sally Phipps (born Byrnece Beutler; May 25, 1911 – March 17, 1978) was an American actress.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Beutler, Sally Phipps was born Byrnece Beutler in Oakland, California on May 25, 1911. She attended Tamalpais High School and was a sales girl in a department store in San Francisco before she began acting.

She was only three years old and the veteran winner of several beautiful baby contests when she appeared under the name Bernice Sawyer as the Baby in the film Broncho Billy And The Baby, made at the Niles, California, Essanay Studio in late 1914. She made two more Broncho Billy westerns there in early 1915, The Western Way and The Outlaw's Awakening.

Fox studio gave her the name Sally Phipps in 1926, when she was 15. Until 1929, she was a Fox Film star who appeared in well over 20 films, including a cameo in F.W. Murnau's classic Sunrise. She was originally discovered by director Frank Borzage while still attending Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California. She began her work at the studio starring in two-reel comedies.

Her first was Light Wines And Bearded Ladies (1926). Other comedies, both in 1927, were Girls and Gentlemen Prefer Scotch. Her first role in a feature was in Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl (1926). Soon after, she was selected as one of the 13 1927 WAMPAS Baby Stars. Her first starring role in a feature was Love Makes 'Em Wild (1927).

A May 4, 1927 review in the Appleton Post-Crescent complimented her skill as a performer in Love Makes 'Em Wild:

Miss Phipps is one of the most charming actresses we have had the privilege of seeing in many a day. She has a personality which is distinctly individual, to say the least, and flirts across the silver sheet with a grace which would become an actress of many more years experience.

In August 1927, she signed a five-year contract with Sol M. Wurtzel, personal secretary to William Fox. Fox sent Wurtzel to supervise West Coast productions for his studio in 1917. Phipps' Fox Film contract for October 1927 stipulated she was bound to the studio for a period of five years. She would be paid a starting wage of $125, which would rise to $600 a week for the last six months before expiration.

Phipps starred in the very popular High School Hero, with leading man Nick Stuart, which opened in late 1927. She was also the female lead for the 1928 Fox features Why Sailors Go Wrong, News Parade, and None but the Brave. Her co-star for the first two films was Nick Stuart. The other co-starred Charles Morton. The News Parade is about the life of a Fox News cameraman and the daughter of a camera-shy millionaire. The motion picture was filmed in New York City, Lake Placid, New York, Palm Beach, Florida, and Havana, Cuba.

Her last screen appearance at Fox was in the 1929 two-reel comedy talkie Detectives Wanted, starring Clark and McCullough. Two years later, she appeared on Broadway in the Kaufman and Hart comedy spoof of Hollywood, Once In A Lifetime (1930-1931), playing Susan Walker, the movie-struck ingenue.

While on Broadway, she appeared as the female lead to Joe Penner in his 1931 Vitaphone two-reel comedy, Where Men Are Men. In it, she played Nancy Carter, a Western comedy vamp. In 1935, she again played a movie-struck ingenue in another Broadway comedy, Knock On Wood, by Allen Rivkin.

On June 6, 1931, she married Gimbels department-store heir Benedict Gimbel Jr. (the grandson of Adam Gimbel and father of Ted Nathanson), and moved to Philadelphia; they divorced in 1935.

In 1941, she married New York musician Alfred Marion Harned in Coyoacan, Mexico; they had two children, Maryanna and Robert, both born in Des Moines, Iowa; they divorced in 1956.

In the summer of 2019, The Sally Phipps Archive was accepted into the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences in Hollywood, California. The Archive, now known as the “Sally Phipps Papers”, consists of extensive pictorial material, including hundreds of scene stills from her films made at Fox, Essanay Niles, and Warner Brothers Vitaphone; from her two Broadway shows; publicity and pinup photos; and also 16mm prints of a couple of her films, lobby cards, posters, glass slides, theater programs, and heralds.

#silent era #silent hollywood #silent movie stars #1910s movies #1920s hollywood

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annelapedusbrest-blog · 6 years ago

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MY MEMORIES OF JOHANNESBURG - City of GOLD.

article published 4 Feb 2009. Written and compiled by Anne Lapedus Brest.

MEMORIES OF JOHANNESBURG, CITY OF GOLD

Written and Compiled By

On the 4th February 1961, when I was 14 years old, and my brother Robert was 11, our family came to live in Johannesburg.

We had left Ireland, land of our birth, leaving behind our beloved Grandparents, family, friends, and a very special and never-to-be-forgotten little furry friend, to start a new life in South Africa, land of Sunshine and Golden opportunity…………… The Goldeneh Medina…...

We came out on the “Edinburgh Castle”, arriving Cape Town 2nd Feb 1961. We did a day tour of Chapmans Peak Drive, Muizenberg, went to somewhere called the “Red Sails” and visited our Sakinofsky/Yodaiken family in Tamboerskloof.

We arrived at Park Station (4th Feb 1961), Jhb, hot and dishevelled after a nightmarish train ride, breaking down in De Aar and dying of heat.

We lived in Becker Street, Yeoville, Robert went to K.E.S and I went to Barnato Park (aka Johannesburg Girls’ High) in Berea. Robert was in Cadets , I played hockey, and bunked school (with Gilda Goldblatt!!) Our next-door neighbours were Michael and Sandra Golding, Zena and Teddy Cohen lived in Becker Street also and Ronnie and Nigel Baskin lived in Yeo Street near the Richters - Selma and Charles Richter,.

Girls at Barnato Park lived in mainly Hillbrow, Berea, Yeoville, Bellevue, Houghton, Orchards, Melrose and Dunkeld. After school, many of us would catch the 19 bus from Tudhope Avenue Berea to Raleigh Street, Yeoville, but many girls were collected by beautifully coiffed and bee-hived mothers with long painted nails, arriving to collect them in huge fancy Chevrolets, with big cats’ eye tail-lights.

ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA …………………………….

Oy, but I had to get used to so many new expressions ……..

“ See you this arvy, Hey? “ and “See you just now, Annie” (I learnt the hard way that “Just Now” didn’t mean immediately)

“There’s the new girl in Form 3, …….. Shame!!” “My sister’s baby is so cute, …… Shame!

People would give me directions and tell me to turn at the robot.

Can I Lend your book?

Whatever I said, the girls would answer “Is it” ?

The shul is full of KUGELS……………….

Why did the bus-conductor call us all “Donkey” when he collected our tickets???? “Thank you,… Donkey” and the Klippies would say it in a high-pitched voice. “Thank you, donkeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyy”

You MUST come visit this arvy, see? You MUST go and see Cliff Richard at the Collosseum. You MUST buy the latest Elvis Presley record. MUST, MUST, MUST (only in South Africa! Say that “MUST” to people overseas, they think you are a control-freak). (took me a while to get used to it!!)

G.C. EMMMMM

Girls would talk about great talent at a party, and they talked about Chracks , boys talked about “good stock” .

It’s a blerry gemors!! Stoep. Goeie Môre , Lekker Bly,

My skat. Klop Dissel Boom gaan! Klappies. Lappies.

Wag ‘n bietjie. I’m Gatvol !!!! Deurmekaar.

Yislaaik! Herrrrrrre ! (Yurrah) Magtig!! …..Maggggggtigggggg !!! Vragtig! …….Vragggggtigggggg !!!!!!

Where’s the jol tonight, hey? Do youse know?

Don’t tune me kak, hey? Ag! Yes no fine. Stovies. He’s fab - such a doll !!!, He thinks he’s such a big Bok. It’s not so lekker.

Howzzit, my China. I smaak you.

Don’t chaaf my cherry, hey! Don’t grip my cherry…

Who do you think you’re looking at, China?

Don’t tune me grief, ek sê. Voetsak! Sies! Ag! Siestog, Jong!

My bike is buggered.

Bugger off !

He donnered her.

She Bliksemed him

They Revolting!

Sommer so …………………..

Don’t talk to them, they are all such Rubbishes.

Stiffies.

It’s Kwaai……..

Well, yes , no fine, Those were the days my friend we thought they’d never end …...

SUBURBS

In those days a majority of the Jewish community seemed to be living in Hillbrow, Berea, Bellevue, Yeoville , Cyrildene, Observatory, Dewetshof, Judith’s Paarl, Highlands North, Houghton, Dunkeld, Melrose, Hyde Park.

Suburbs where a lot of Jews also lived were Kensington, Emmarentia, Greenside, Doornfontein, Mayfair. Remember Fordsburg (Fitas). Also a Jewish area once upon a time.

Robert and I went to Yeoville Chader (The Bernard Patley), - Mr. SHATCHAN was the headmaster, and teachers I remember were Miss AARONS (Bella Golubchick) , Mr. Solly GOLDBERG, Rev. HIMMELSTEIN, and the Shammas was a Mr. CHAZEN (His daughters, Gertie and Hannah both went to Barnato park) and Mrs. MAGID

Chader Children I can remember the names of some of the “ Chader children”. Colin Koransky, Dorian Hersch (Shear), Terroll Hersch (Z”l), Gilda Goldblatt (Galvad), Brenda Goldblatt (Spitz) (O”h) Frances Taylor, and her older sister, Sharon (now in Israel), Carmella Shapiro, Marsha Furman, Gerald Pokroy, Philip Eliason, Harry Sacks, Alan Kaye, Susan Kaye, Dorothy Lewis, Harry Sacks, Philip Sacks, Ada Freedman, Ilanah Himmelstein, Julian (Julie) Kaplan, Meyer Kaplan, Brian (now in Oz) and his sister Jewel Rosenthal, Eugene Klatzko, Martin Chaitowitz, Hymie Symanowitz(Z”l), Ruth Seeff, Sandra Katzen (Pokroy) Robert Hershfield, Mervyn Gerszt, Bernard Kromelick, Derek Hammerschlag (I think that was his name) Wolfie Tepper, Marlene Tepper, Stanley Chitiz, Manny Magid, Melanie & Beverley Segal.

I must have been a real “chrack” in those days, coming from Ireland, funny clothes, and even funnier out-of-control curly hair, and an accent nobody could understand. I found it hard to make friends, but I eventually palled up with Gilda Goldblatt (now Galvad) , (daughter of Leslie (Z”l) and Mona Voloshen Goldblatt (O”h), from Webb Street. Leslie (Z”l) was a Choirester in Wolmarans Street Shul) and Gilda and I have remained friends to this day.

Girls at Barnato Park whom I remember offhand, Pam Ginsberg (Melzter) Pam Gladstone (Nathan), Denise Seeff, Ruth Seeff, Susan Simon, Molly Robinson, Rhona Shroder (aka Rhondie Shrondie) (Ullman) , Phyliss Goldblatt (Rubin), Geraldine Blumberg, Debbie Rabinowitz, Jacqui Hotz, Sharon Rafel (Rubin), Leah Smith, Ann Kaiser, Ann Moscow, Barbara Diane Levy, Barbara Levy, Lynette and Jennifer Margolis, Carol and Margaret Kowalsky , Gloria (Gola) Levine (Ash), Gilda and Brenda Goldblatt, Eugene Klatzko, , René Mazelle, Jill Gonski, Felicity Nathanson, Avril Kaye, Jackie Susman (Woolf) (her sisters Helen and Andy went to Athlone) . Pam Kohn, Lydia Burstein, Ada Folb, Sharon Cooperman (Fehrer) Beryl Andrews, Heather Round (Levy), Joan Gracie, Merriel Pratt, Hilda and Charlotte Brinkman, Ann Mullins, Susan Simon, Doreen Simon, Marilyn Silansky, Carole Silansky (Sands) Verite Hirshowitz, Ruth Samuel (Segal), Vivien Alexander, Renée Kunz, Lorraine Goldberg, Marilyn Silansky and her sister Carol Silansky, , Yvonne Shochet, Janet King, Pam Kewley, Adah Ben Yehuda, Roslyn Abramovitz, Joan Cooper, Bernice Frid (Vunck), Suzanne Lutrin (Resnick) (O”h), Helen Rothschild, Joyce Tischauer, Helen Leftin, Maureen Nagel (Ruskin), Gabriella Albrecht, Sharon Smith (Munitz), Pam Levy, Deborah-Ann Fanaroff, Jacky Centner (Cannon), Lydia Burstein, Ronelle Shepherd, Cynthia Muller, Marsha Sosnovick, (Jansen) Karen Israelsohn, Joan David (Elkon), Sheina & BatSheva Romm, Lorraine Nussbaum (Silver), Susan Hommell, Kela Saltzer , Barbara Beira, Shoshanna Kaplan (Kaplan) , Myrna Katz, Isobel Strasbourg (Mehl) , Isobel Thomson, Vivienne Lee, Meryl Michaelmore, Vivienne Fritz, (Head Girl) Patsy Coetzee, (Vice Head Girl) Philla Moller, Gillian Coleman, Sheena Haarhof, Glen Marshall, Naomi Tabachowich, Ailsa Bowley, Sheena Hayworth, And some girls from Mrs. Oppenheimers extra Afrikaans lessons class were, Vasiliky someone from Greece, Daria someone from Italy, Jean Smith (?) from Rhodesia, Jacqueline someone from England, Marilyn Patricia Myers from England, and teachers, Miss Todd, Roberta Evans, Miss Cohen (later Mrs. Gevisser), Miss Miles with DOG - George, Miss Langley (head), Miss Rosewarne, Miss Walmsely , Miss Hodkin, Miss Jones (Vice Head), Miss Horn, Miss Dankwerths, Miss Martin, (later Mrs. Gold), Mrs Morrison, and one or two Barnato Park Dogs, who came along to school with teachers. I think Miss Evans had a little Muttie trouping along next to her?

SCHOOLS Athlone Girls , Athlone Boys, Waverly girls, Highland’s North, Parktown Girls and Parktown Boys, Northview, Greenside High, King David Linksfield (King David Victory Park was to follow later on) Yeshiva College, Rodean, Brescia House, St. Vincents (for the hard of hearing). Helpmekaar, Damelin College, Yale College (Marcus (Marky) Luntz) , Regis College, Princeton College. Yeoville Boys, Observatory Girls, , Hyde Park, The Tech. K.E.S (King Edward School), St. Johns, Redhill, St. Stithians, Marist brothers, Yeoville Convent, Hirsch Lyons, Yiddish folk, Jeppe Boys, Jeppe Girls. H.A Jack, Jewish Government.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS. Mc Cullogh @ Bothwell.

