Chapter 1 - Sugar And Water

" As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster….."

I loathe the man that is outcasted by the shear will of god.For that man cannot show mercy to its list of massacres, many will lust.A bastard child will seek refuge but it's offspring shall be glutinous.Maybe I'm getting off topic but I just share a deep love for films.It all started back in the 1993 I was about 13 years old when I saw and truly enjoy a movie in theaters.I first remember my brother took me to see " Falling Down " and I didn't understand it, then through that year came a barrage of film we saw.First "Carlitos Way" then "Philadelphia " then finished off the year with "What's Eating Gilbert Grape ".

My brother Marc always invited me along because he never wanted to be inside so much.I'd be playing video games all day and he'd always say "if you sit here so long you're gonna turn into a slob ...don't be a filthy American ..." he was very prejudice towards anybody that wasn't one of us.Well any time he'd have the time and when he got paid, he'd always take me along.That was my year of 93', living a lonesome and innocent childhood with my brother.My father works as a chef at a restaurant down the street from our home.Mother worked as a librarian in my old high school.

My grandfather, on my mothers side, came to this country in 1915 from Georgia to seek that "American Dream".Well I feel if he waited 3 more years he'd feel great but I digress.He made it to San Francisco with my grandmother as he worked in a factory for years to come and through that he met a nice man who's name was Antonio De Villa, my grandfather on my fathers side.They became good friends and through the years their kids got introduced to each other and, I think you know the rest.Well Antonio was a man of many wonders and he always made you wonder, it's what father always told me about him.

Well father always had a love for America, like his father before him.Being of Italian decent he'd always wanted to take us back to old country but we couldn't afford too.We'd only get letters from our family down in Villa, San Morino.They called us the million dollar family because of how lucky we are to be here.Mother always told this same story of how her and father fell in love.He'd always walk her home from church and she'd always get annoyed of him.Well my mother said one day he'd written her a little poem, she found it sweet and hit it off from there.

That's their little fairytale but in reality, our Grandfathers arranged her hand in marriage, so it makes no difference.My brother Marc was born in 72', 8 years older than me.For his first birthday they threw him a big birthday party around the neighborhood and everybody was there.Both sides of the family were there to see Marc.My father had invited even people he didn't know, he was just excited for his first born.Church people, police officers, even some of my grandfathers old Italians friends arrived and boy did they cause a stir.It was such a delight that I wish I could've witnessed.My mother said that they'd play all sorts of music and give everybody a chance, no matter how bizarre it sounded.The birthday cost about 15,000$ to make it be nice.They had food lines looking like a good bank when they served them all sorts of traditional foods from both cultures.We had a local boy sing and we had party clowns, they had some boys go at it in boxing, all sorts of entertainment.Nobody was bothered with the noise because they were all there.The cops didn't get called on because they were there too.

The party lasted two days, I don't know how they were able to be that energized to be dancing and laughing and having so much fun for two days straight.I mean the bounce back was the birthday money given was about 8,000$, Jesus fucking Christ; 8,000$ for an infant.My brother got more money than an average man makes in half a year in one day.Of course he is but a child so my parent "held on " to his money for him.

Mother was dancing around with her side of the family while father was playing poker inside the house.He was losing badly but he's still having a good time with his friends.They laughed and made conversation while people around the horn were watching tv or eating or just plain out enjoying the environment.

"So this kid comes up to me and tells me sure spare some change ?" Said one of dads friends as he added on

"Change, haven't you people been asking off that for decades now ? -hehe….." they all started laughing as he kept going

"I mean Christ it's been decades now and you keep trying...how about go lynch James Earl Ray and we'll call it even…..haha..."

They were are bursting out into laughter as they continued playing and drinking.You can see the type of talk allowed around the home as no one really cared, worst thing is one of the poker players was black.

Mother walked into the home and called upon Father,

"Hey can you help me with the piñata ?" Father got up quickly as he said to the guys

"Y'all better not look you greasy bastards….." they laughed a bit more as mother and father went outside to see they had about 6 or 7 piñatas filled with candy.He looked in complete shock as she said

"We have to hang one there, it's more in the center ….." she pointed out the middle of street as father called out a couple as he m signaled what he meant.They understood as they quickly got the rope and set up the piñata.

