6

I was tired of being ordered around and not having any freedom. I didn't want to waste another minute in my dead-end life.

(Family Reputation Life Sketch +10)

Four Finger Nelson did most of its business in a smoky downtown bowling alley called Lucky Lanes. The sounds of balls rolling down the alleys echoed loudly as I passed several large men with beady eyes. When I told them my name, they backed off and let me through.

"Good to see you again," said Nelson from a seat behind a small round table.

He was drinking from a glass with a brown liquid, whiskey or scotch I think. The other men were all quiet when I approached. They didn't say anything while I asked him for a job. He stopped for a minute, looking me up and down.

"Done!" he said after a moment of deliberation.

Nelson helped me obtain the false medical certificate needed to be discharged from the military immediately. I knew I would have a lot to explain to my parents and my girlfriend Christine. My new life as a member of the Life Sketch Family had begun.

Next chapter

It was a sweet ride with a fierce V8 engine.

(Lost $1500 and won the Mustang)

Jimmy "The Carrot" Rockford was a 40-year-old health nut from New Daria. I first met him at a restaurant called Wilma's, which wasn't too far from Lucky Lanes. He was a "made man", which meant he had been initiated into and accepted into the Family of Life's outlines. It meant he was untouchable. If anyone messed with Jimmy without Silver Dollar approval, they were worm food.

I, on the other hand, was an associate. That meant I was little more than a tool for the real mobsters. I was expendable and unattractive beyond my connections to a few important people. Jimmy was waiting for me with an egg-white omelette, unbuttered wholegrain toast, and orange juice instead of coffee.

"Hey, Leandro Paulino Silveira, sit down."

The waitress waved at me and then went back to the kitchen without even bothering to write it down. Jimmy made no comment on my order as my food arrived a short time later.

"So Four Fingers says you're looking for work," he said after the meal was over. "Good, let's go. You're driving."

I knew Jimmy probably owned an expensive car or two, but it didn't matter. He wanted me to drive and that meant we had to use my Mustang. He made no comment about my beautiful car when he got in. I think he expected young people to have flashy rides like mine.

(Jimmy ratio +5)

We didn't get very far before he stopped me in front of Flowers for You. He waved me in and we walked into the store. The woman behind the counter looked friendly as she handed Jimmy an envelope. We left and went to the next store, where another envelope was waiting. It was a classic protection and extortion racket. Entrepreneurs paid their money, or things broke. And if they had a problem that the law couldn't solve, Jimmy helped them. The morning passed quickly.

It was just after lunch when we visited Lenny's Deli. Lenny was a short, balding man with gray hair. I knew something was up the instant we walked in. He was busy, with a dozen customers lined up at his cash register. Unlike our previous visits, Lenny didn't pay us more attention than a quick nod. Jimmy turned to me, probably curious to see how I would handle my first hurdle.