Remember Yeoville? The Yeoville Post Office in Raleigh Street, C.N.A, the Picadilly Bioscope the Bug House (Oi) next door to Yeoville Home Industries (owned by Simon and Leah Kaufman), Kenmere Pharmacy (owned by the Marams) (next to the fruit shop in Kenmere Rd) and Yeoville Pharmacy (owned by the Joffes) (diagonally opposite the Yeoville Baths in Raleigh St.,) Yeoville Fruit and Flowers (Jorge aka George), Hill Fisheries, Crystals, Yeoville Baths, (and a swimming coach there called Bernard Green) and the Apollo Café across the road where they played pinball and the ducktails always hung around there with their chains, and motor bikes, all the Brekers. Theo Hommel (fabrics), Fitz Bakery where the OK Bazaars in Yeoville built their new shop, corner Raleigh and Bedford, diagonally opposite the Yeoville Library. And opposite where the 19 bus went into Berea and town), Hub Stores, Emdins – Haberdashery – (one or two shops down from the Apollo Café,) Denbo Jewish Bookstore, Scotch Corner! Billy’s Hairdresser in Rockey Street (near Raymond St) Faigels and the Dae-nite Pharmacy Rockey Street, cor. Bezuidenhout, Squires (clothing, school uniforms/shoes)

Portuguese Fish and Chip shop in Rockey Street, all the Tailor shops going down into Rockey Street, and Jekisons Tailors, and a guy called Bokkie Jekison who was the Tailor there (great looking bloke, with a great looking brother, I think his name was Eugene) both so easy on the eye!). Bokkie recently told someone that on the 7th April he will have been at the shop for 55 years California Tailors, and the Yeoville Recreation Center in Raleigh St, where Sandra Stein won the “Miss Yeoville” competition in about 1962 .(Bokkie Jekison died before the 7th April, suddenly, whilst out on a walk)

Water Polo at the Yeoville Baths. Richard LEE was a water-polo player, he lived in Yeo Street, Yeoville, I think. Had a brother Eric LEE. They were Highlands North school boys. Lionel GILINSKY, another water-polo player.

And does anyone remember the Purdy Boys, Neville and Leonard?

Some MORE of the YEOVILLE, CYRILDENE, OBSERVATORY people …… Jeff Wittles , Linda Shapiro, Rex Schwartz, Sharon Schwartz , Ivan Sabbath, Arnold Messias, Ivan Sandler, Louise Lazersohn , Barry Sacks, Barry Bloch, Barry Black, Michael Walldorf (Vorsie), Sonia Barsol, Gerald (Jake) Fox (Z”l) Jonny Grossmark, Vivian Stillerman, Charmian Clayton, Max Gur, Ruth Margolis, Elaine Margolis, Heather Garrun, Yvette, Esther & Naomi Sofer. Sharna & Nadja Isaacs (aka Lerman), Colin Opwald, Frances Siegenberg, Nicky & Costa Kapitanopoulos, Alfie Wood and his sister Margie Wood (now Horn), Locky Lockstone, Shirley Shtub (probably Sztab), Reuel Kaplan, Geoff (Geoffrey) Landsman (Z”l) , Reina Cohen (O’h), Sandra Stein (Ezra) , Nola Stein (Fox), Charmion Clayton, Ivor Cohen, Sandra Deitz , Spencer Hodgson, Heather Garrun, Linda Chitiz or Chitters , Marlene Teper, Leonard Kahn & his sister Maureen Kahn. (now Puterman) Maureen and her husband were one of the first people to move into a new block of flats called “La Contessa”, in Yeo & Bedford St. Yeoville) Arnie Jones, Jennifer Jones, Bernard James, Abel de Freitas, Sandra Tucker. The Griffith Girls (Virg, Bernice (Bunny) and Diane –still great friends of mine) and their brother Cedric) The Matthews Girls Hazel, and Norma, there were more sisters but I can’t remember the names) .

GREENSIDE/EMMARENTIA People, - Clifford Price, Howard Price, Brian Ruskin, and I think Barry Pillemar , Suzie & Gaby Henshel, (de Groen), June and Yalta Gervis, Suzanne & Linda Myers, Aubrey Gamsu Ada Gamsu, Maurice Hockman, Margo and Peter Philips,

HOUGHTON people. Michael, Brian & Jennifer Lever, Molly Robinson, Harry & Philip Sacks, Sharon Smith (Munitz)

HIGHLANDS NORTH People. - Brian, Stanley & Karen Feinstein (Joseph), Max Schiff (O”h)

WHO REMEMBERS - Hymie Brest, (Mayfair/ Kensington) and his friend (to this day) Alec Ross (Bez Valley). Certainly part of the “Main Manne” crowd.

ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA …………………………………

Where’re you okes jolling to? Jollers. Lekker Jol.

Where are your folks tonight.

Volkspeeler. The Sakkie sakkie

I’m only chaafing, man? Sweet Obeet.!! Lekker soos ‘n krekker (cracker)

Wat ‘s goedkoop is duur koop. Stille water – Diepe grond,

Eina! Skyfies. Veldskoene. Breekers.

Don’t tune me Chandies

Check that little lightie, he’s two bricks and a tickey high

Ever since Pa fell off the bus.

Give me a bell, hey? Bell me. Love you stax. I’ll fetch you just now

African women sitting on the street corners calling out HEY Mielieeeeee - Tickey Mielieeeeeeeee.

Vrystaat!

Vat hom Fluffy.

I’ve got Sut.

They’re so larnie!

My ou’ man is giving me uphill

My Skattebol.

I feel up to Paw-Paw. I feel up to Maggots.

‘Strue’s Bob…?? No….. You LIE !!!

SHOT !!!!!!!! (SHOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT)

Skit ‘n donner (donder) (the movies)

And Observatory café where boys played pinball and they had ‘Pennyline Sweets’ where you could buy 2 for a penny and cafés had Jukeboxes . Remember the old 78 records (those were in the fifties though) and then the LPs - wow, and when those came out we thought we’d died and gone to Heaven, and the 45 speed records. Cassettes, and tape recorders, reel-to-reel tape-recorders (I still have one).

Boys had a way of walking, hands in pockets, only the thumbs visable and rolled from side to side with a sort of rolling gait, and the more they rolled as they walked, the more macho they felt!

Who remembers ????…… Debras (Schmaltz), and when a tub of Yoghurt cost 8c, and an Appleltizer cost the same, a bar of Cadburys chocolate cost 5c and there was a chocolate bar called “Honeycrisp” also for 5c, and you could get a Toasted Cheese for 15c. Stamps cost 2½ cents . If you left the envelope open, it was cheaper… Airletter forms in green, airmail writing paper, airmail envelopes and Basildon Bond writing paper.

STREETS in Yeoville/ Bellevue, - Raleigh St, Rockey St, Bezuidenhout St., Isipingo St., Raymond St , Hopkins St, Yeo St, Kenmere Rd, Fortèsque Rd, Becker St, Cavendish Rd, Bedford Rd, Webb St, Natal St, Isipingo, St. Georges Rd, Ellis St.,

YEOVILLE BOXING CLUB - Sammy Samson and his son Cedric who sang as a child, and he had a group at some stage called “the FireFlies” I think Alan Goldstein who was also a child singer may well have been part of that band ( later known as Alan Gold) .

How many people remember……. The Black Steer in Yeoville - fab apple crumble and double thick cream and in the 1960s the price of a Steerburger, with Pickled Cucumber, fried onions and salad was 45c ……….but at the Golden Spur, the Burger would cost you 50c and the Yeoville crowd felt that was too expensive!) Norman’s Grill (for Prawns!) in the Jeppe Hotel. East Africa Pavilion (well known for it’s curries, where the waiters wore a red “fez”, The 252 Tavern. His Majesty’s Cellars, 69 Grill.

and Kosher - Connoisseur Hotel,(Gloria Rootshtain) (long gone)

And remember- The Rosenkowitz 6 from Cape Town, first surviving Sextuplets in the World

And when Arcadia (Jewish Orphanage and Home for Jewish children) was in Forestown

DAENITE Pharmacy, Orange Grove. Owned by Chookie BRENNER . and the okes that worked there, Mervin Rappoport, Issy Peimer, Cecil Chweidan (O”h), Ivan Dorff, Solly Branstein, and a girl called Lola but I can’t remember her surname. And Dr. Chris Barnard, (Heart Transplants Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town)

And the …… the motor racing at Kyalami Race Track

And the Motor Rallys?. Anyone remember Lionel Gilinsky? He raced something called “Production cars” in “Endurance Races” at Old Grand Central Circuit ( Halfway House, now called Midrand) in the late 60��s and 70’s - and later “Historic” Cars at Kyalami Race Track. He was known to be amongst South Africa’s Top 3 Racing and Motor rally drivers in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Not bad for a boy from Welkom!!

Attorneys. - Moss Morris & Ettlinger, (Lennie Ettlinger, Max Levenberg, Selwyn Cohen, Hilliard Gordon, articled clerks then - Rodney Berman and John Gilbert, Also a Selwyn someone articled clerk). Routlege Douglas Wilson Auret & Wimble, Wides , Chain & Berman (Cyril Wides, Inky (Ian) Chain and Rodney Berman), Edward Nathan. Israel, During & Kossuth

Tour Operators - Springbok (Atlas) Safaris, (Julie Lapedus).

Accountants. Sussman and Lange (Trevor Sussman and David Lange) (cousin of Myron Lange, the Surgeon) later known as Sussman Goddard.

HILLBROW. We always went to The Curzon and Clarendon for 7/6- , ( later 75c,) and then a Bioscope called the International (owned by Herman and Maxwell Youngelson) was opened at the top of Pretoria Street and there it would cost you between 90c and R1.00, but the seats were so comfy and the whole bioscope was so plush, that the Yeovillites felt it was well worth the extra.

Anyone remember The French Hairdressing Saloon (a Mrs. Sher was the manageress) and the OK Bazaars and Carnival Novelty.

ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA ………………………….

I’m going for a goof this arvy. ‘Scopes, Flicks, Flik, What’s the “Aggie”?

Hy het haar uitgeskop, verstaan jy my?

Check my new jammy!

We going to Durbs with the car, probably see lots of ‘Vaalies there, all the ou toppies, tannies and ooms, nie waar nie?

My ol’ lady! My ol’ man.

My broer ! My sussie. My Ouma, My Oupa

Knobkerrie. Sjambok

It’s so hot, I’m vrekking off here.

D’is Baie Mooi

He lives in the Gramadoelas….

She lives in the Bundu…

The Dingas

I was with Ruth, Heather and them

Drink your SUP !! there’s a plate on the Zinc

Let’s make a plan…..

Cows give us MULK!

My one aunt My one leg, My one arm, My one finger My one toe

Broekies

The word “THE. ” I learned in school that before a consonant we say “THE” . “THE” bed, “THE” table, “THE” book. And before a vowel the have to prounce the “the” as “THEE”……………. “THEE” Apple, “THEE” elephant, “THEE” egg.

So why then, do we hear (only in South Africa) people saying “THUH” apple, “THUH” Elephant, “THUH” egg. Please hold for “THUH” Operator. And why do some of us say “the PHOTA” when it is clearly “PHOTO”.

FOLKSINGING Era . Who remembers the Nite beat, run by Abe (who ran the tuck shop at the Yeoville Swimming Pool), and the folk-singers Ian & Ritchie ( Ian Lawrence and Ritchie Morris), Des and Dawn (Lindberg)(“And the Seagull’s name was Nelson”) (Dawn wore her hair in two pigtails then) Colin Shamley, Dave Marks (“Mountains of Men” and “Master Jack”) Cornelia, And The Troubador, The College Set - Andy Levy, Hugh Solomon, Norman Cohen) Keith Blundell and the Baladeers, Aubrey and Beryl Ellis. Mervyn and Jocelyn Miller (from Potch). Mel, Mel and Julian (Mel Miller, Mel Green, and Julian Laxton.

BIKERS and the Hell’s Angels, wearing black leather jackets, chains and the peace sign often around their necks, roaring down Pretoria St and Kotze St on Harley Davidsons making a helluva racket, some of the more nervous Biker girls precariously hanging onto their boyfriend’s backs, but “the in girls” didn’t hold on, they somehow balanced themselves by placing their hands nonchelantly behind the seat, looking around, throwing their hair back, with a “don’t- sig–with- me” look, lazer- beam- eyes, -looking–out- through- thick- black- fringes, and a tattoo here and there.

And nobody did “sig” with them, either.

The FLYING SAUCER is where they all met. Pretoria Street, Hillbrow.

Hillbrow’s Eateries and Coffee Bars Doney’s coffee bar for the best cappuccino in town (who remembers Jeftah and George, the Duke) Café Wien (later on), with the most comfortable seats, it was like sitting in your own lounge, Café Krantzler, Dunk-a-donut, The Milky Lane, the Florian (where the bus turned to go down Twist street to Town). Mi Vami, Lucky Luke (Steak House in the 70s), Fontana, open 24 hours a day, (famous for their chickens roasted on a spit,) Pikin-a-chicken, Porter House (Frulatto and the best Pink Sauce in town) not to mention the steaks (not that I ate them being one of the Kosher Kids, but I was sorely tempted, HA HA HA) and the German Beer Keller, The Hamburger Hut, Golden Egg, Bella Napoli. Kiss-Kiss.

The CHEZA in Jeppe Street. Famous for Muesli.

HAIR STYLES and fashion. We dyed our hair black with Palette where you dropped a white tablet into some black gunky muck and we all had pitch black hair. The Blacker your hair, the more “sharp” you were. We teased it and wore it in Wings, and the bigger the Wings were, the more “with it” you were. And remember the stiff petticoats under your many Flared skirts, and cat-eye glasses? Helanca stove-pipes, in all colours. Studded Belts, Box Pleated skirts, and ID Bracelets (with your boyfriend’s name engraved on the inside), Plaid pinafores came later on, and a ridiculous little narrow velvet bow on a clip or hairgrip which we found a space for in the teased bird’s nest, usually just to the back of the fringe. And also a thin chiffon scarf tied around the hair. White high-heeled shoes (I wouldn’t be seen dead in half the things we wore then)

My Mom always said that my hair was like a Bird’s Nest at the back, but then I didn’t have eyes at the back of my head, (just as well). Boys wore their hair sleeked back with Brylcream and Vitalis and all bought their t-shirts from the Skipper Bar. (Arnie, Mervyn, Earle and Barry Sacks) Black t-shirts with thin white and red stripes around the neck. And a corresponding white tee-shirt, with black and red stripes. If you didn’t have one of those, you were not one of the “in” boys!!!!

And then girls started to iron their hair. I remember my Mother used to plonk my head onto the ironing board, and put a brown paper bag on top of it, and iron away until I had sleek straight hair, but then the minute it rained, I looked at though someone has plugged me into an electric socket…. Durbs did the same to all those who had out-of-control hair - Frizzed them out in 2 mns flat, in fact as soon as you got to Van Reenen’s Pass into Natal, you knew you were there because your hair suddenly was on its own mission……..

and who Whirled their hair????? Oy - a bittereh gelechter….. We whirled it One way, then the other way, and you had dead straight hair (until you hit the 505 Club and the first thing you’d notice is that your fringe was just “not there” anymore) and the rest of your poor hair style was all moving in different directions. If it was raining, and you opened your front door, bang went the straight hair.

Remember those little DOEKs we wore on our head when we went to Durbs. I have a photo of myself wearing one.