"This is just great huh ....all of us together ..." he said as he put his arm around mother as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Well…..it's how it always should be ....." they locked eyes as they smiled in sweet victory.All of sudden Mother's sister Claire approached with Marc,

"Aye bad news…..he pooped himself ..." Dad got ahold of him as he said

"Alright…..I got it ….." Claire and mother talks amongst themselves as Father went inside as he passed by the poker table and through the hallways, he went upstairs as he went into his room.He laid Marc on the bed as he got out the diapers and baby wipes,

"Oh you shit yourself huh ? nasty little fucker ….."

He said to Marc as took off his diaper and got hit with the aroma.He nearly puked as he took a deep breath and said

"Fuck man, you smell like shit…hehe….."

He cleaned him up as he got a plastic bag and put the dirty diaper and used wipes in there.He has Marc all changed as he Carries him back outside with the bag in his other hand.He walked downstairs as he walked through the hallway again as he looked at his friends at the poker table as he said

"Hey boys, Marc got y'all a present …." He threw the bag on the poker table as they quickly could smell what it is.They quickly reacted as they backed away as Father laughed on his way out.

"You sick fuck, uhhh….." said one of the men as father made it back to mother and Claire with Marc.

"Oh there he is….." said Claire as he took Marc back.Mother and Claire got cute with the baby as Father looked at them in complete happiness.

Both sides of the family became more well connected that day.I mean my grandparents knew each other well but now they're bonded for life now, Marc was their treaty of Versailles for everybody their that day; a Pax Romana for one day.

One after another, kids formed a line to get a turn to get a hit in the piñatas.It took less than half an hour to have destroyed every piñata.The last piñata was granted for Marc and family.Mother held Marc and the stick as they did a playful hit on the piñata as they cheered them on.Father was up next as he ready's himself with a baseball bat.He swings and missed, nearly falling over; he's just trying out on a good show for the kids.

He adjusted himself as he swings again and missed as he taunts the bat at the men holding the piñata with the rope.People laughed as he once again prepared to swing as he got a perfect hit, instead of candy it was those Eisenhower silver dollars.Kid ran in as adults noticed the money and jumped in as well.Father backed away as he saw the people crowd near the piñata.That piñata was heavy so I'd assume it was a couple hundred dollars in coins in there.

Father stepped away as he walked back towards mother and Marc.

"You see that, If this strike ended I'd be Mickey Mantle out there …heh…." He got ahold of Marc as he Carried him in the air as he laughed.Mother was called upon by her cousins as Father walked around the party with Marc as people kept trying to get ahold of him.Father nicely let them wave to the baby as he kept on walking towards down the street.He made it to the ice cream shop that's booming with customers.He walked in with Marc as all inside cheered him on.

"Aye little fellas you want some ice cream ?" Asked the owner to Marc as Marc shyly turned his head around and laid it on fathers shoulder.

"Awww….let me get a pint of bubble gum ice cream and a pint of strawberry…..please, thank you …." Asked father ad the owner quickly got behind the counter and got it for him.Father stood there happily as he looked around at the people having their eyes on him.

"Here you go ..." said the owner as he handed it over in a bag.Father got out a wad of money and said

"Thanks, here keep it and let's get everyone whatever they want, it's on me !" He said as they cheered him on as he exited.Father walked back towards the house as he passed on people playing dice and others eating.No matter where you walked you'd see something occurring.

He got to our house as he walked back in to see his friends still playing poker, one of them finally got rid of that bag.Father saw his sister Doris,

"Hey can you take this into the fridge please ?" He asked as he handed her the bag of ice cream.She took it as he went and sat back down,

"Aye Marc got more presents for us huh ?" Said a friend as they laughed.

"No not this time, here count me in ….." said father as he threw in a couple hundred bucks.

They played as a friend of fathers, Jerry started cracking more jokes,

"So look this fat woman, I gave her a chance, took her out and she has the nerve to not call back ….so I saw her in person….I says

"Why haven't you been returning my calls ?" She says

"I don't need no man ….." I got confused and I said

"No you need to lose some God damn weight " she got mad and stormed off, hell I stood there feeling like Al Bundy-

"Make sure you don't cause more cracks sweetheart !"….na it dumb, I'm telling you -"

He got the most idiotic jokes but the atmosphere is what made them hilarious.Father looked at Marc as he just sat there, blanking out into the void.

