Adrian Del Valle - Diego's Brooklyn by Adrian Del Valle Read Free Book Online Page B

bully stepped back and started to swing the chain in a wide circle.
    With Jimmy standing out front, the boy was in danger.
    “Boys! Now, that there ain’t necessary.”
    Bill knew he could take the kid—knock him out with one punch. And he was sure, in his younger days, he could have taken the other three, but hitting any of them would send the whole Italian neighborhood down on them. Instead, he got in front of Jimmy and motioned for him to stay back with a wave of his hand. At the same time, the troublemakers that were with the chain wielding kid raised their fists all set to fight.
    Readying the chain for a swing at Bill, the bully said, “So…what’re you gonna do, now, you old man?”
    “That’s enough, Nunzio! Get back home where you belong.” A man’s large hand encircled the chain wielding kid’s neck and pushed him in the direction he wanted him to go. “Go ahead…get outta here. You too, the four of ya…get lost.”
    “You ain’t heard da last of dis, Louie. I’m tellin’ my father.”
    “Go ahead, Nunzio, and I hope he beats the shit out of you.”
    The four boys walked away as fast as they could back to President Street.
    Bill and the rest couldn’t believe their eyes. At the same time, they all said, “Louie?”
    “Yeah, Louie your neighborhood garbage guy to the rescue.”
    “Louie, I sure is glad to see you.”
    “My pleasure, Mr. Jackson. Are you all right kid?”
    “I’m okay, thanks.”
    “That’s good! What’s your name?”
    “Jimmy!”
    “Please to meet you, Jimmy.”
    “Louie, this is Jerry,” Diego said. “This is Jose, and that’s Larry.”
    “Larry, Jose, Jerry…please to meet all o’ you guys. I saw ya’s back on President and tried to catch up, but youz were already up the block and dat creep was followin’ ya. Nunzio’s da neighborhood trouble maker. I’ll make sure I tell his father. I know Patsy, he doesn’t put up with that kind of crap? Why, if they ever said anything to my wife and kids, I’d knock the block off their stupid heads, without his permission.”
    “You probably don’t have to worry about that, Louie. At least she’s Italian,” said Diego.
    “No, she ain’t! Yolanda is Puerto Rican.”
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    “No, why would I kid about that? Yeah, she’s Puerto Rican, but I don‘t think of it that way. I never did. In fact, she was raised right there on President, down the block from me. And that’s before the likes of doze guys were ever born. She knows everybody around here and they don’t really care, anyways, except for a few dumb guidos that I wouldn’t have nuttin’ to do wit, no-hows. Heck, I knew her since I was dis high. So where’re you all coming from?”
    “Swimmin‘,” Bill said. “We were at the piers since eleven this morning.”
    “I hope dem guys didn’t scare youz too much.”
    “I wasn’t scared,” said Larry.
    “Oh, sure!” Jose retorted. “Maybe you better check your underwear before you say anything else.”
    “How about you, Mr. J? You didn’t seem scared at all,” said Jerry.
    “Well, then, ah guess ah fooled all o’ yawl, cuz ah was ‘bout as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full o’ rockin’ chairs.
    Louie laughed. “Hey, youz must be hungry. Come on, I’m gonna treat all o’ you to pizza.”
    “Gee…you don’t have to do that,” said Diego.
    “Yeah, Louie, it’s okay, we’ll be all right,” said Jimmy.
    “Thanks anyway,” said Jerry. “Right, Larry?”
    Larry rubbed his stomach and looked as if he was going to faint. “Man, I’m hungry!”
    “That’s it! You’re all coming with me.”
    Two doors up, Rinaldi’s Pizzeria stood out like a welcoming cafe. Outside, red cabana awnings shaded metal tables covered with green, well ironed table cloths.
    “Grab a table boys.” Louie opened the door and yelled inside. “Hey Ant’ny, get us three large pizza’s and soda for all the boys.”
    “Gee, Louie, this is great! I don’t know how to thank you