COME ON GIRLS - who used to sleep with curlers/rollers in their hair!! and who remembers using the inside of a TOILET ROLL as an emergency roller??????? And all this lot would be covered over by a hairnet. Of course morning brought a splitter- of- a- headache from the curlers digging into your head. Anyone remember? Bet you do!!! I DO!! There you are, the big ADMIT………. What on EARTH did we look like? I don’t even want to think about it …………………

I always say that if I have to come back in another life, I want to come back as ME but with dead straight hair. Second choice, I wouldn’t mind coming back as one of my spoilt-out-of-control Dachshunds either (but the straight haired type, not the wiry haired) (ha ha)

GYM: Bodybuilders, weight-lifters and wannabes came strutting out of Gyms such as Sam Busa and Monte Osher all fit and glistening, with huge shoulder muscles, and killer smiles - carrying black gym bags. And Reg Park’s Gym, ALSO somewhere in Hillbrow.

YOGA: Mannie and Alan FINGER, Nina OBEL

MODEL AGENCIES: . Stella Grove and Gianna Pizanello

DANCING STUDIOS and DANCERS: Natalie Stern the late Mercedes Molina, Jeffrey Neiman (Enrique Segovia) & Rhoda Rifkin, Bernice Hotz , Gitanella (Spanish, Ballet,) Shirley Klitzner (O”h) (later in the 70s Hilary Etkind - taught with Rhoda and Jeffrey) (anyone who ever loved Spanish dancing, will remember Mercedes Molina/ Jeffrey Neiman as a brilliant dance duo) (and will remember the very sad passing away of Shirley Klitzner (O”h) when she was barely into her twenties).

PHOTOGRAPHERS. Maurice, Kurt Slesinger, Karklin, when it was fashionable to stand your wedding photo on an small easel on the floor. Either carpet or parquet flooring. Stella Nova .

RUGBY. Alan MENTER Springbok Flyhalf, and Sid NOMIS Springbok - Center, and later Wing), Alan is married to Pam (ex Pretoria) and his Brothers are Brian, Robert (Robbie) and Mandy (Malcolm (Z”l)) Menter. Their Mom Esmé (O”h) grew up with mine, in Dublin. Syd is married to Ann.

CRICKET. Dr. Ali BACHER former South African cricket captain and one of the greastet cricketers in South Africa. Ali BACHER received South Africa’s Sports Merit Award, the country’s HIGHEST athletics honour. Ali is married to Shira (I am friendly with Shira’s sister Marsha KARKLIN,) and I remember their daughter Ann being a Tennis champion when she was just a little kid of 11 in the days of the “Jewish Guild” Other well known South African Jewish cricketers came later on, Mandy YACHAD , and later Adam BACHER, nephew of Dr. Ali Bacher

TYPEWRITERS. My first memory of a type writer was that old black thing with with a keyboard with round circular lettering and a typewriter ribbon. My Mom used one in Dublin, Then I remember the Olivetti and also a swiss typewriter, but the ones where you would have to bash a silver thing on the upper right to go to a new line. I remember electric typewriters, and using a white powdery Tippex thing for covering up mistakes, except that they never quite covered them up, particularly on the carbon copies. And remember the carbon copies.. HA HA, and when I worked for lawyers, they didn’t allow those tippex rub-outs, so one little mistake and you had to start all over again. Remember STENCILS and Roneo-ing various blurb. I can remember using a bright shocking pink liquid with the stencils, I think. We wrote to “Messers. So and so”, and we’d end off with “ I remain, Yours Faithfully”

WEDDINGS and when the Bride/Kallah would change into her “going away outfit” and the blissful couple would leave the wedding to go off on their honeymoon. When Bride’s kept their vails on the entire night. When there were only 4 pole-holders and the Bride’s parents paid for the entire wedding, and the Groom/Chossen’s parents would pay for the booze, the photographer and the flowers.

THE CIRCUS Boswell-Wilkie. I hated the circus, terrified of the animals and sorry for them at the same time, a hypnotized crocodile once got out- of- control and strarted climbing out of the ring into the screaming audience. Clowns clowning around were never my scene, and when the trapeze artists or the tight-rope walkers did their act, my heart was always in my mouth, terrified they would fall or something. One did once, I can never get that memory out of my mind.

ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA ……………………………………

I dopped my exams and my folks are having a cadenza - *Snot ’n trana all round ….. (*Yiddish Equivalent is Vainin ‘n Kloggin, well, that is the Yiddish we used in Ireland).

Chips, here comes the Teacher.

I’ll have a dop of brandy.

Ops me a pencil.

Baie Dankie…….. hoor! Aseblieftog!

Plaasjapie.

Safe my mate !!!! (and the hand movement – very important) - forefinger/little finger pointed up while thumb was holding middle/ ring finger down) - done with a wag-type-movement, like fast- mode windscreen wipers.

We’re Chommies

Cheers!

There’s a Miggie in my room.

Kyk daai (Daardie) Goggoh (as in insect, not as in “GOGO” - Zulu for Granny)

Boeremeisie. Mevrou, Mejuffrou/Juffrou, Meneer

Kyk na daardie lelike ding………………

Kombi

Gooi

Waneer u die syn hoor, is dit agtien uur, twee en vyftig minute en dertig sekondes…………..

Around 1964 came the Beatles, (“8 days a week”, “Love Love me do” and later, “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s club Band” “Hey Jude”) The Rolling Stones, (Angie) the Mini Skirt era and Mary Quant and the birth of the Discothèque . Op Art earings in gaudy colours and the skirts continued to get shorter. Girls wore double breasted Pin stripe suits which made a come back. The Boutiques were born. I remember the BENATER family had a great boutique “Carnabies”, at the top of Rissik Street, or near there. It was, I think, the first shop of it’s kind. Very modern, trendy and for the young (20s and 30s). And the Pink Panther was in Hillbrow - Also very trendy gear.

Remember Twiggy?………. She was on every Magazine cover, often holding her Teddy Bear, feet pidgeon-toed, with beautiful big brown eyes, and a body so thin, she could fit through a crack in the wall. She started a trend, her, and “the Shrimp” - (Jean Shrimpton), and Mary Quant.

AND Op Art Earings in strange shapes and gaudy colours, shorter skirts, and flattie shoes.

The First Disco was at the Summit Club, Marrakech, (around 1966) with Go-Go dancers Dixie, Felicity Fouché, and Christine all dancing away in the micro-est of Mini-Skirts. Johnny Martin (previously known as Martin Raff) was the owner, and I heard he also owned a club called 007.

Someone called Neville Peacock was the Marrakech DJ and there were psychdelic and ultra violet lights and if you stood under the latter, all your “klein-goed” shone like a beacon for all to see.

And the 505 also in Hillbrow. Eddie Eckstein and Paul Ditchfield - The Bats played there on a Sunday ), and the Diamonds and Gene Rockwell (Heart!”) as did the Basemen (Ronnie Cline on Keyboard, Ralph Simon – Singer, Rodney Caines – Bass Guitar, Leon Bilewitz – drummer and Irwin Kalis – Lead Guitar) and Clive Calder, (Les Markowitz on drums) also played at “Club-a-go-go” and also they toured around the countryside and played at various venues.

Also Johnny Congos (“Sealed with a Kiss”), Johnny and the G-Men, and Johnny Sharp, 4 Jacks and a Jill. The Staccatos. Did I mention Manfred Mann? (“pretty Flamingo”)

MORE CLUBS - TJ’s (town) and The Yellow Submarine (Hillbrow) (owned by Martin HART) and the Boat (Buccleuch) were in the latter part of the sixties and the Downstairs later called The Purple Marmalade somewhere in Hillbrow. Another Disco was owned by George McCauley, brother of Ray, opposite Joubert Park (Club-A-Go-Go), His Granny worked in the tuckshop and was always so nice to everyone. The Band there was the “Falling Leaves” and George was in the Band. The Electric Circus, And Raffles , a very fancy disco/restaurant but that was in the late 70s. Owned by Dave Kerney. (I think). The Stable in Jan Smuts Avenue. The Out of Town Club

And who remembers the other Bioscopes - The Colosseum with the twinkling lights, Cliff Richard sang there once, and a few girls from Barnato Park were expelled for bunking school and going to his concerts. His Majestys, Monte Carlo (French Movies), The Empire, 20th Cen. Fox - Pritchard Street, Cinerama (Claim and Noord) In those days there was an interval after the News and the Cartoons, and Usherettes would be standing at each exit with a tray with all the Munchies and Chocolates, cold-drinks, etc. The Apollo in Doornfontein. I’ve already mentioned the Yeoville Bioscopes earlier on. Who remembers the “Midnight Shows” the Astra and the Victory in Orange Grove, The Rex in Greenside. The Plaza, the Bijou in town and some flea-bitten run down Café Bio which no decent self-respecting girl would touch with a barge-pole, but I can’t remember it. A lot of the Yale College boys went there. But not the girls!!!!

People smoked in the bioscopes (“scopes”) then and when you looked up, you saw it all swirling around in smoke from the projector. Nice and healthy!! but nobody ever noticed it. It was just a part of life in the sixties.

REMEMBER WHEN ………. we went to Bioscope on a Saturday night, dressed up in your A-line dress, or a Box- Pleated skirt, or tiny hound’s-tooth straight skirt in black/white and your black patent high-heeled shoes, with a Black Patent leather bag to match, and your gloves (which you carried in your hand). And later you wore your Dress with the shorter hemline, Mini-Skirts, and your “A-line evening coat” (Jackie Kennedy), just on the knee, and your flattie shoes, the hair teased up to the high heavens and lacquered so heavily that if it rained, you looked like glue. (Boys hated teased and lacquered hair)

And the boys wore jarmins and Elvis Presley hair-styles with thin ties made of nylon or similar in a machine-crochet style. (Later when the Beatles came in, boys’ hairstyles changed forever, and no boy would be seen dead with Brylcream or Vitalis plastered on his head). Boys would never previously been seen in pastel colours, but the Beatles changed all those dark shirts for pink, mauve and lemon, with a pin collar near the tie.

Boys would buy you a 75c box of Black Magic chocolate at Interval. If you put it into your black patent leather handbag and never offered him one, then your name was mud, and girls judged boys by whether they opened the car door for you …. or not!

AND SOME OF THE MOVIE STARS …., Natalie Wood, Kathryn Hepburn, Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Steve McQueen, Sohia Loren, Alain Delon (the heart-throb of the 60’s) (who remembers him in “Purple noon”) Gina Lollobridgida, Raquel Welsh, Bridgitte Bardot, Ursula Andress, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson (One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest), Shirley McLaine, Julie Christie, Michael Caine, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Paul Newman, Sal Mineo, Suzanne Pleshette, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Omar Sharif, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck (to die for?) James Dean

POPULAR MOVIES. West side story, King Kong, Gone with the Wind, Exodus, Dr. No, *From Russia with Love, * (Remember in that movie, the Russian woman (was her name someone KREBBS?) who had a knife come out of her boot and it shot straight into poor Sean Connery’s shin bone. EINA! Just thinking about it, hurts me) Bridge on the River Kwai, Dr. Zhivago, Goldfinger, (it had a great theme song in it by I think Shirley Bassey) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Annie Get your Gun, Dingaka.

And the DRIVE INs Old Pta Road - Jhb Drive in, The 5-Star (Eloff St.Ext), The Velskoen (If a girl was seen at the drive in with a boy, she got a “bad name” and the same for the Café Bio’s. It was just not for a nice Jewish girl!!

REMEMBER WHEN ….. there was NO Bioscope on Sunday nights

THEATRES. Alhambra (Doornfontein) , Brian Brooke (Braamfontein), Market Theatre ( Newtown), Alexander theater , Jacques Brel, Apollo (Doornfontein).

Remember the Adverts for all the Cigarettes, Players, Craven "A", Dunhill (remember the maroon Rolls Royce?) Benson & Hedges (Gold) , Lexington (That’s the one!), Gunston (remember him on a raft, all macho,manly, unshaven and rough and ready tumbling through impossible rivers?) Horseshoe Tobacco, Gold Dollar, Texan, (which the boys would hold between their thumb and middle finger) Lucky Strike, Gauloise and Peter Stuyvesant (for the fun lovers, remember the wonderful places they went to and the great clothes they wore, swimming in glorious lagoons, skiing down snow-capped mountains, all the beautiful people,all having wonderful fun?) I never smoked,(well, I have to say that, in case my family read this article, ha ha) but after I watched the Peter Stuyvesant adverts, I really felt like buying a packet , so that I too, could go to all those magical places, and I’d look glamerous too, HA HA - (the power of advertising!) (A Bittereh Gelechter!!)

But it just looked so “in” to see people smoking, and girls would hold the cigarettes at the tips of their fingers, and waved their hands for effect as they spoke, shaking their fringes out of their eyes. People who didn’t smoke, were “squares”.

I remember Celeste GREENBLATT, taught me how to apply black pencil inside my eyelids, and ‘base” onto my face and to wear white lipstick and I taught Sandra STEIN (later Ezra) to dye her hair black, and the blacker the better, (her Mother had a FIT) - Golda (née Kaufman) (O”h) whom I saw yearly in LA and she never failed to remind me !

FLORA and FAUNA in South Africa. I remember once being enthralled by the most magnificent yellow creeper we had growing on the fence in Becker Street. I took photos of it, and sent it to my friends in Dublin to show the exotic flora and fauna is this beautiful sunny South Africa, until Michael GOLDING next door, laughed his head off and said “but that’s only Canary Creeper, it’s not much better than a common garden weed”!! African Violets, Jasmin, Golden Shower, Begonia Sherera, Bougainvillea, Pointsettia, Birds of Paradise, Cycads?. Maybe they do grow overseas too.

PARTIES in Observatory, Cyrildene and Dewetshof. We rock ‘n rolled to Elvis Presley’s “Jail house rock” & “Don’t step on my blue suede shoes”, “Rock around the Clock” in our flared skirts with stiff petticoats underneath, the more the better, and huge belts around our waists, and we wore flat shoes (75c at Maram’s chemist, and 95c for the leopard skin ones). And later we twisted with Chubby Checker (Let’s Twist again, like we did last summer ) We also did a dance called the Shake – anyone remember the song “I’ll do the Shake, the hippy- hippy shake” and also a dance called the Madison.

The Bez Valley Ou’s, on a Sat night Jol, and the Lebs would sometimes gatecrash. Usually a Scuffle and the girl’s father would have to ask them to leave. Sometimes, in stubborn cases the police would have to be called in to skop them all out. And then the party continued on, Little Richard, Cliff Richard, - sometimes a few of the kids would have a bit of “dagga”, (a zol), on the stoep or in the back garden when they thought nobody was looking, and the only way anyone kopped on was because they would come back to the party with a manic laugh, and red eyes. (and of course the smell, but if you admitted to knowing the smell, then it meant you were a dagga smoker yourself!) Trini Lopez. “If I had a hammer”

SOCIALS at Oxford Shul, The Vrede Hall, Yeoville Recreation Center, Temple Shalom, and Bands like “Dinkie and the Deans” - Jake (Gerald) Fox (Z”l) (rhythm Guitar), Barry Sacks (Lead Guitar), Spencer Hodgson (Bass guitar) and Errol Sack on the drums, would play, they also played at the Club 505 in “the Brow”. Peter Lotus well known Jhb Disc Jockey, I think he sang as well. Lots of singers used to go to Margo’s on a Sunday Afternoon, and the crowd would all hot-foot it out there after them to hear music. I think it was Bapsfontein, or near there). There was little else to do on a Sunday, so many places were closed. Just remembered another band, Dave Levine and the Swinging Angels. Les Gutfreund was one of the band and made a name for himself as Les Goode. “Dickie Loader and the Blue Jeans” Gene Rockwell – Heart.