"Hey, should I bet, what you think Marc, I put down 500$ ?" He asked him as the baby was didn't know what the hell's going.They all waited as in the background was "All Right Now " by Free playing on the radio.Marc started smacking the poker table as they all laughed,

"Fuck it, 500$…." Said father as Marc kept smacking the table and over and over as father said a bigger number.

"What, 1,000$ ?….2,000$…..alright 4,000$ but that the limit…hehe, jeez kid, fuck it eight grand and I'm done; I gotta get him off this table ...heh….." they all started bursting out in laughter as father put that down eight grand.

"If I lose the party's over , hahaha …." Father said this as aunt Doris approached him as he handed her the baby.

Mother was all sorts of chattery with her cousins, especially one named Ana.

"I'm telling you, this guy kept hassling me on my home from work, he just wouldn't go away.I turned and told him straight up, listen you weirdo, leave me alone or I'm gonna stab you …." Well he started laughing but I scared him off-" she said as mother asked " How ? "

Ana quickly pulled out a switchblade from her purse, it shocked mother as Ana said

"Listen, America is a dream but a nightmare always comes along once in a while, hmm Hmm, you gotta be careful ….." Ana put the switchblade away as Mother got worried and asked

"What are you doing with that, are you nuts having that here ?" Ana shrugged it off and said

"Relax, you worry too much, gosh half the people probably have a knife on them ...or maybe even worse, a gun..."

They both nodded in agreement as mother was getting called upon by Antonio, my grandfather.

"Come here, come here …." He said as she stood aside him.Antonio was sitting at a table in the sidewalk of the streets.He sat aside my grandmother, my aunts and some police officers that were in civilians clothing.

"Hello Antonio ….."she said as Antonio replied loudly,

"Look, this is the girl that stole my son from me ….hehe..." they laughed as he added on.

"Sweetheart I don't mean to bother but when is the cake, I have it leave soon and I don't want to miss it ?" Mother looked around for father as he replied

"It should be here shortly, I'll get ahold of it right now, okay ?" She started walking away as he nodded and went back to talking with the people at the table.I know I've explained it enough but this whole place felt like a little festival, mother walked by some men playing football.She was about to enter the home until the football was missed and nearly hit her; it hit the flowers instead.She turned in anger as one of the men apologized,

"You're gonna fix that !" She demanded as she walked inside.She made it to father, who looked like he's just won the lottery.

"Hey, uh where's the cake ?" She asked as they all got quiet.

"Uhh…..I don't know, I thought you were getting it …?" They both look distraught as they started to freak out.

"How the hell do you forget a cake for a birthday ? " she asked as father started making a call.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were getting it ….."

They finally answered as said

"Hey it's me, I need a favor …."

About an hour later, mother and father stood in front of the home impatiently.Those same boys were playing football on the street.

"How do you know this guy will pull through ?" She asked him as father simply replied

"We don't..."

Suddenly a white fan started driving slowly through the crowd as they got out of the way for it.It slowly but surely got to the front of the house as on the side of the van it said

"Mason & Sons Cakes "

Mother felt relieved as father walked towards them as they parked on the sidewalk, in front of the home.

A man stepped out, wearing a red and white striped uniform and a clipboard as two other men open the back door to get the cake out.The man with the clipboard said "hey the names Thomas, I was sent by Mr.Mason for a chocolate cake ?" Father stepped up and said "yes- yes that's me, can you have it brought in through the back please ?"

The two men wheeled out a cake that was roughly 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide, it Carried a red icing and with a big number 1 candle on it.

"Alright….it looks great …." Said mother as she escorted the two men towards the backyard of the home.

"How much will it be fella ?" Asked father as the man said

"Well no charge, Mr.Mason said anything for an old friend ….." Father was smiling as he asked

"Great….great, uh is his son still planning on going to Texas ?" The worker said

"Oh, yea, so young and thinks he's got it figured out, damn shame …..still can't blame him ….." father was intrigued and said

"Whys that ?" To which Thomas replied

" them Texas Woman, they sure know how to do it right, you know what I mean ?" They both laughed a bit as they waited a moment in silence, the only noise heard is the background of the festivities occurring and the music playing.

Finally mother and the two men came back as father gave his simple goodbyes.The men got back in the van as father said

"Hey tell Mr.Mason, I'll see him next week ….." the men waved goodbye as Thomas said

"We will …..have a good one now and happy birthday to your boy !" They drove off slowly as the crowds moved again.

