Chapter 3: The Misfit Without Understanding

McCready Auto Repair Shop, Tony Leon lifted the hood of a pickup and signaled to the owner seated in the driver's seat to rev the engine forcefully, making it easier for him to observe the operation of the engine.

However, Anderson, the auto repair shop owner and top mechanic, did not, as usual, step on the accelerator in perfect coordination with him.

Tony lifted his head and looked towards Anderson in the driver's seat, puzzled, and asked, "I thought we were so in sync we could go on the 'Close Cooperation Big Breakthrough' TV show together."

"Kid, the one who's really in sync with you is standing by the door," Anderson said with a chuckle, biting into a sandwich and gesturing towards Tony.

Tony turned around, then saw his brother Tommy Hawk standing at the entrance of the auto repair shop.

"He's the only freak in the Hawk family who isn't in sync," Tony retracted his gaze and said to Anderson while peeling off his gloves:

"I'll be back quickly, Anderson."

"No problem at all, my good boy, as long as you make sure this vehicle is repaired today," Anderson replied, nodding his head.

"I will." Tony tossed the gloves on the engine and turned to walk towards Tommy Hawk, eyeing Tommy critically as he walked and said with cutting words:

"Look, Mr. Tommy Hawk, future rocket scientist, professor, scientist, and holder of whatever other highfalutin positions in the great United State America graces us with his presence. What brings you here?"

"I need to borrow a car from you," Tommy said straightforwardly.

Tony paused, first staring at Tommy for a few seconds, then placed the cigarette in his mouth: "Wow, I guess you don't need a car just to go to school."

"I need to make some money, so I'm not exploited by you and the old man and end up sleeping on the streets, do I?" Tommy glanced at him, taking out a lighter to light up.

Tony clapped his hands together, a smile appearing on his face: "Hey, brother, have you finally come to your senses? You should have bid farewell to that crap high school long ago! Looking for a steady job? I've got a good recommendation. Oh, right, you should move back in tonight. We'll throw a party to celebrate you dropping out, and let..."

"I haven't dropped out. I just took a day off. Please lend me a car with a full tank, and if possible, an extra two hundred bucks. It's not a big deal if you can't, I can borrow money from Ruby in the Italian community, but first, a car," Tommy Hawk told Tony.

Tony looked around and then down at his cigarette: "Kid, have you lost your mind? To go to Ruby and those guys? Two hundred bucks? You know they charge high interest, right?"

"I need some startup cash, and if things go smoothly, I might be able to pay it back before dinner," Tommy shrugged at Tony.

Tony asked sternly, "What business? Tommy, what business?"

"Small business, a student's small business," Tommy replied with equal seriousness.

"Yesterday, I got an advance on my paycheck from Anderson to bail out the old man, so I can't ask him for more money. But... there's no problem with the car or the money; just wait for me a sec." Tony said to Tommy with the cigarette clenched in his mouth before turning and walking back towards Anderson.

After a brief conversation, Tony quickly got into an orange Chevrolet hatchback inside the repair shop and slowly drove it to the front, rolled down the window, and cocked his head towards Tommy:

"Get in, brother, let's go get the money."

Tommy Hawk settled into the passenger seat, "I'm going to borrow money from Ruby, it's no different going with you, he knows me."

"But I'm your brother, kid, and you can only take that money from my hands. By going to Ruby for the loan, we can avoid him causing you trouble," Tony gripped the steering wheel and kept his eyes focused on the road ahead, "I'm your brother."

Warwick is a small town with a population of 80,000 people, 78% of whom are of Irish descent, 12% Italian, 5% English, 3% Black, with the remaining 2% divided among other ethnic groups.

With just eighty thousand inhabitants, the town has two major organized crime groups: the Charleston gang, made up of Irish-Americans, and the New England Mafia, consisting of Italian-Americans.

As for the African American gangs causing trouble in other cities across the United States? In Rhode Island, the blacks seemed more gentlemanly than the whites.

The miserable population of blacks in Warwick City, making up three percent of the total population, were being 'educated' in manners and etiquette by the whites, who constituted ninety-five percent.

The Italian-Americans mostly gathered in the Southern District's Italian residential area, and the Ruby mentioned by Tommy was a fringe member of the New England Mafia.

But whether it's the Irish gang or the Mafia, they are of little importance to most people in Warwick City, many of whom may never have any dealings with them in their lives. These gangs had long since moved away from protecting rackets and extortion as their main activities, instead they were involved in running illegal casinos, smuggling, gaming, opening bars, and loan sharking, among other businesses.

Ruby was a pleasant Italian-American young man, at least he appeared to be pleasant. He owned a leather goods shop, and many Italians who were short on cash would borrow from him. As long as they paid back on time, all was well.

"Ruby." Tony pushed open the door of the leather shop and greeted Ruby, who was wearing a leather apron, handcrafting a belt.

Ruby looked up briefly at the entering brothers, Tony and Tommy, "Tony, Tommy, long time no see."

"Oh... I've run into some trouble, so..." Tony started, hesitantly.

"Cut the crap, Tony. Just get to the point. Seeing as we're all Italians, everyone who comes to me is in trouble. Just tell me how much you need," Ruby interrupted Tony's words, smiling, and then he continued to measure the belt with a ruler, his head bowed.

Tony exhaled, "Two hundred. I need two hundred."

"OK." Ruby put down the ruler in his hand, turned, and walked to the safety deposit box in the corner. He took out ten twenty-dollar bills, then locked the safe, and came back and handed the money to Tony.

Tony reached out to take it, but Ruby did not let go. Instead, he smiled and looked at Tony, "Tony, for how long do you need it?"

"Tonight... before your leather shop closes?" Tony looked uncertainly at Tommy before speaking.

"You'll need to give me back two hundred and twenty. I don't like short-term loans, so the interest rate is a bit higher," Ruby said, looking at Tony. "Deal?"

"Deal," Tony nodded, and Ruby let go, allowing Tony to take the two hundred dollars.

After getting the money, the two walked out of the shop. Ruby continued to measure the belt, head bowed and busy at work, saying, "I go home for dinner at seven o'clock. So, if you don't find me here and plan to drop off the debt at my house, it'll cost you two hundred and forty-two dollars."

Once they left the leather shop, Tony handed the money to Tommy Hawk, who pocketed it, "I will pay it off before tonight."

"Well, now you can go do your little student business," Tony said with a smile, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag, looking at Tommy.