NIGHT CLUBS and Bands. Bennie Michaels, Archie Silansky and his daughter Carole Sands The Coconut Grove at the Orange Grove Hotel, Dan Hill (Ichilchik), The Colony at the Hyde Park Hotel, Sardi’s, The Mediteranean (I Cinque di Roma), Diamond Horseshoe, The Greek Taverna, Ciro’s (Kruis Street)

STORES. John Orrs, The Belfast, Greatermans, ABC Shoes, Dodo’s, Barnes Shoes, Ackermans, Ansteys later Garlics, Katz & Lourie, Mr. Man, Man about Town, Stuttafords, Woolworths, Deans Mans’ shop, Skipper Bar, O.K Bazaars, Cuthberts, Markhams, Millews, K. Marks ( curtains), Juta's, Bothner & Polliack (records, Henri Lidji Gallery, Derbers Furs, FDF (Fruit & Dried Fruits) Vanité (Ladies clothes) Bradlows, Geen & Richards, Shepherd & Barker (Furniture), CAN, Jaffs (Fabrics), Mosenthals, Dicks (Sweets) - Rissik Street, and later on Morkels, your two year guarantee store! Putzys. McCullogh & Bothwell (School Uniforms).

REMEMBER WHEN we would get all dressed up to go to town, to have tea at Ansteys sitting alongside Ladies in beautiful outfits, white gloves, smart, elegant, men in suits, with white shirts and ties

MUSIC Soul music was popular in the 60s, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Carla Thomas, Otis Redding (“sitting on the Dock of the Bay”), Percy Sledge (“ Midnight Hour”, and Music from Brasil, Sérgio Mendes, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana brass.

And of course, Johnny Mathis, Charles Aznavour, Simon and Garfunkel, José Feliciano

And …. REMEMBER WHEN , our Mothers would ring a little bell at suppertime, and the “servant” (oi, how COULD we have??) would come in with the next course. And when your “boy” did the garden and the “girl” cooked.

SHULS Lions Shul (Doornfontein), Wolmarans street ( Rabbi Rabinowitz 50’s and 60’s, then Chief Rabbi Casper) Yeoville Shul (Rabbi Lapin), Adas Yeshuran (Yeoville) , The Bnei Akiva Shul (Raleigh Street), Greenside Shul, Emmerentia, Fordsburg, Sydenham Highlands North, Mayfair (Rabbi Zagenov) , Kensington Shul (Rabbi Rabinowitz), The Curve (Observatory), Berea Shul (Rabbi Bender and Rabbi Aloy), Oxford Shul (Rabbi Bernhard), Chassidic Shul (Rabbi Lipskar) Cyrildene, Temple Emanuel (? and Rabbi Assabi), Temple Israel (Rabbi Super), Temple Shalom, Temple Beth-El (Rabbi Ben Isaacson) Sandton Shul (BHH) Rabbi ZS Suchard (but that was in the 70’s) Yeo Street Shul. Reverend Symanovitz from Yeoville Beth Din. The Beth Din was in Raleigh Street then.

CHAZONIM. Chazen Hass, Chazen Bagley, Chazen Dudu Fisher (1970s early 80’s), Chazen Johnny Glück (Wolmarans) in the eighties (Choirmaster Prof. David Cohen). Chazen Hasdan, (Warmbaths) Chazen Badash, (Yeoville, Choirmaster *Malovany) Chazan Mandel (Berea Shul) – Gus Levy choirmaster. (* a world reknowned Chazen - I did attend a concert of his here in Jhb a number of years ago), Chazen Berele Chagy

Yeoville Shul Choir, Lionel Levin, Kenny and Colin Koransky and their father, Natie Koransky, Martin Harris, Len Bobroff, Stanley Feinstein, Brian Feinstein, Robert Lapedus, David Shapiro. The Choirmaster was Mr. Himmelstein, I think his son Lior, was in the Choir too. Colin Opwald. Benny Lipchick (Z”l)

KIDS at the Yeoville Shul…. Percy Suntup, Fivie (Phillip) and Hymie (Z”l) Symanowitz, Olga Berelowitz, Joan Morris, Karen Feinstein, Linda and Stanley Chitiz, Wolfie and Marlene Teper, me and my Boet, Robert Lapedus, Gillian Erster and her brother Moishe Erster, Naomi Shapiro, Marilyn & Sheila Atkins, David Shapiro, Rhoda Shapiro, Jenny Winnick, Alan Kaye, Philip Eliason, Sheila Hahn and Irma Keifer I remember David and Daniel Lapin, ( Rabbi Lapin’s sons) being at the Shul .

Beni Akiva and Habonim Camps. Betar. Hashomer Ha’tza-ir (spelling, whoops!!)

AND REMEMBER WHEN the only children at a barmitzvah function were the Barmitzvah boy and his siblings, who were allowed to stay up for the night. The entire Simcha was for adults and the only time you heard the Barmi boy, was when he made his speech. Robert’s Barmitzvah was a Kiddush at home after Shul, and a “tea” that evening for a few friends of my Parents. Many kids had that kind of Barmi. Who knew then from Theme Barmitzvahs.

AND …..When Children were children, and played snakes and ladders, and ludo, dominoes, monopoly, yo-yo’s, and they read out of the Local Libraries and they played Cowboys and Indians, ( just entertained themselves. No Video games, computers, cell phones, I-pods, Electronic everything… and No TV then either.

BANKS and Building Societies. Barclays, Volkskas Bank, Allied Building Society, SA Perm(inent) The UBS (United Building Society) SA Perm, NBS (Natal Building Society) Trust Bank

ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA ……………………………….

J’’’’enesburg!

Ag Shame, man, were you home stokkies aleen??

Wikkel. Sikkel. I’ve got no tom, hey?

Koeksusters. Konfyt. Biltong. Vet-koek. Braaivleis.

Boerevors en Pap. Poitjiekos. Mielie. Rooibos Tea.

Grondboontjiebotter

Ouma se Rusks. Fanny Farmers

“Hau”

The Tokoloshe is coming… Dorp ! Pandotjie!

He rocked up in an old Skedonk.

Question. Hallo Meneer………. Hoe Gaan Dit met jou vandag?.

Answer. Ag , No….. Fine ….Jaaaaa,………. Kan nie Klaar Nie !

My Oom se Bakkie

My Gran did the “Charlston”, but that was back in Nineteen voetsak

Why are you still Gaan-ing on? you Poepal !!

He is so Grotty….. A real Dweet …….A Drip.

It’s …Kwaai. It’s …. Skarm.

HOTELS : The Carlton (original Carlton) , Moulin Rouge, The Chelsea Hotel (Hillbrow) (I think this is where the Jacques BREL theatre was) Casa Mia, Langham , Gresham, the Jeppe Hotel (Norman’s Grill) Victoria ( Plein Street near Station), Criterion , Landrost hotel (Anabelles nightclub). Tollman Towers – (next to Jeppe Street Post Office), The President Hotel (Eloff Street), Anlar Hotel (Hillbrow), Courtleigh Hotel (Berea), Jocelyn Residential Hotel (Claim Street Joubert Park), the Quirinal, Waldorf , and Balalaika which was then way out in the “country” - Sandown, which is today, a hub of activity. The Skyline, The Capri and The Park Royal

SQUAD CARS. HOT RODS and the name Buddy Fuller comes into my head for some reason.

MOTORTOWN. Remember when all the motor dealerships were in Eloff Street, Ext. Motortown. And names like Rillstone Motors (Agents for the Simca), Lawson Motors, (Agents for Volvo), Lucy’s Motors (Katz) (Agents for Fiat), Curries Motors, Grosvenor Motors ( Agents for Ford), Sydney Clow (Agents for Peugeot), and a dealeship in Anderson Street called T.A.K. Motors, (Agents for Lancia and Ferrari), Ronnie Bass, (Sigma)

And then Main Street became the used car center for Jhb. Austin , Chevrolet, Mercury, Buick, Dodge, Morris Minor, Mini Minor, Hillman Minx, Ford Fairlane, Vauxhall Victor, Ford Cortina, (Ford) Zeyphyr, Sunbeam. Killarney Toyota. Lionel Gilinsky (Pilot, Motor Rally Driver/Racer) Brenner Toyota in Braamfontein, Chookie Brenner

PETROL Shell, BP, Mobil (Engen), Sasol, Trek, Caltex, Total,

REMEMBER WHEN Milk was delivered to the house????, in proper Milkbottles with red tinfoil caps, and the cream would be all at the top of the bottle? And Nel’s Rust Dairy in Victory Park.

DOORNFONTEIN. – Apollo Cinema near Crystals, Crystals, Beit Street (who later moved to Yeoville) Wachenheimers, Goldenbergs, and Nussbaums, all in Beit Street, and Dairy Alhambra (Zama Levine) - opposite the Alhambra Theatre in Beit Street. Zama Levine had the shop for about 40 years (according to his daughter Gloria Levine Ash). Gloria’s mom was from the ICHILCHIK family (Dan Hill and Gloria’s Mom, Emma Ichilchik Levine (a cellist) were siblings. Dembo’s in Beit Street. The famous sculptor Anton Von Wouw lived next door to the Alhambra and opposite Gloria Levine’s (Ash) Grandfather, Mr. Ichilchik in Doornfontein. American Café for ice-cream, Sour Kraut, Hot Dogs, Millers Antiques on Simert Road. Campbells. Cohen’s Café. And Ellis Park.

Doornfontein Streets Beit Street, Siemert Road, Siveright Avenue.

And Segall’s Sausages (Alf Segall) (spelling?). Kerk Street, York House.

ROADHOUSES. Dolls House (Highlands North), Casablanca (Nugget Hilll) Dakota (Crown Mines), and Uncle Charlies.

Ice CREAM. Papagallo.

WITS RAG Down Eloff Street, with the floats, remember? and the Rag Queens and Princesses. I remember one particular Jewish Rag Princess of 1971, and still a beautiful girl to this day - Blond hair, gorgeous and looks like she just stepped out of vogue magazine - June Gervis ( - two sons, Grant and Richard Reichlin, both of whom were at school with my children, Angela and Gregory Brest)

ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA ………………………………..

“She took me around” Around where?

And what about “See that ou?? - he threw me with (wif) a stone”

The Spanspek is Vrot!

Takkies.

Ag Dame! …………………..

Listen, Lady ………………

And how many South.Africans when they first arrived in America, England, Australia, Israel etc talked about taking their “costume” or “Cozzie” to the Beach.

She’s the most prettiest girl.

My ou’ man caught me smoking dagga, hey, and I got such a SKRIK.

I bumped her on the corner of Cavendish and Becker Streets

I didn’t scale anything

*Spek and Eiers ( *Just because I know the name, doesn’t mean I’ve eaten it, see !)

Ek is a Ware Suid Afrikaaner.

Melktert! Guavas, Grenadilsh!! Marmite, Anchovette Paste, Jungle Oats.

Comment - That bike is Kwaai, so lekker…. Answering comment - MOH-SELFFFFFFF

YIDDISH/Jewish sayings - In alle Schvartze Yohren, He lives in Alle Drerderin, Meerskeit, Fahrpackt, Fahrkakte, Fahrkrimpt, Fahrbrempt, Fahrshtunkender, Farrible (Litvak word, in other countries they talk about a “Broigas”) He’s a Shlemazzel, He’s a Hundt, He’s a Chaleria, He’s a Peruvian, He’s a Shlemiel, … a Chazzer …. a Mamzer, She’s a plapper…. a Yenta, Gei n Drerd, Vos Macht Tzu?, Shreklich, Chader (not the Chader where we learned Hebrew or Barmitzvahs) , Kitke, Lax (lox in the USA) I need that aggravation like a loch in kop? I’m chalishing for some Petzah (In Dublin, we called it “Calves Foot Jelly”) Alter Kakkers , Bobbe Meises, Ebberbottled. She’s such a kochelefel.

Question - How are you today Bobba ‘Chuma ???

Bobba’s answer - Nu, does it do any good to complain???

RADIO. LM Radio who remembers the signature, “Aqui Portugal Moçambique, fala-voz do Radio club em Lourenço Marques, transmitindo ondas curtas e médias

(This is (here is) Portugal, Moçambique, the voice of the Radio club in Lourenço Marques, transmitting in short and medium wave) with Evelyn Martin (Martins) . David Davies and the LM Hit Parade and was it a little prayer ending off at midnight ? With a sort of mournful depressing music to accompany it. Peter de Nobrega… not sure which station..Bob Courtney Eric Egen Springbok Radio , Paddy O’Byrne, David Gresham (Gruesome Gresh) and Clark MacKay (Clackie MacKay) and Esmé Euverard (not sure if she was Springok Radio or what) Charles Fortune (Cricket commentator) Programmes like “Pets’ Parade”, and “the Creaking Door” –skriklig !!!! David Gresham - Gruesome Gresh - (keep your feet on the ground ,and reach for the Stars) Everyone remembers “JOHN BERKS” !! - “Long John Berks” - I always listened to the Talk shows and one show in particular has stayed in my mind. The Jhb Station Master, complete with an Afrikaans accent, (guess who) called a Yiddishe guy living somewhere in Killarney, to tell him that his consignment of chickens were on their way over. You could hear what sounded like a few thousand chickens all clucking their heads off and the poor fellow was protesting, saying that it was the wrong number, it wasn’t him, some mistake and besides, he had a small balcony, and he didn’t have room for crates of chickens, but The “Station Master” kept on saying that he has nowhere for them either, the fellows’ name and address were on the crates and the chickens were going to be on their way, shortly.. What a “lag” that was. Although this article is about the 60s, I can’t help but mention my fellow countryman, John Robbie, and John, if you ever get to read this “Go mbeanna Dia Duit” and enjoy Lá na Pádraig.

AND the Requests – I think It might have been Esmé Euverard who ran a programme, was it called “Forces Favourites”? with Messages from girlfriends to their ou’s in the army, with requests like this “ Poppie, het jy ‘n boodskap”??? Poppy, are you there? Speak up Poppie……., Poppie?? Crackle, crackle….. Hallo, crackle crackle ……….. Hallo, ja, D’is Poppie wat praat, Ag, man, I’d like to send a message to my boyfriend at Voortrekker Hoogte?????? Daw-ling, I love you Verrry much???????? , ek het jou lief, my skat??? I hope you are orite and I cawnt wait til you are home again awready, Vasbyt en Baie Liefde, van Poppie, hoor? En Frikkie says howwzit. LOURENÇO MARQUES. Polana Hotel, Avenida 24 Julho (July), o Zambi, o Cisno Negro (Black Swan), Xai Xai, S. Martinho de Bilene (aka San Martino) wonderful beaches, prawns to die for (*just because I said that, doesn’t mean I ate them!!!) “Cerveja” at sidewalk cafés, Caldo Verde (soup), wonderful buildings, Pregos.