Father and Mother went back to looking at the cake in amazement as people already crowded around them.

"Uh honey…..what knifes gonna cut through this fucking thing ?"

Some of mothers family walked up with knifes in hand as the majority of the majority of the people around are family only.They all got a slice, slowly but surely; they enjoyed the cake as mother held Marc with him as they shared a slice.

"It's good huh ?" Said father as Antonio jokingly said "it's not great, but it's good ….."

At this table was My father, mother, Marc, Claire, Doris, my grandparents, my aunts and my cousins, simply family.The people in the neighborhood were still having a good time as in our home was the real birthday party.Just family, together; in celebration for one of their own.

Now it was the day after and my father thought it

All calmed down but the partying was still in full temptation.Whoever had worked, called in sick And those cops could be out there saving some Lives but instead there drinking and gambling.

Initially, it was going to be a little party for Marc, evidently, traditions took ever their ideas.More or less father want pleased with people still out in the streets, having a good time.

"Christ ...." He said as he sees some boys playing street soccer and people still dancing like it's 1518.It's funny, they didn't even feel like celebrating Marc's birthday now, it's just a pure celebration of life.

Father walked back into the home as he's seen the aftermath of the party.Trash littered all around the home and bottles laid around the backyard.

"Ahh…..fuck ..." he whispered as he went through box of trash bags to keep the place clean again.Some cousins and aunts that stayed the night helped, they got it all clean in the span of two hours.Mother awoke with Marc as she walked down the stairs with him still sleeping in her shoulders.You can hear father and one mothers relatives arguing.

"Hey hey ! What's the yelling for ?" She asked as father sighed.The relative walked away in fury as father explained

"Nothing it's just, he asked if he could borrow some money but I don't feel comfortable lending money to family, you know ?…." Mother stood in the living room with Marc as father waited for her response.

"You're right, you're always right …." She said with a smile as he leaned in for a kiss.He took Marc off her as he carried him outside with her.

"Look at this, still out here celebrating….." said father as the musics gotten louder, they're playing " I Got You (I Feel Good ) " by James Brown.A car approached more smoothly as the crowd was not as big, it arrived at the street of the home.A man wearing a black leather jumpsuit and red dress shoes stepped out.He had a buzz cut and wore aviator glasses.He approached father as he knew who he was,

"Oh Christ ….." he said as the man said

"Aye look who's home…hehe…." It was my uncle Angelo, he was enjoying life in Rome and only returns when he has no one to stay with.He's a leech in wolfs clothing.

"Hey Ang, where you been huh ?" Said father as he tries to hold his composer.

"Well I've been around but I've come to see my nephew for his birthday…..huh…" he says as he tickles Marc a bit until father backs away.

"That was yesterday ….." said mother as Angelo asked

"What, No there's no way, you sure ? …." They both nodded as he felt awful.

"Oh I'm so sorry but hey look I got him something, wait here ….he's gonna love this …." He went back into his car and got out a box, it was the Rock em' Sock em' Robot game.

"Oh great….thank-thank you Angelo, I'll take this in for you …." Said mother as he took the box and headed inside.Father and Angelo stood there as it was silent between them.

"So uh...how's our father ?-" asked Angelo as father silently lashed out on him.

"Get the hell out of here …..", Angelo was confused as father said it a bit louder.

" I said get out ! I told you years ago, you never return, you're not family …." Angelo got frustrated as he talked back.

"The hell you get that idea, I'm you're older brother for Chris sakes !" He awoke Marc as father swayed him back to sleep.

"If you wanna leech of somebody, go bother dad or trick one of our cousins to fall for your bullshit stories; go scam someone else in the family …."

Angelo was in complete utter shock, or he looked so.

"Why would I do that, I mean Christ I brought your kid a present, don't say I'm not looking out for family ….." said Angelo in a bit of tears as father nonchalantly got out some money from his pocket threw a couple bills on the ground.

"Here, thank you for the present but leave ...don't come back …."

They stood there as Angelo embarrassingly picked up those bills from the ground and got back in his car.He started to drive off as father just stood there, mother got back out.

"Where's he going, he ain't gonna stay for dinner at least, I mean we got too much left overs …."

