What was not over yet? Was Mike planning some sort of revenge? Jimmy had to find out. He couldn’t believe that one could hold a grudge against him for something that he had no control over.

Mike lived in the infamous area of Red Hook, Brooklyn. It was a tough neighborhood, and few would venture into the area alone. Although he felt some sort of apprehension, Jimmy decided that he had to go there and try to talk with Mike, and get this thing straightened out. He knew that it would be a perilous trip, but he had to do it.

Jimmy gave brief thought to taking his boys along, but dismissed the thought as being stupid and foolish. It sure as heck wouldn’t look too friendly marching into unknown territory with a gang. He was looking for peace not war.

It was early Sunday morning when Jimmy decided to take the BMT to Brooklyn, hoping that Mike would be there on a Sunday. Maybe he would be at church, maybe not. But he had an idea where he may be found as the Red Hook section wasn’t located in too wide an area.

Reaching his destination, Jimmy got off the subway, walked up the stairs to the street. He had never been in this neighborhood, but it looked no different from where he lived. The building were the same, the same trash in the streets, the garbage cans lining the street waiting for its pickup tomorrow. There were few people on the street. Probably in church he thought. Jimmy figured that sooner or later he would be singled out and met by some of the resident gangs in the area curious to find out what a sole kid, who did not live in the neighborhood was doing here.

Walking along the street, Jimmy headed for the candy store on the corner of the block not knowing what he would find. Usually, the candy store, in addition to its normal business was a hangout for the boys of the neighborhood. A sort of meeting place where they gathered to shoot the bull, pick up girls, and make some sort of plans for the day. He didn’t have long to wait.

Approaching the candy store, Jimmy saw two boys, about his age just standing there. What was unusual, was the way they were dressed, shirt, ties, suits and fedora style hats that were slightly cocked to one side of their heads. It was not the dress code of the neighborhood where he lived. He wondered if this was an every day wearing apparel for this neighborhood. The only one in his neighborhood that he ever saw dressed up like this was Danny, but this was only on Friday nights or Saturday mornings during Sabbath or on the high holy Jewish holidays. Then he remembered. this was Sunday, and he was in an Italian neighborhood. Sunday on Jimmys street was an ordinary day. Nothing unusual about it. But here it was a religious day. Most Italians were devout Catholics and went to church on Sundays. So he surmised that these boys had already been to church or was preparing to go. Maybe they were waiting for some of their pals to come so they could go to church together. No matter, what gangs did. No matter what neighborhood they lived, they usually did things together, and going to church was no different.

“Whatcha want? who are ya?” called the boy in the bright blue suit, white shirt and yellow tie His attire seemed to match, except for his shoes. They were white sneakers. “I’m looking for Mike Galentino, Do you know where I can find him,” Jimmy asked politely. “Who wants to know?” asked the other boy, also elegantly dressed and his shoes matched. “All I want to do is talk to Mike, and I don’t feel like going through a third degree.” Jimmy looked straight at the two boys, and continued, defiant now, and in a no nonsense mood, said, “Listen you two, I came all the way over from Harlem to see him. If you know where he is, tell me, and if you don’t, tell me that too and I’ll look somewhere else.”

Surprised at Jimmys retort, and seemingly unfrightened attitude, thinking possibly that this was no kid to fool around with, one of the boys said, “Mikes in church now should be getting out about now. He usually comes here, and we hang out for a while.” “Thank you said Jimmy, I’ll stick around and wait for him.”

Jimmy didn’t have long to wait. Walking up to the candy store, Mike paused. He couldn’t believe his eyes. What the hell was that Jew......doing here. “Hi Mike,” Jimmy said, “How ya doin?” “Whatcha doin here? You crazy or sumthin? Who asked ya to come here? You come to gloat about beatin me?” “I don’t want any trouble,” Jimmy said, “I just wanta talk to ya, and maybe straighten things out between us. There’s nothin to talk about,” replied Mike, “you ruined my cousin. You took away everything he had, and nows he got nothin.” “Thats why I want to talk to you. I came here alone knowing that maybe I was taking a chance. I want to explain what happened, that maybe you got the story all wrong, and you’re blaming everything on me when it wasn’t my fault at all of what happened.”

“Yah, you sure got a lotsa guts, coming here like this, all alone, either you’re crazy, or you don’t know what ya coulda got into, Mike said, calming down a bit. Mike was no dummy, and he thought that he ought to listen to Jimmy, for he wouldn’t be here for no good reason at all, “Yeah. Mike, I know, but those two dudes over there treated me pretty good, so how about it, ready to sit down, and listen to what I have to say?” Okay, let’s go into the candy store, there’s a room in back where we can talk, the owner won’t mind, and calling to his two friends, Mike said, “okay guys, I’ll be okay, just wait out here, and we’ll do sumthin later, okay? The two boys nodded in assent.

It was quiet in the back room of the candy store. Both boys didn’t speak for what seemed an eternity, but it was only for a few seconds. “Well,” said Mike, “go ahead and tell me what really happened, and don’t lie to me. You’ll be sorry if you do.” “For crying out loud,” replied Jimmy, do ya think I’m nuts or sumthin? Do ya think I want to commit suicide.?” “All right,” said Mike, go ahead.

Jimmy started at the very beginning. How he used to go down to the gym, without telling anyone. How he met Max and the offer he made. That he didn’t know that his cousin was a pro boxer, and was climbing up the ladder. In fact he thought that he was an amateur just like himself. He then described the boxing match itself. How surprised and shaken up he was at the knockout. How mad he was at Max for not telling him that he was a professional, and that it was all a test, and he wasn’t to know who he was in the ring with. He then related Max’s explanation, and how sorry he was, but that he had to do it that way.

Mike listened intently, not believing what he was hearing. This was not what he was told. They said that it was fixed in that Max told his cousin to not take it too easy with Jimmy, and to slap him around a bit, just to see if Jimmy could take it. Max supposedly told Jimmy to try to knock him out if he could, and informed him of some weak spots that he had. It was nothing like he was told. They made it sound as if Max and his cronies were trying to intentionally ruin his career, to further theirs for some reason or another.

“Are you telling me the truth?” Mike asked seriously, “So help me,” replied Jimmy, “If I ain’t tellin you the truth, may God strike me down, and send me somewhere where it’ll be hot to fight.” Being a fairly religious boy, tough as he was, Mike was brought up in a strict Catholic home, and nobody would utter those words, even a Jew boy for fear of those words coming true. So, that’s the way it was. When both boys walked out of the candy store, Jimmy asked Mike. “Mike, when are you fighting again, when’s your next match?” “I ain’t fighting no more,” Mike replied, “after the beating you gave me last week I realized that I could never become a boxer. It’s not in my blood as it is in yours. You have what it takes Jimmy, and I’ll always be rooting for ya. no matter what”.

Riding home on the subway, Jimmy reflected on the days happenings. He had learned something and he hoped that Mike had also. He learned that to never let things ride, face your problems. Be fair in dealing with them. Listen to both sides, and settle it as best as you can. He hoped that Mike would not take things for granted anymore, and be more understanding, and more tolerant. Jimmy couldn’t wait to get to get to the gym after school tomorrow, and get on with his life and career.

To Be Continued