BUILDINGS such as Palace Buildings, Rand Club, Old Arcade, Markhams Technical College, Manners Mansions. Broadcast House, Essanby House, Ponte - Harrow Road, Rissik Street Post Office, Union Grounds – Twist and Claim,Joubert Park. The City Hall - Rissik Street. And in Jeppe Street the Medical buildings ... Jenner Chambers , Lister Buildings, * Drs. Jacobson, Broer and Smith, later “and Barnard”, and later still, “and Kaplan”, Pasteur Chambers , Medical Centre , Archie Jacobson, Ivor Broer, Mervyn Smith. Michael Barnard and Neville Kaplan (not all at the same time.)

HOSPITALS: the Lady Dudley, Florence Nightingale, Princess, Marymount, Franklin, Queen Victoria, Garden City Clinic Parklane Clinic. Fever Hospital, Jhb Gen. (General Hospital) The Childrens’ Hospital, Baragwanath. The Frangwyn –(Maternity )

ARMY. The Drill Hall in Joubert Park! Voortrekker Hoogte (Pretoria) The first 3 months you were a rookie, and after you got out 9 months down the drag, you went to Camps for about 3 weeks a few years later. Boys went meshugah when their hair was cut so short.

And Polio – two major epidemics in 1947 and 1954/55, when schools were closed, and public swimming pools too, children in iron lungs and leg braces. Infantile Paralysis, they called it. (I wasn’t here then but I know about it)

Around the late fifties, a movie came out with Danny KAYE and Barbara Bel GEDDES (Miss Ellie in Dallas) , called the “FIVE PENNIES”. Story of Red Nichols, and his young daughter (played by both Susan Gordon and Tuesday Weld) who contracted polio. .

And “Interrupted Melody” Another polio movie about the Opera singer, Eleanor PARKER. Terrible epidemic, wiped out today, as far as I know . And then they found an immunization against Polio.

WHO REMEMBERS …... Gilooly’s farm, Boksburg Lake, Zoo Lake, Florida Lake, Wemmer Pan - Wembly stadium Ice rink , The Wilds, The Snake Park, Melville swimming Pool, Hillbrow Indoor Pool (at the Summit Club), and the Squash courts there, Brixton Swimming Pool, Rand Show/Skou, Milner Park, Tower of Life.

THE ELLERINE brothers, Sidney (O”h) and Eric

RESORTS. Lover’s Rock in the Magaliesberg, Little Roseneath (Ndaba, Fourways). Margo’s (where the bands all played on a Sunday afternoon. I think it was near Bapsfontein). And lazy days sitting on top of the Wilds, admiring the Flora and Fauna and watching the world go by (not today!) Linksfield Ridge.

ADVERTS.. Mac Phails - Mac won’t phail you

NAMES CHANGES Jan Smuts Airport – O.R Tambo , Halfway House - Midrand, Verwoerdburg – Centurion,. Hendrik Verwoerd Drive - Bram Fischer Drive, Hans Strydom Drive Malibongwe, DF Malan - Beyers Naudé, Harrow Rd - Joe Slovo Drive - , Sandown Square - Nelson Mandela Square. Transvaal – Gauteng, Eastern Transvaal – Mapumelanga. Warmbaths - Bela Bela, Pietersburg - Polakwane

NEWSPAPERS/magazines Rand Daily Mail. Die Vaderland, Die Beeld, The Star (still going strong) Sunday Express, Sunday Times AND Back Page of the Sunday Times… Scope Magazine

I thought I’d end off with a little song ………………….. anyone want to sing along? You all know Sarie Marais? Here we go. Een, twee, drie……..

My Sarie Marais is so ver van my hart,

Maar’k hoop om haar weer te sien,

Sy het in die wyk die Mooirivier gewoon,

Nog voor die oorlog het begin.

O bring my t’rug na die ou Transvaal,

daar waar my Sarie woon

daar onder in die mielies by die groen doringboom

Daar woon my Sarie Marais.

Lekker Bly Skatties, and Alles van die Beste.

Anne Lapedus (Brest)

one of the “SIXTIES ROCKERS” … still ROCKING ON !!!!

Uitlander, no more

!!!!

Contact details.

[email protected] or [email protected]

082.452.7166 .

DISCLAIMER. This article has been written from my memories of S.Africa from 48 years ago, and if a Shul, or Hotel, or a Club is not mentioned, it doesn’t mean that they didn’t exist, it means, simply, that I don’t remember them. I can’t add them in, either, because then the article would not be “My Memories” any more.

more.

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amandaj718 · 7 years ago

Note

What do you think is the endgame to Bexs baby? Aaron won't ever accept the baby I think. Since you know he's self harming again. If the baby is Roberts how will Aaron and Robert reunite for the 2nd wedding?

I have thought about all the different ways this could go. To the point where I have begun to not care at all about the baby. I’m more focused on Robert and Aaron and their issues. How they aren’t talking and it drives me up a wall. How their arguments and issues are making the fandom take sides which sucks (I’m not immune to this either). Regardless, you didn’t ask for that, so I move on.

What do you think is Endgame for Bex’s Baby?

Ok. I have a Wishful Endgame, Practical Endgame and Possible Endgame scenario in my head.

Wishful? Ross Barton is the dad. Rebecca was playing a game (mostly because from the evidence I’ve noticed) she is good at playing games. She either dies or leaves the village for good. Robron keeps developing their relationship, and they are stronger. That leads to another wedding (legal wedding).

Practical? The baby still isn’t Roberts. (I just don’t see it!) and Rebecca isn’t evil just naive (yes, doesn’t fit but the show wants us to think it does) and she has the kid and moves away after her family leaves Emmerdale. Robron develops and grows from this and there is a second wedding.

Possible? Say, the baby is Roberts. Ok. Take a deep breath. Say the baby is Roberts. Part of that baby is Robert. Aaron loves Robert. Aaron will get help and learn how to communicate and handle his anger/sadness. I’m hoping Robert will get help too. Doesn’t have to be on camera. Just let us know he gets help for when he feels alone or feels like he has lost everything. When that happens, he goes off on his own rampage against others. Like it was said, Aaron is internal and Robert is external. Anyway, I went off on a tangent. I would assume they would make it work. It’s not the first time I’ve seen this storyline on a soap. I’ve seen couples stay together after one part of the couple goes off and has an ONS that results in a baby. It’s a long road, but it does happen. It can work. I’ve seen it. They still work through their issues and in time they have their second wedding.

I think talking and time will make them stronger. They just need to communicate all their feelings even if they are bad/mean/nasty feelings. They need a mediator (therapist that isn’t Bernice).

I have faith they will wrap this story up in a way that leads to a second wedding making sense. Robron have been through hell and back this year, and that wedding is the rainbow at the end of the storm. Things feel horrible because we are in the thick of it. This coming week we will see the bottom of this story. This is as low as we are going. From there we can only go up. We are in the weeds, and soon we will see the whole picture or the sun.

Just got to hold on. If you need me to talk you down, I’ll be here. Scotch in hand. Feet in water. Big sunglasses waiting for the storm to be over. :-)

#answer #robron #anon #Emmerdale #Anonymous

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booksrockmyface · 8 years ago

Text

A New Way to Love, Chapter One

Summary: Alec has decided it’s time to find a wife. Jessalyn is in danger of ruining her family’s reputation. Alec, with a scandal of his own lurking, comes up with a plan to help them both: marriage.

Author’s note: Please know that this is a very rough first chapter. It is a second rewrite of a story I wrote forever ago.

It was full dark when Alec slipped into Tristan’s room. Tristan grabbed Alec’s hips and pulled him in for a deep kiss. Alec melted into the kiss, tangling his fingers in the other man’s hair.

All too soon, Alec pulled away and walked toward the bottle of scotch sitting on the sideboard. “I’m leaving next week. To the country for a few weeks.”

“I’ll miss you.” Tristan said, grabbing a handful of Alec’s bottom and leaning down to press a soft kiss to his neck.

“I’ll miss you, too.” Alec threw back the contents of his glass and welcomed the burn. “I need to start looking for a wife, Tristan.”

“You’ll make a good husband.” There was a bit of regret in his voice as Tristan said it. They’d discussed this before.

Alec turned and took the other man’s face in his hands. “You know I’ve always loved you, Tris.”

Tristan gave a derisive laugh. “And I always told you not to.” He pulled Alec close and they kissed desperately. He pulled away and Tristan pressed his forehead to Alec’s. “So this will be good-bye.”

“Yes.” Alec slipped off his frock coat and threw it over a chair. “Come along.” He took Tristan’s hand and led him into the next room.

Jessalyn stepped out into the back garden and heaved a sigh.

“Always so many people.” Alec said from a bench beside the door.

She jumped at the sound of his voice and then laughed and took a seat beside him. “We have such a large family.”

“And forever growing.” He leaned close, “I think Mama will make an announcement any time now.”

Jess covered her mouth and giggled. “Really?”

Alec nodded. “I don’t know for certain, but I see the signs.”

She watched him a moment. His eyes were distant. “Are you all right, Alec?”

He shrugged. “I usually am.”

“But not today?” She moved a fraction closer. “Would you like to talk about it?”

Alec looked over his shoulder toward the door. A burst of laughter sounded through the glass. He turned to Jess. “I’m missing someone, Jess.”

“Someone you love?” She knew what love was. She’d been in love with Alec’s younger brother Sebastian for as long as she could remember.

“Someone I love very much.” Alec gave her a long look. “Jess, I know that you think Sebastian hung the moon in the sky—”

“I know, Alec. I know we’re both young—”

He grabbed her hands. “I love you, Jess, so I’m going to tell you plainly. It isn’t just because you’re both young, though that is a large part of it.” His look was plaintive. “But I’ve seen the way he’s treated you and he’s not kind. He pretends you aren’t there until all the other pretty girls are gone.”

“I know.” Jess sighed.

“Just promise me that you won’t hang everything on him.”

“I promise, Alec.” She squeezed his hands and let go. “Tell me, Alec, this person you love… What is she like?”

Alec leaned back against the wall of the house. A bright smile filled his face. “Kind and funny. Intelligent. We have many great conversations.” He sighed and his smile dropped. “I had to end it, Jess. We can’t marry and I need to find a wife eventually.”

“I’m sorry to hear it, Alec.” Jess watched him a moment and then stood. “I should go back in. It’s not right for us to be alone out here.”

He laughed. “Go on. I need to sulk alone for a while longer.”

She laughed along with him and went back to the gathering. Jess took a seat beside her mother and rested her head on the older woman’s shoulder. The conversation continued around them.

Jess watched Sebastian leaning close to a group of rapt girls. His brown eyes were alight with mischief and a smile lifted the corner of his mouth. He ran a hand over his dark hair and the girls laughed. Jess seethed.

Audrey patted her knee. “Jessa, would you please get me more tea?”

“Yes, Mama.” Jess took her mother’s cup to the pot. It was near Sebastian and the other girls. They were much prettier than Jess. And their laughs much more delicate.

“Fill that up for me, Jessie.” Sebastian said, holding out his cup.

“Will you fill mine, too?” Lady Bernice asked.

“And mine?” Lady Margaretta held out her tea cup.

Jess filled his, then each of the girls. By the time she was able to fill her mother’s cup, the pot was empty. She sighed and turned to call to the maid, but another was already being carried in.

When Jess returned her mother’s tea, Audrey smiled. “I like my tea fresh anyway.” She kissed Jess’s cheek and accepted the cup.

Jess continued to watch the room. Alec returned and sat in a chair opposite his brothers Anthony and Percy. They were in the middle of some sort of heated discussion.

Jess stood and wandered over toward the brothers.

“And I say,” Anthony said, “that Romeo should have gone to sleep instead of taking off for that party.”

“But then he never would have met Juliet.” Alec said.

“Lives could have been saved.” Anthony commented.

“And he never would have fallen in love.” Jess interjected.

Anthony snorted. “Love is a lie, Jess.” He stood and walked briskly out of the room.

Alec and Percy stared after their brother a moment before Percy let out a sharp laugh. “It’s because Lady Catherine rejected him once and for all.” Percy commented.

Alec shook his head. “I just think he’s having a hard time. Most young men go through it.”

Jess took Anthony’s vacated seat. “Will he get over it? Or is love really a lie?”

Alec smiled kindly at his young cousin and said, “You can look at your parents or mine and know that love exists. It exists in all different forms. Anthony is moody. And most men don’t like to think about the word ‘love.’”

Percy nodded. “And the love of my life just came in the room. Please excuse me.” He stood and walked quickly to greet a young blonde girl. Jess remembered her name was Rebecca.

Alec leaned his elbows on his knees. “Hey, don’t let Anthony’s bad mood get you down. Love is all around.”

Jess leaned her head on her hand and stared at Sebastian. “I wish love would find me.”

“It will, Jess. When the time is right.” He sat back. “But I tell you what, I’m going to look for love for myself, or at least a good match, and you can help me find it.”

“I’d like that.” Jess said with a huge grin. “Tell me just the girl you’re looking for.”

They spoke about it for the rest of the afternoon.

Alec stumbled into the house. It was quiet as everyone slept. But the sound of sniffling in the library came to his ears. He followed the sound, far too curious to let it go, and found Jess curled up in front of the fire.

“Jessalyn?” He asked softly.

She jumped and turned away. “Alec.” She said just as quietly.

It was hard for him to focus with as much ale as he’d consumed with his friends at the pub. But he sat down beside her anyway and placed a finger under Jess’s chin. Her eyes glistened in the firelight.

“Are you all right?” Alec asked.

“I’m fine.” She lied, moving away from his touch. She dabbed at her eyes.

“You don’t act fine.” He leaned into the corner of the sofa. “Is it Sebastian?”

Jess covered her mouth with her handkerchief and sobbed. She couldn’t form the words.

Alec moved closer. “Has he broken your heart, Jess?”

She threw herself into his chest and cried even harder. It wasn’t very respectable for them to be in this room alone at this hour. And Jess wore only her nightgown and a dressing gown. She continued to tremble against his chest for several minutes.

When Jess finally pulled away, she wiped at her eyes and nose. “I’m sorry, Alec, I…” She shook her head. “I should go back to bed.” She stood and took two steps before she turned back. “I can trust you, can’t I?”

“Of course you can.” He stood on shaky legs and grasped her hands. “You can trust me with anything.”

“I’ve done something horrible, Alec. No one will ever forgive me.” She launched herself at his chest again. “Sebastian…”

Alec felt himself sobering at her tone and his brother’s name. He’d heard many rumors of his brother’s conquests. Even his brother’s own boasting told him all he needed to know. “I’ll kill him.” He said in a low growl.

“No, Alec, you can’t.” Jess said quickly. “I told him he could. But I didn’t think it would be more than once.”