She stood aside father as he father replied

"No, he ain't coming back sweetheart, he had to go work …"

Father never liked being very well close with people, only his childhood friends he made.There's Ben, Michael, Martin, Fred and Andrew, I don't much about them; only Martin, he's my godfather.Martin and my father met through their love for baseball.They grew up loving the Yankees and idolizing Babe Ruth.Father wanted to be a player but lost his passion when he got with mother.

Well of course you can tell our religious upbringing, not too much.Father always took us to church every Sunday and any event they held, he'd donate money.I remember mother telling me when I was born and was being baptized, father couldn't hold back his happiness.He was on the verge of tears of joy, mother had to calm him.The whole church was packed, lined started forming outside as if Jesus Christ came back.We celebrated at a local park as my father made it clear; "family and close friends only ".It was still packed with dozens upon dozens, everyone came into town to celebrate.The festivities was a party clown and basket ball at the court nearby.The food was a mix of everything, from Lobio to Risotto, also homemade ribs from Martin and his family.Yep that summer of 80' was a tuff one, Antonio was diagnosed with Alzheimer's as he's also lost a bit of his hearing but we'd always remind him of us.He was there with us as my other grandfather sadly past away in 76'.His funeral was a small gathering, he was still remembered around the neighborhood.My uncle Angelo even got a tattoo of him on his back, the family still looked at him like an idiot.

Well my party was being celebrated well as they played "Torero" by Renato Carosone.They spent a bit less than Marc's first birthday but still a big amount, about 5,000$.Still Marc tells me how fun it was to dance and sing with a family that had such joy for each other.The night ended with only my parents, Marc, me and my aunt Claire driving home.

"So Marc, what are you gonna do when you grow up ?" Asked Claire as Marc sat there silent.He didn't answer her as mother added on

"Marc, your aunt asked you a question !" Marc smilingly responded

"I know mama, I just don't have an answer …."

Father whispered

"I told the kids retarded ….." mother smacked fate bro n his arm as she said

"Don't say that, it's our son ….."

They continued driving as aunt Claire looked over at me on the baby seat, I was asleep.

"Oh this kid, he's gonna be something I'm telling ya …." Said aunt Claire as she laid her hand in my cheek.Marc still was in a happy mood as he asked mother

"Mama, can I have a cookie ?".Mother looked in her purse and got out a little packet of Oreos.

"Give some to your aunt if she wants one …."

He opened the packet quickly and first offered in to Claire as she took one.He started to eat them in enjoyment as we nearly arrived home.

Aunt Claire forgot to mention,

"Oh I forgot to say, your brother, Angelo ? He said he sorry he couldn't make it, he's in Vegas.." father scoffed at the news and said

"He better stay there, I mean who invited him ?" He looked at mother as she gave a sincere expression.

"No….-" he said as she quickly replied

"Look I knew he wouldn't show I just saw if common courtesy-" he got a bit furious as he added on

"Christ sakes !- sorry, just you give a little rat like that a crumb, they'll be expecting the whole slice next time…..listen I still deep down love Angelo it's just he's not right in the head ..."

He parked in the street and started to exit out.

Mother got out as Aunt Claire got me out with the baby seat, Marc got out as he left the Oreos wrapper in the car.A car approached as Aunt Claire noticed it's her ride home.She passed me to Mother as she said

"Oh there's my ride, I'll see ya next time okay, I'll let you know about next week at church okay ?" Father walked in with Marc as he waved goodbye.Mother stood for a moment as she said

"Alright Claire, let me know, Goodnight and get home safe darling !".Mother walked inside with me as she closed the door and got to the living room.She was exhausted, father walked Marc upstairs to get him ready for bed.Mother had me along side her as my baby seat was positioned on the floor, facing the tv.Mother turned in the tv and put the volume low as she stumbled upon a channel playing "Anatomy Of A Murder".

"Alright, Marc sleep good kid and remember, all those dumb things I say is for jokes okay ?" Said father as he tucked Marc into bed.

"Okay..." said Marc as he closed his eyes.Father started to walk out slowly as he turned off the light.He closed the door slowly on his way out as he headed back downstairs, mother was half asleep.He saw her as he laughed a little, he laid next her on the couch as she noticed.She slowly went back to sleep as she rested up against him.It was a simple scenery of them sleeping aside each other in the couch like they were teenagers again.