He softened. “How often has this happened, Jess?”

She swallowed. “Every night since we’ve been here.”

“And you agreed to it every time?”

She looked down and shook her head. “Just the first night.”

“Did you think to trap him in a marriage?” Alec asked gently.

Tears sprang to Jess’s eyes and she nodded. “That’s the horrible thing I’ve done. Gone and ruined myself only to have him laugh at me the moment I suggested it.”

Alec pulled her close. “I am so sorry, Jess.”

“Will your father force it, do you think?” She looked up. “If I said something?”

“He might.” With a gentle hand, he cupped her cheek. “But would you want to?”

She thought about it and then shook her head. “I don’t suppose I would like that. He was rough and he laughed at me. Called me stupid.” She swallowed. “But what can I do? I know that…” She pressed her face into his chest again. “There could be a baby, Alec. And then I’d be ruined for good. And so would our whole family.”

He held her while she cried some more. The world was still a little fuzzy around the edges, but he was starting to form a coherent thought. “What if I asked for your hand, Jess?”

She looked up. “Why would you do something like that?”

“It’s my family’s name on the line, too.” He framed her face in both his hands. “I’ll let you think on it.” He kissed her forehead. “If you decide this is what you want, we can make all the arrangements and be married by the end of the month.”

“We don’t need to be that quick about it.” She wrapped her hands around his wrists. “But do it proper. Speak with my father. Don’t mention Sebastian.”

“That will be our secret. You may tell whomever you wish, but I will never speak of it. It’s a confidence, Jess, and I keep those.” He kissed her forehead again and then let go. “Get yourself to bed now, dear. Give me your answer in the morning.”

“I think I already know the answer.” She said softly as she stepped away.

“Think on it anyway. I want you to be sure.” He followed her to the door and waited for her to ascend the stairs before he made his way to his room.

#writing #mine #original #original writing #romance #romance novel #marriage of convenience #marriage of necessity #historical romance #first chapter

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kousaka-ayumu · 8 months ago

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Bernice Scotch

Nickmakes: Bernice(All), Princesse de la Victoire(Rook), Loser Bunny(Yuzu), Scotch-san(Ortho), Bernice-shi(Idia), Bernice-chan(Sonomi).

Twisted from: Emu(Project Sekai), Hoppy Hopscotch(Poppy Playtime), Towa(D4DJ), GingerBrave(Cookie Run)

Voice claim: Kito Akari

Age:16

Height: 152cm

DOB: 2/16

Species: Rabbit beastwoman

Homeland: Queendom of Roses

Family:

Victoria(Mother)

Marine(Mother)

Dorm: Savanaclaw

Class: 1-C(No.2)

Clubs: Track and Field

Hobby: hanging out with Rye, competing with Deuce, Jack and Taiyou.

Likes: playing sports, annoying the daylights out of Raymond and Subaru.

Dislikes: Sakamaki siblings(-Subaru), darkness, her friends getting hurt, being mistaken as a boy.

Pet peeve: Being called short.

Favorite food: Steak and carrots

Least favorite food: anything spicy

Favorite drink: soda

"An energetic first year of Savanaclaw, known to be the 3rd fastest runner in the dorm along side Jack and Taiyou, please don't call her short otherwise she kick you in the shins."

Appearance

Bernice is a fair-skin girl with short light green hair, and ruby red eyes.

Background

Bernice is an orphan in Queendom of Roses from the orphanage, she spent most of her time playing outside with the other orphans, sure she wasn't chosen for adoption, but it's okay she's still have her friends and Rye.

Personality

Bernice is an overly excited and cheerful girl who is often jumping around in excitement and is a hyperactive girl.

Although she can be very hotheaded, she gets into fights every now and then and kicking people in the shins if they bully her friends and/or call her short and gave them the middle finger

Unique Magic: Peppermint Shifts

It allows her to transform to a bunny.

Trivia

She's a natural prankster, she works together with Taiyou to prank on several students, especially Jack.

Whenever she's angry she would often be pouty about it.

She is a absolute menace to Jamil.

She would prank on the Sakamaki siblings several times without getting caught mostly on Yuzu.

Her, and Rye are childhood friends

What do you guys think about her? @zexal-club @anxious-twisted-vampire @yukii0nna

#twisted wonderland #disney twst #disney twisted wonderland #twst #twisted wonderland x pretty cure #twisted wonderland crossover #midnight rose precure #Bernice Scotch #twisted critters

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hcryethings-blog · 8 years ago

Photo

A night ago, while staying at the Edmont Hotel, I decided to go to the Lavender Room (it’s about the only interesting thing at this hotel other than the strange people that it brings in). The place was almost dead, except for these three very unattractive women, it also had an irrelevant band that played horribly. Knowing that I’m sixteen, I still wanted to get a drink, so I asked for a scotch and soda, not mixed. I asked fast so the waiter wouldn’t hesitate but, he wanted an ID anyways...

Acting offended, I just ordered a soda and then proceeded to give the three women (who were most likely in there 30s) the ‘eye’. I was keeping the situation cool though, I would only give them a quick glance, but they wouldn’t stop laughing; they were stupidly annoying. I’m not gonna lie though, I’m really into dancing and I was really in the mood, so I just kinda leaned over and asked the women - in a smooth way - if they wanted to dance, but of course, they answered with a laugh.

The blonde women in the middle finally got up to dance with me (I was talking towards for most of the time when I gave the three women the glance). She actually wasn’t too bad at dancing, She let me lead and I ended up telling her that she was pretty good, but she would always answer me with a “what” or a “huh”. Making conversation was a real struggle with her. So obnoxious.

Eventually I sat down at their table with them (the women were too ignorant to invite me to sit) and I also found out where they were from. Bernice (the blonde) and the two other ladies, Marty and Laverne (who were also sisters) were from Seattle, Washington. I ended up dancing with all three of them, and while dancing with miss Marty, I tricked her by saying that I had seen Gary Cooper walk by to which she got all excited about (these three ladies were crazy over movie stars...) She then went back to her table and instantly told both laverne and Bernice... morons. I did feel quite sorry though. By the way, if you don’t know who Gary Cooper is, look here:

http://www.biography.com/people/gary-cooper-9256519

After dancing for about a year (that’s what it felt like), we sat back down and had some drinks, all three women were still ‘star-struck’ by their ‘close encounter’ with Gary Cooper, but after they finished their drinks, Marty, Bernice and Laverne quickly decided to leave, to which i told them (or maybe begged them) to stay. I was feeling a bit lonely but they said that they were going to the first show at the Radio City Music Hall in the morning. The three of them eventually left and the check came. It was thirteen bucks (ugh), I mean they should offered to pay at least.

#longnight #lit tho

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kousaka-ayumu · 6 months ago

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I had too much fun making these...

#twisted wonderland #disney twst #disney twisted wonderland #twst #twisted wonderland crossover #twisted wonderland x pretty cure #samara #samara maryse #bernice scotch #adira amy #raymond aegis #kalpana sapnas #stella valerie #apollo abner #twisted critters

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kousaka-ayumu · 2 years ago

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❃Homepage part 2❃

Part 1 part 3

❃Rules❃:

- Request are sented at only one at a time

- Child! Reader and Teenage and adult characters will be platonic.

- I'll only write fanfics and drawing fanart with a fandom that I know of.

- No repost without permission

- X is for ships while & is for friendships

- No incest

❃Fanfics❃

Regulars:

Ninjago:

Brotherly love(Kai and Lloyd)

Ninjas of Love(Polyninja/Kai X Zane X Cole X Jay)

Sacrifice(Cole and Lloyd)

Friends with Benefits to Lovers(Cole X Jay)

The Blizzard and The Ninja(Yandere Zane/Ice Emperor X Lloyd)(Part 1)(Part 2)

Amethyst(Cole and Alyssa)

Lilac Emerald(Alyssa and Lloyd)

His Muse(Yandere Cole X Lloyd)(Movieverse)(NSFW) (part 2)(part 3)

His Muse(Cole X Lloyd)(Movieverse)(Alternate)

Stormflames(Jay X Kai)

Melting Snowflake(Kai X Zane)

A Paranormal Love(Lloyd Harem)(Inspired by Wilting Roses by stabbybat)(Genderbend)

A Pirate's Desire(Yan! Fem! Jay X Fem!Lloyd)

Ninja's Tale

Alyssa's Tale

PreCure:

Sorry nothing here.

22/7:

Sorry nothing here.

Love Live:

Sorry nothing here.

Paw Patrol

Demon's Bride(Demon Chase X Marshall)

Triangles(Zuma X Chase X Marshall)

FNAF: Security Breach

Don't Leave It Behind(Security Breach rewrite)

Cookie Run Kingdom:

Lost Memories(Yandere! White Lily/Dark Enchantress X Pure Vanilla)

His Queen(Yandere! Dark Cacao X Pure Vanilla)

Break Her Mind(Yandere Pomegranate X Chili Pepper)

Crossovers:

DarVani son AU(Ninjago X Cookie Run Kingdom)

Data Breach(Security Breach X Paw Patrol)

Original Works:

Midnight Rose PreCure

Daylight Daisy PreCure

Galaxy Trio PreCure

Twisted Critters

❃Fanart and Headcannons❃

Pink Velvet Cookie(Revealed)

Pink Velvet Cookie

Prinzessin des Feuers(Chili Pepper Cookie epic costume)

Sohn des Mondes und des Meeres(Wizard Cookie's epic costume)

Verteidiger des Königreichs(Strawberry Cookie's epic costume)

Sohn des Lichts und der Dunkelheit(GingerBrave's epic costume)

Heiler des Königreichs(Custard Cookie the III's epic costume)

❃Picrew OCs❃

Samara Maryse

Bernice Scotch

Adira Amy

Raymond Aegis

Kalpana Sapnas

Rye Gourmand

Stella Valerie

Apollo Abner

Yuri Sakamaki

Roscoe Springbloom

Rosie Springbloom

#ninjago #ninjago fanfiction #ninjago fanart #precure #precure fanseries #fanfiction #midnight rose precure #daylight daisy precure #lego ninjago #cookie run #cookie run kingdom #cookie run kingdom fanfic #cookie run kingdom fanart #paw patrol #paw patrol fanart #paw patrol fanfic

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capo-cedes · 5 years ago

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Let The Festivities Begin.

INVOLVED: Mercedes D'onofrio, Nicholas D’onofrio, Al Mazomanie, Donna Mazomanie, Rebecca Mazomanie, Paul D’onofrio, Bernice D’onofrio, & Freddie D’angelo. TIME FRAME: Saturday, February 22nd, 2020. LOCATION: NY Venue; New York City, New York. NOTES: Mercedes and Nicholas host an Engagement Party.

As the limousine pulled up to the venue Mercedes grabbed her bag and she stepped out of the vehicle, standing up on her heels. She grabbed Freddie’s hand moving forward towards the entrance as she adjusted the fur coat, placing the hood of the coat over her head blocking the snowfall from messing up her pin curls. The venue was booming for such short notice, but she didn’t expect it not to be either, Al’s youngest daughter was getting married and to none other than Nicholas D’onofrio it was the place to be in NYC and not to mention an event you didn’t want to miss. She licked her red painted lips, pulling down her squint dress as she looked back for her husband waiting to enter with him. Weeks of eating and sleeping caused the dress to cling to her in places she hadn’t meant to emphasize before however, her husband loved it so she guessed everyone else, Rebecca especially, would have to just accept it and love it too.

Nicholas gazed thoughtfully at the majesty of the venue his wife had so dutifully picked out. Oops, his fiancée. He must remember that. No one knew they were already husband and wife. And tonight, was supposed to be their engagement party. Left to his own devices, less would have always been more. Only he hadn't married a less type of woman. So, he resigned himself to this night and all the others she had cooked up for them in the future. His cold green eyes warmed as they slid from the building to land on Red. He stepped from the car, rising up to tower over the woman even in heels. "You know," He said one last look at the entrance, awash in red roses, with petals leading up the walk. "We could always skip this charade and just tell everyone; we're married and that I have already knocked you up. It would save time." He said wrapping his arms around his wife from behind. "And money." He grinned, not actually caring one wit how much the woman spent.

Mercedes looked over her shoulder at her husband as he wrapped her up in his strong arms. She listened to his words and provided him with a kind smirk before she said “Al would kill me” to him gently. Her father liked the traditional standpoint to everything, how ironic. “We have to do it right, you know that” she told him with a smirk as she pulled away from him grabbing his hand and lacing their fingers. “Come on” she said pecking his lips, smudge proof red lipstick a godsend as she tugged him towards the entrance happily. “And please put on a happy face daddy, you’ve pretended with more for less” she said with a raised domineering brow. “Especially if you want pussy tonight” she added with a purr as she moved into the building happily. She dropped her hood finally and allowed Freddie to take her coat and purse as if on cue, revealing the gown fully and her well put together hair. She looked to her husband, well fiancé tonight, and smirked. Music was blaring and people were chattering. She guessed it was their time to shine.

Nicholas rubbed over Red's midsection where his child grew. Odd as the thought was, he'd kill the man who didn't follow traditions with his potential daughter. He grunted, "I know." And he did. Respect was everything, besides fear that is. And even now he had a healthy dose of both for the crime boss. Al slipped from his mind as Red kissed him, playfully. He shook his head. "The things I do for love" he recited as he allowed Red to pull him up the walkway. He bit his lip but couldn't hide his smile. "You deny me over a smile?" He asked coolly as they entered the warmth of the building. His head swiveled from side to side as he removed his jacket. He knew everyone that would be at this party, nevertheless, he surveyed the room memorizing every detail. You never knew when a quick getaway would be needed. Smoothing down the front of his hand-sewn, tailored tux, he checked the gun tucked in the small of his back. He was about to issue instructions to Freddie, when his eyes fell on Red. One step back, he marveled at every inch of the woman, literally in red tonight. Stepping up to her smoothly, he interlocked their fingers once more. His green eyes held her honey brown ones, burned with unbridled desire. He brought the back of her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. "Twenty-nine minutes." He told her as he led her forward. "Cause in thirty, that dress is coming off." His voice was deadly serious, as he smiled entering the hall.

“It’s hard to deny you over anything these days” Mercedes said as she moved to straighten his tie a bit in his tux. “You look handsome” she said pecking his lips again at his words she chuckled at him shaking her head as the double doors opened and revealed them to a multitude of people. “Shit” she mumbled under her breath, his happened to be a jab at Rebecca but it grew into so much more as she stepped forward with his fingers laced tightly as she looked around the large crowd booming with excitement for their arrival. Body to body, she moved through the crowd greeting a few people she thought she knew, some she actually desired to see there before Al wrapped her up his arms hugging her tightly to his chest, a cigar and glass of Scotch in one hand.

“You look stunning!” Al said to Mercedes “Nicky my boy” he greeted letting Mercedes go to hug the man something he would not have ever been caught dead doing. “I am so happy, you two have no idea what a happy man you make me” he told them both as he placed the cigar between his lips and wrapped his arms around them moving through the crowd. “Everybody who’s anybody is here” he said before he looked to Mercedes pecking her cheek. “Your mother has been talking about how happy she is to finally watch someone walk down the aisle all night!”

Mercedes allowed Al to wrap her up in his arms, eyes wide as she patted his back gently. As he pulled away, she fixed her dress and looked to Nicky with a bit of shock laced in her smile as he greeted her, husband who would soon be her husband, again? She walked with the man smirking as she looked around for her dear sister. She looked over to Nicholas as she chuckled to herself lightly, Al was drunk, drunk and hyped up on a family celebration. She was amused. “You two can’t possibly be more excited than Nicky and I” she retorted with a smirk at her father.

The doors to the hall swung open, revealing an event, unparalleled by any New York or the Mazomanie family had held in over a decade. He should have known the guest list would swell, this was after all, the event of the year. Nicholas itched between his shoulder blades; security was in place. He was sure of that. But it still wrangled him that he no longer had a trusted second in command to hold the soldier’s reins. He glanced back at Freddie, who for tonight had the command of all guards. Well, if something were to happen, he’d get Red and the baby out. Nicholas could live or die assured in that knowledge. The music was just barely audible over the murmur of the crowd. Richly dressed people laughed as waiters snaked through there number offering glasses of pale wine and finger foods to guests. Still, though, who the hell were all these people? Nicholas thought. More or less, tugged forward by his wife. He nodded graciously at person after person. He didn’t really see them though. Instead with each step he marked the Mazomanie family. Vittorio, Steven, Willie, Monica, he counted off. They were easy to find. Where the crowd seemed to swirl like a whirlpool, in the center you’d find a capo. Everyone and their seconds in command were present. Everyone but, Rebecca. The woman’s name alone churned his stomach. His mood lifted further as he identified New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy, and New York's police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea in attendance. At least, for the moment, he could content himself that, no one in the five boroughs of New York, or the suburbs of New Jersey would be fool hearted enough to try anything tonight.

The smell of Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve wafted towards Nicholas' nose. Only one man in New York smoked $750 cigars, Don Al Mazomanie. Nicholas let Red's hand slip from his own as the man greeted his daughter. Smiling as if the compliment on her beauty had anything to do with him. He added his own, “she's positively glowing,” he said, smirking evilly at Red. Nicholas’ heart thumped nervously in his chest, as the Don turned his affections on him. He clapped the man on his back, sharing the shocked expression painted on his wife’s face. Stiffly, he greeted his father-in-law, holding to formalities. “Don.” Out of the impromptu embrace, Al moved them through the crowd. Everyone instinctively opened out around them. Only refilling the gap after they’d passed. Nicholas pulled at his cuff links smiling, then idly touched the back of his neck. In a sea of people, he had the very unpleasant feeling that someone was watching them, coldly.

"Happy, happy couple…" Rebecca tsked. The stem of the wine glass cracked in her grasp. She watched the show tucked away in a corner of the room. She’d make an appearance, but only when she wanted to be seen. She shook the glass from her hand, and turned her palm up, blood draining across her porcelain white skin. Why was it the wrong person always had to bleed. She snatched a napkin from the table and dabbed the blood away as she once again found her father, lovingly escorting the happy couple to their place of honor. The stupid bitch had stayed. She wondered why? Or rather how Nicholas had managed to deceive her sister. No way would Tiny's pride have allowed her to stay with the man. So, there had to be deception involved. She could fix that. And Mercedes had given her the perfect venue to do so. She smirked. Already preparing her toast.

Mercedes tucked her lips away at Nicholas words, looking to her father as she tucked a curl back in place as he guided them towards her mother essentially. “Dad who are half of these people?” she asked him nervously. She knew her father would never put any of them in harms way but there were too many bodies to be able to wash your eyes over everyone and there was a mighty big price on her head rather her husband and father knew that or not. Might she also add, she couldn’t find her dear sister anywhere, but she knew Al wouldn’t let her out of not coming. “Where is Rebecca?” she asked him gently “I haven’t seen my sister in days” she played along.

Al looked to Mercedes and he pulled the cigar from his mouth, he tossed back his drink and sat it on a tray as he moved for their massive table in the center of the room. “Family!” he exclaimed happily as he looked around them before he said “my daughter is getting married” he told her hugging her close “this is a sight for anyone to see and quite evidently a gossip piece for others. Tiny, New York loves you, you know that” he reminded. He looked at Nicholas and said “isn’t that right Nicky? '' easily before he approached his wife finally having treaded through the crowd. “Your sister is, somewhere around here. Sure, to have a drink in her hand” he told her. “Never mind her” he waved off knowingly as he spun Mercedes around for his wife “look at her, pure perfection” he told her.

Donna looked at Mercedes as she approached, the woman was ‘glowing’, and she batted her lashes. Chuckling as Al spun the woman around, and she took her in “you look beautiful” she said looking to her husband and then Mercedes. She stood up and hugged the girl tightly to her pecking her cheek sweetly “you do look ravishing dear” she said grabbing her hands and looking her over. The friction caused by her husband in her household was never okay with her, but Al ran the show and she sat and looked pretty. That was her job as his wife. She looked over at Nicholas and said “hi” sweetly hugging the boy as well “you look handsome Nicky” she said using his pet name. “You two complement each other so well” she said through red painted lips.

Nicholas didn't doubt the Don's pronouncement of the family. But there were a few, big Whig heavy hitters in the room, that he was sure where there out of respect and for business. He licked his full lips, however, and said nothing. Al spun his fairy-tale for his daughter and Nicholas nodded along. She deserved this crowd. His wife was a queen. "Absolutely!" He agreed without hesitation. His ears perked up when Rebecca's name was tossed out. He wanted to find the woman, they needed to have a conversation. Underboss or not. Nicholas, stepped into Donna's grasp, hugging the woman appropriately before stepping away. "Thank you. And might I add you look lovely tonight Mrs. M."

Mercedes spun with her father slowly on her high heels and she hugged her mother lovingly, she happened to be the only person Red could say without a doubt tried to pour love into her. She happened to be the glue that kept them all together and Mercedes appreciated that. “Thank you” she said at her words she smiled looking over at Nicholas, she guessed they did complement each other very well. She looked around again however as her mother and Nicholas spoke, she was lurking somewhere in the middle of all of this she knew Rebecca too well to know that she was close by somewhere. Licking her lips, she looked at the photos of her and Nicholas that adorned the space. Massive professional portraits taken of them, one in particular she loved was of her hugging him from behind, his cheek was painted with prints from her red covered lips. She smiled at that before she looked back at the small group and said “daddy” cutely “Nicky and I have to go greet some other guest” she sung out.

Donna smirked at Nicholas kindly “thank you dear” she said patting his shoulder before she moved to seat herself once more. She looked to Mercedes knowingly and smirked at her before she looked at her husband “come, sit” she said grabbing his hand, he was a cup away from being under the table though she knew for him it was a huge celebration.

Al looked at Mercedes and he nodded “of course” he told her pecking her cheek again. “Go on you two” he said waving them off letting his wife guide him to his seat and he parked his butt in it resting his cigar aside and grabbing another drink.

Nicholas smiled, stepping easily up behind the matriarch, he held her chair as she resumed her seat. Surrounded by Mercedes' family, he wondered for the first time, where his mother and brothers were. He looked around the room trying to pick them out in the crowd with no luck. Moving to take Mercedes hand. "She's right. If you see my mother, would you please point her in our direction." He said, respectfully to Al and Donna.

Mercedes smirked as her husband and she held his hand as they moved from her father. “He’s half past drunk” she said to him as she looked back at Al “not to mention I don’t know a good portion of these people and I don’t like that” she told Nicholas as she looked around them again. “I sent out invites, I didn’t expect him to make this into this big thing Nicky I am sorry” she said having stopped them in the middle of the floor and she looked at his face expectantly. He hated this shit she knew that already and she didn’t know how long his good boy act would last. “We won’t stay long” she told him.

Nicholas waded out into the sea of people, most of his concentration on finding his mother among the crowd. He heard Red but wasn't really paying her complete attention. "Al will do as he likes." He concluded, knowing full well, how the man operated. Once they stopped, Nicholas looked down at his wife, his face a mixture of wonder and astonishment. He brought his hand up to her face and kissed her softly. Something he realized he'd never done in such an open place, in front of these people. "It's fine, Red." He said gently. "We'll stay as long as you like. Or until I can't stand the sight of that dress on you any longer." He grinned, hand moving dangerously low on her waist. "Let’s see if we can find my mother."

Paul needed an in. Four years older than Nicholas, he'd been a soldier longer then his brother had been a part of the family. Yet, he stood lower. A fact that bothered him more than his other two brothers. He'd have sold Nicholas into slavery like Joseph from the bible. Shit, even if he succeeded the story would have ended up the same. With Nicholas exactly where he was now. Even though he had to admit with Nicholas, basically taking over their father's place, their power had grown. And now this marriage was pure genius. He would have married the older sister personally, but Nicholas had to have a reason for picking Mercedes over Underboss Rebecca. He found Rebecca easily near the back of the room. Maybe the woman just didn't like his brother. He knew she was a ball buster. But so was Tiny. He thought, rubbing his chin. He found Nicholas in the crowd easily, Red always stood out, and tonight she was the only woman in a full-length red gown. He moved towards the pair, quickly. It was time to make his move. "Nicky baby. This is quite some party. Tiny. I can't believe you got this man to settle down." It was known among the family that no one was to ever speak of Sara. As far as Nicholas was concerned, Mercedes was his first and only wife.

As Nicholas kissed her among the waves of human bodies, she kissed him back sweetly closing her eyes for a time before she looked up at him. Nodding her head, she agreed with what he said, again he was playing along, and she could respect that. At the mention of his mother she nodded her head at him and said “right” as she grabbed his hand again. Mercedes looked at Nicholas brother and she smiled as he greeted them both. “Nice to see you Paul” she replied easily to him and she chuckled at his remark resting her hand on Nicholas chest cutely “well you know what they say about true love” she replied nestled to her husband’s side. “We were just wondering where all of you were” she said easily as she pushed a curl back gently.

Nicholas turned as his brother, made his appearance. His arm went around Red's waist, holding her tight against him, for no other reason than he liked the feel of her tucked there. "I was beginning to think you all weren't here. Where's mom?" He asked in a tone more business than a party.

"I most certainly do not." Paul said, shaking his head in fear. "And I hope I never have to. I'll leave that kind of thing for people like you and Nicky here." Paul threw his head over his shoulder. "This way. I'll take you to her." He said, placing himself in front of Nicholas and Mercedes he made his way through the crowd, "Andrea's here with her new boyfriend. I have a good feeling about this one, Nicky. She really wants you to meet him." He said, idly as he led the way. "Mama!" He called, stepping aside, "I brought your baby boy and his fiancée."

Bernice turned away from her conversation with her daughter, piercing emerald eyes, taking in her youngest son and his new ... Fiancée. She wasn't sure about this union. She'd known Tiny since she was a girl in pigtails, but she heard stories about the woman she'd become and wasn't yet convinced she knew how to be a wife to Nicholas. Mercedes was a Capo and despite all this love shit. Two bosses together weren’t a good idea. If things went sour, it would be her baby's life on the line, not Mercedes. "I see you've learned the meaning of fashionably late." She moved and hugged her son. "I'll have to decide if I like this new Nicholas." She said releasing him to hug Mercedes. "My dear, you are a vision." She hesitated and touched the woman's face. Staring into her eyes intently, she licked her lips knowingly. "Baby, give mother a moment alone with your fiancée." She said, pulling Mercedes away from the group of men. The older woman crooked a finger at her own personal guard, instructing them to stay vigilant.

Nicholas laughed, drawing his mother from the floor into his hug. "You always said I was too serious. I'm trying to loosen up." He said, releasing the shorter woman. He looked to his mother curiously, but nodded, kissing the back of Red's hand as she was led away. He turned, all business back to Paul. "Have you seen the Underboss. I need to have a word with her." He whispered, intently to Paul, as they moved over to his sister.

Paul nodded, quick as a flash, "You want me to take you to her? She has been hiding out in the back most of the night."

Nicholas kissed Andrea on the cheek, as his cold green eyes looked over her new boyfriend. "Yeah," He said to Paul with a quick nod. He ignored Andrea's friend’s outstretched hand. "I'll be right back." He told the man, in a tone that said motherfucker you better be here when I return.

Mercedes snorted at Paul “aw, Paul” she cooed “a little love never hurt anyone” she joked as she patted her husband’s chest gently. At the mention of his mother, Red followed Nicholas hand and hand as she looked around them again, she still hadn’t spotted her damn sister, cursing her small stature and hers as well at this point. As they approached the woman Red looked to her with a bright smile on her face, she always wanted a large family, a tight knit one at that. And despite herself she wanted to be connected to everyone, essentially for their child’s sake if nothing more. As mother and son hugged, Red let his hand go, she’d never ever picture her coming before his mother and she wouldn’t try. Just as Nicholas respectfully couldn’t come before Al, right? As the woman approached her, looked to her with a bright smile “it is always a delight to stand before just unchanging beauty” she breathed “the years have been impeccable to you” she complimented. As the woman whisked her away from Nicholas, she looked back at him and then looked to his mother.

Bernice turned, finger covering her painted lips, staring Mercedes straight in the eyes. She sighed and lowered her finger. "May I speak frankly?" She asked the young woman, hand tapping against her thigh.

As promised Paul led Nicholas directly to Rebecca. He clapped the man proudly on the back. "Stay here. And make sure no one, not even Mercedes disturbs us." He said, before walking away from his brother. "Underboss...” He greeted once close to the woman. His word lacked even a slither of respect and he knew it.

Rebecca saw them come. A pack of wolves moving together across the floor. And here she thought she'd have to send for Nicholas. She heard the scorn in his tone and laughed. "Nicky, Nicky, Nicky..." She purred, sitting back in her seat. "I never thought you had it in you." She said clapping her hands together. There was no use for mincing words with the man, he was ever blunt as an anvil. "Did you come hoping to persuade me to keep our secrets?"

Mercedes licked her painted lip, though nothing was going to budge it from moving. She wondered where his mother was going with this but nonetheless, she nodded her head. “Of course,” she replied “I respect nothing more than the truth from people” she said to the older woman. Now, thanks to love she had shed a lot of her evil ways, he softened places of her that had been hardened over the years but at the end of the day. Everyone had to know Red, would be Red, she demanded respect, cherish honesty, and wise beyond her measures. She clasped her hands in front of her as she walked with the woman essentially parting the red sea as she did.

Bernice's perfect eyebrow rose, "Thank you." She said, liking the girl’s response. Her husband was a whole lot of unspeakable shit. But the one thing he always was with her was honest. Even when she hadn't wanted him to be. She took Mercedes by the arm and moved as if no one else was in the room. "Nicholas is my baby. Of all my son's he's the one, I thought wouldn't end up in this life. How wrong I was..." She shrugged, moving on. "Now that he is, I worry about him. I know I can't make his decisions for him. He is stubborn and headstrong. He got that from both me and his father." She laughed, fondly remembering her husband. With a sigh, she stopped to look at the woman seriously, "He needs gentleness and understanding when he's alone at home. He needs a wife... Are you that? Can a woman on your level walk the path of a leader and mob wife?"

Nicholas' fingers itched, he walked around the table and sat on the edge. "No..." He said simply, staring hard down at the woman. Noting the stained napkin on the table, "I came to ask why? Why? Did you feel the need to tell Mercedes anything?"

Rebecca felt the cold edge in Nicholas' voice, but she sat back straight refusing to be cowed. "My sweet sister... She deserved to know the truth. That her fiancé was a double dipping bastard that doesn't really love her. I know you Nicholas. I've tasted you. I know how you long and thirst for power. And soon she'll know it too. Make your offer and if I like it. I might not ruin this night too."

The smug bitch thought she knew him. He leaned close to her and whispered into her ear, "You can stop calling Michael. People don't tend to answer calls from the cemetery." She stiffened and Nicholas smiled. He pulled Rebecca up out of her seat, not rough, just a brother and sister talking. "I told Red the truth. I told her that you were pathetic, and that you used your position to slither into my bed. I told her I never wanted you." He found his wife and mother chatting together. "All these people are here for her. She's carrying my child and your own father loves her more. Why the fuck would I need you for anything?"

Nodding her head, she tried to follow the direction the woman was going in, never mind the fact that she much rather be sitting down considering the 6-inch heels she had on, but she made do. As she went on to explain her thoughts on Nicholas, Red nodded her head at the woman her hands still clasped in front of her as she followed along with her. As she described the man to a T, she nodded her head again at her looking over to her with a smirk. However, when she started to explain her son’s needs and that he ultimately needed a wife Mercedes chuckled at Bernice. What the hell did the woman think she was going to be to him? A doormat? A toy? A fucking trophy? Had she not known all this time that this was her damn show, hell this was her World and her son was just lucky enough to live among other people that graveled at her feet. No, no. Nicholas had been placed on a high pedestal, she would forsake Al for him. Tame yourself, Mercedes said in her head. Nicholas was her husband and she’d do anything for him, they were now equals in life. “I was raised to believe women can do it all Mrs. D’onofrio” she said with a pleasant smile on her face though she wanted nothing more than to slap the bitch before her. “Anyone who is unsure of that, and shares my gender, wouldn’t know the first thing to being a woman at all” she retorted. “I assure you mother D’onofrio, Nicholas is well taken care of. Unlike his last devotee, rest knowing I know my status and place… we happen to just complement each other in that way. The World is at our feet, we are just getting started” she breathed as she looked up, seeing her husband and Rebecca she narrowed her eyes somewhat before she looked back down at his mother. “You aren’t sure of me mother D’onofrio?” she asked the woman as she began to move once more, this time she had her arm resting gently around the woman’s waist, such a subtle gesture yet alarming for her men waiting and watching.

Bernice chuckled, "Women can't do it all my dear. That's foolishness and nonsense." She said eyes hard on the woman. "Sara wasn't a woman, dear. Oh, she was pretty and buxom the way my son prefers, but the day he married her I started plotting her death." She throughout casually, absolutely serious. "She was going to be a beautiful doormat at best. Allowing my son to spawn as many bastards as he could as long as he came home. My husband was a monster, but he was my monster. I asked if you can be a boss and still allow my son the room to be his own man. There is a difference. Very few women in this room can say with authority that their husbands don't cheat. Mine did. But what I can say is he only did so once." She said with a deadly grace. "I see that you love him. I simply worry that your strength will drown his passion. We women can't do it all, but we must know how to use what we have to lead our husband's subtly. Most of the time when done properly, they think it's all their idea."

A vast emptiness opened up in Rebecca’s soul. She blinked back hot tears unable to get out of Nicholas’s grip. "Let me go Nicholas or I swear..."

"You swear what?" Nicholas hissed, finding Al and Donna in the room. "Do you believe for a second that anyone in this room will shed a tear for your ass? Huh?" He said grabbing her hand in his, he squeezed. "That little stunt of yours was a true blessing. Al, Mercedes, everyone knows how vindictive and hateful you really are. Try to come for Mercedes' happiness again and trust me, Underboss or not, I won't hesitate, to reunite you with Michael myself" he said feeling the blood from her hand spilling into his. He grabbed her napkin and wiped away her blood before, moving away from her without a backwards look.

As the woman went on to speak her mind, she allowed her too, lord knows by now her tongue would be in her hand otherwise if she didn’t want her to. She looked at Freddie and she gave him a wink, he need not be concerned, her arm was removed from the woman and she tucked some hair behind her ear. Freddie stood down and instead he circled Nicholas and Rebecca as Mercedes had told him to, keeping a safe distance, Freddie knew despite her new outlook Red would never trust the two especially when together. Mercedes looked to Nicholas' mother and they found themselves somewhere near a drink station. She couldn’t drink however she did grab some water. Taking a sip Mercedes told her the best way she knew how “I can only hope your son can be my husband and still allow me to live my passion” she said cutely back to her. This wasn’t a man’s world she didn’t know what fucking decade the woman was in but in the world, she lived in women can conquer or be conquered. She bowed to Nicholas willingly, but now, he could be dead and on plenty occasions the laser was aimed right for his head. “Now that is something we can agree on how else could I have managed to make a man who likes to keep such a low profile buy into all of this” she said looking around before she gazed upon her, a crown could be placed at her head. Nicholas would do anything for her, his mother had no idea. She allowed him to think everything moved through him in that house, bullshit. “Nicholas is in great hands, drink, be merry” she said as she watched Freddie double back around. “Celebrate, your son, your baby boy” she mused “is marrying the only woman who loves him more than his mother” she said pecking the woman’s cheek as she moved to walk away from her patting her shoulder kindly as she did. The hag was a fucking clown, shit, her kid would have to deal with him and her alone, she would be damned if he or she followed behind a dumb bitch who didn’t think their mother could conquer the world by day and cook their father a warm meal by night. She was Mercedes-fucking-Francis, if she kept it up, she’d learn herself why her son nicknamed her Red. She cracked her neck agitatedly as she toed through the crowd “where the hell is Sam” she breathed to herself.

Another more powerful fool. That's who her son had chosen. Bernice let out a tired breath. "Next time tell your man to watch the dot on his own head. Before preparing to kill someone else. And for heaven's sake, get some subtle clues. I want to actually see my grandchild born. Seems like I've been waiting forever for Nicholas to grant me one." She said coolly, still trying to decide if she liked the woman it was too late, as it had been with Sara. The girl too had missed the point of their conversation. She almost felt a pang of regret. At least she could have simply killed Sara. "Father Johnson sends his best, dear." She added at the woman's back.

Rebecca's lip twitched as Nicholas moved away from her. She swallowed thickly, trying to unhear all the things he'd said to her. He thought he'd won. She'd show him, she'd show them all. "Shame to hear about Michael" she said, softly as Nicholas tried to leave. "You know he never said a word about you in bed. No matter how convincing I was. Did he tell you that before you killed him?" Rebecca's voice broke into a sob. "You killed your best friend for nothing. I owned Sara." She wiped the blood from her hand again, and pushed past Nicholas, almost running to the restroom.

Nicholas froze in his tracks. He bit down on the inside of his lip, until the sharp metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. He'd killed Michael for nothing. He felt sick. After Rebecca had run off, he spat the glob of blood from his mouth. Then walked up to Paul, almost in a daze. "I want you to come to the house first thing in the morning. I have a job for you." He said, lowering his head.

His mother caught her off guard and so she had to backtrack, walking up on the woman. Red had never been small; in height yes, weight wise no and because of who she was she also never had to use her weight as a bullying method but in this moment Mercedes used all of it to back Bernice up against a space in which they both could speak to each other on a more personal level. “What?” she asked her, a brow raised “what are you talking about Bernice?” she said, addressing her on a level that tossed out all kindness, the buttering up of the woman, and the care of what role she played in her life right now. “What red dot?” she said one eye squinting, whoever or whatever she was talking about had to be handled, there was nothing standing in the way of her protecting her husband. “Look Bernice” she said with a chuckle “stop talking in riddles you are starting to piss me off” she told her as her eyes glowed before her. “How do you know all of this?” she asked her, talking with her hands confused. No matter the fact that she was in her usual disguise there was still fire behind her eyes. “Don’t worry about a child, we have that covered” she told her, “we are just trying to play our roles in all of this. My father would not like that fact before we walk down the aisle. So, keep that between you and I” she said pointing between them. “I am less worried about him or her right now, let's switch back to Nicky and tell me whatever it is that you know” she said as she instinctively pushed Freddie away from her side, she could feel him breathing down her neck by now. She knew why he was there; he could smell her anguish from across a football field, it was his job. “Fly” she commanded him all bark and bite in her voice, she was agitated. “As a matter-of-fact you go get my hus-fiance and bring him to me please,” she said to Freddie before she looked back at his mother.

Bernice didn't move from her spot; she folded her arms in front of her and waited. She watched the girl, quizzical. Eyes shifting as she thought about her question for a moment. "The one aimed at the back of his head." Bernice said, pointing to Freddie. "I find it rather unnerving to be marked as a target by one of my children's intendeds. Especially in the middle of an engagement party." She said, putting air quotes around the words. "I mean I've heard of quick to anger. But seriously dear, what would have been your recourse for that action?" She said nonchalantly. "Maybe to have Nicholas kill half the room?" She pondered the thought while studying the woman. Try as she might she couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing. "You misunderstood. The question had nothing to do with Nicholas and everything to do with you. And you, my dear, are exactly the person I knew you to be. Congratulations on both counts." She said, eyes going to her stomach. "Make sure you take plenty of vitamins and get lots of rest."

Nicholas squeezed his brother's shoulder once more, "Let's..." He trailed off as Freddie approached that wild look of worry, he always got where his wife was concerned. Quickly Nicholas scanned the room for Mercedes finding her corned with what looked like his mother. Confused. Nicholas didn't wait for Freddie, he cut his own path through the crowd. He approached the women, slipped in behind Red wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Are you okay?" He whispered in her ear, panic clear in his voice.

Mercedes turned her nose up at the woman as she continued to speak, her implication was preposterous, her love for Freddie was that of a sister and brother however if the man ever thought to move in a direction she didn’t ask him to she would deliver his body to his family herself. “Absurdity” she replied to her, her entire demeanor had changed now Bernice wasn’t talking to Mercedes anymore, she was talking to Red. Freddie was on high alert because of her it had nothing to do with Nicholas, she had screwed up and hadn’t stepped foot outside of their home since but here she was in the heart of the city with hundreds of moving bodies. “You are thinking too much you should leave that for someone with a large capacity to do so” she equipped. “No one here finds you a target… especially considering there’s nothing about you Bernice that would make me skittish” she roared silently, an evil grin dancing across her face slowly. Her smile fell however “you are challenging something you can’t overthrow… do you find that smart Bernice?” she asked her next. “That’s just the thing about people like you, even my father perhaps is blind to; the love we share. This isn’t a freak show put on display Bernice '' she said shaking her head at the woman as she moved her hand to her face gently, she caressed it. “This is passion, unyielding desire to be ever close that our hearts fuse as one” she spoke poetically as her grip tightened on the woman’s face. “It’s not puppy love or even the act of a gullible woman standing beside a nothing less man hoping one day he’d love her more than his stash of thin blonde toys” she said her chest rising and falling, her mouth fixed into a snarl. “This is inseparable” she said pronouncing every syllable in the word. “No one, and nothing. Is. And will ever. Come between me and my husband” she said, letting slip as she finally decided to remove the nails digging into the woman’s flesh as she dropped her hand. Nicholas walked up behind her wrapping his arm around her midsection and she didn’t answer his question, instead she pulled her eyes from his mother and said. “You are right as always my King” she coed sweetly to him. “We should have just told the world that we are already married and pregnant” she said as she pulled his arm from around her and she smiled up at him pecking his face. “The only thing is you said it would save time and money, and now I believe it would have only saved me a headache” she said looking back to his mother as she patted his chest before walking away. That was her cue to go she said to herself as she left them where they stood, she swapped a glance with Freddie and she finally dropped her shoulders and swallowed for the first time.

Everything the woman said was wind, literally blowing the breeze. No real queen needed to remind peasants who she was. Only crazed, careless ones did. She made no effort to move, or resist. That was pointless. Better to let people believe they understand you even if they don't. Bernice touched her face once the girl let go and raised an eyebrow.

The conversation was blurred and confusing to Nicholas. "We should have what?" He said as he absently rubbed Mercedes stomach. Leaning into her kiss, her frowned once he saw the welts that were rising quickly on his mother's cheeks. As Red walked away Nicholas grabbed his mother by her face. "What happened?" He questioned, cold as a winter's day.

Bernice swatted Nicholas' hand away from her face. "Nothing. Nothing." She said, lowering her eyes from her son's. "Well, when I hugged the girl, I realized that she was pregnant." She shrugged. "Father Johnson let slip weeks ago you to had gotten married. So, one and one equaled two."

Nicholas moved his hand and stood up to his full height. "The marks mother what the hell happened to your face. What else did you say to her? It had to be more than that!" He snapped, demanding a straight answer.

Bernice looked up at her son then. Matching eyes mirroring each other in intensity. She twisted her mouth, then finally sighed. "I asked if she'd let you be your own man." She said simply. "From that I got a lot of things from her that I don't understand." She said looking the way Tiny had fled. "I'd wish your sister had her strength... But then again, you know how I feel about..." She coughed tempering her words knowing Nicholas' love for the woman.

"Red's the perfect wife. Too perfect sometime." Nicholas said, shaking his head. "You had no cause to meddle. I know how to conduct my own affairs. I don't need a handler or a keeper. You have Andrea and Paul to keep in line. Not me. Or my wife. Nicholas wiped is hand over his face. "I honestly thought you two would get along."

"I'm a mother." Bernice snapped. "Name one who doesn't meddle from time to time. It's our right. I really never intended to upset her so. God knows I didn't expect a full-blown display of unholy power." She chuckled. Her face softened, there was an anguish in her son, that wasn't from this interaction. Something else was troubling him. "I never said, I didn't like her." Reaching out for his hand, she squeezed it gently. "I know my approval or wishes don't really matter to you. But for what it's worth, she is strong, domineering, beautiful, a leader and she loves you. I respect that and for now that's enough. You better go." She squeezed Nicholas' hand again, then moved away from him, gliding off as if the world was unchanged.

Nicholas massaged his forehead. Too much bullshit was happening all at once. Red, his mother, Rebecca... And Michael. He rubbed his eyes, "Paul." He called, feeling his eyes on him. "I'm about to leave. Don't forget I need you at the house first thing in the morning." He reminded the man. Wading through the crowd. He found Mercedes. "It's time to go." He said grabbing her hand and making his way towards the door.

#thread.#thread: let the festivities begin.#samcedes rp #thread: Nicolas D.

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