Chapter 1
Introductions
“Thanks a lot Chief,” the panhandler said as three coins plunked into his tin cup. After making his deposit, the man stepped down into the entrance of the Shoe Bar for his nightly ritual. His name was Larry, but everyone called him Slappy.
He was always kind to those less fortunate because fortune was kind to him. He was once down on his luck, until a trainer with a keen eye picked him off the streets of Quakertown and gave him a shot in the boxing ring. He quickly climbed the rankings in the Buxco Boxing Club and was given the chance of a lifetime- facing the champ in Atlantic City.
Scrapping with guys like him, guys from places like Doylestown, Jamison, and Lansdale was one thing. But fighting a Featherweight champion like Rico Suave was something else.
Rico
Made his name on the streets on Ponce, Puerto Rico and Slappy was totally outmatched. He lasted two rounds before kissing the canvas. Rico said his punches felt like slaps, and soon everyone was booing “Slappy” MacGurk.
Slappy kept fighting for a few more years, but soon he began a bout with alcohol. Shortly after retiring from the ring he took courses at Lincoln Tech and became a mechanic, but the name Slappy stuck.
“At least they don’t call me Oil Can, like that baseball player a few years back,” he used to say. But he never climbed back to being “Mad Dog” MacGurk.
One day he was cruising around in his tow truck, contemplating suicide, when he saw a stranded motorist. The car was a DeLorean, something you don’t see every day, and it was stuck in a ditch and also had a flat tire.
Slappy stopped and towed the car back to his shop. He just happened to have DeLorean parts in stock and was able to have repairs made by the end of the day. The car’s owner, Big Mike, was thrilled and invited Slappy to the new club where he worked, the Shoe Bar, and also got his boss’s business for Slappy too.
The alcoholism got worse, but the first time Slappy saw Shannon, the depression vanished. Soon he learned that she had a price, like everything at the Shoe Bar. The owner, Papa Big, dealt in everything, from nuts and bolts right on up to cars, drugs and even people. And it was one person, Shannon Flexo, that Slappy was sold on.
Shannon grew up in Philadelphia but ran away from home when she was fifteen. Somehow she found herself on the streets of Quakertown. She tried to get a job, but with no education and because of her age, all she could do was wait tables at the Howard Johnson. Her home was in a boxcar at the freight yard. She was lucky to get any sleep though, because she had to keep away from the night watchman’s flashlight beam.
One afternoon she waited on a large party at HoJO's. One of the men pulled her aside and asked if he had seen her at the freight yard. It was Papa Big, and he had a job for her. After living in a boxcar for three years, she was ready for a change. She wanted a life, and would do anything for it.
Papa Big owned most of Quakertown. He was the town’s first crime boss, and until recently, the only. But ever since those new apartments went up on Ninth Street, down by 309, he felt like he was losing his grip. A group of thugs was forming down there, and Papa Big was meeting with them when he met Shannon.
When he saw Shannon he knew he had to get her before Jimmy D got to her. He lost his best girl to Jimmy and he wasn’t about to let him get Shannon too. Fifth and Broad, Nina’s old corner was his busiest. It was where his hotspot, the Shoe Bar, was located.
Shannon accepted Papa Big’s job offer and moved across Front Street to the Bush House Hotel. In addition to working the corner of Fifth and Broad, she stripped inside the Shoe Bar. Her plan was to get her GED and make enough money to put herself through college and get a real job.
Chapter 2
Shannon’s Dilemma
Slappy sat down and waited for his favorite dancer. Misty Lane was just finishing onstage when he came in. Shannon was next. She was wearing the cat suit again, Slappy’s favorite. After the show, Slappy went aside and gave Papa Big $100 and met Shannon in a private room.
As usual, Shannon’s thoughts weren’t on her job. She was thinking about Snuffy again. Sure, she made good money working for Papa Big, but it wasn’t fulfilling. Johns are good for the money, but they all have reasons for coming to Fifth and Broad. Some are lonely, some are too shy to meet regular women, and some are like Slappy- obsessed. But something was missing, a soulful connection that doesn’t come from the streets and the clubs. Something she found inside Snuffy, something she never felt before: love.
Shannon knew Snuffy from her GED class. He sat in the back and never said very much. She couldn’t tell if her was quiet because he was paying attention or if he was daydreaming. After being paired with him up for a project, she learned that he’s an aspiring rapper. Snuffy was his stage name. His real name was Dick Floto.
“Dick Floto? You could be a porn star, not a rapper, with a name like that!” Shannon told him, not wanting to give away the identity of her night job.
After that icebreaker, Shannon found that Snuffy had a side not many people got to see because he was quiet and withdrawn. He could be funny and sensitive, and she worked to bring that out. And he was a great rapper, despite being so white. He worked so hard, but had no luck getting a contract. She knew if she talked to Papa Big, she could get Snuffy a gig at the Shoe Bar, but she couldn’t let him find out about her secret life.
The more time she spent with Snuffy, the more she knew she loved him. She could sense that he felt the same way, but neither was willing to make the first move. Snuffy was too shy, and Shannon was ashamed of her life. Besides, if Papa Big found out, what would he do to Snuffy? And when would they have time to see each other besides class? Shannon already lied to Papa Big and told him there was another project she had to do.
Those thoughts were always on her mind, and Slappy could tell something was bothering her. “What’s wrong, Shannon?” he said.
“Nothing, just tired I guess. This work really gets to you.”
Slappy didn’t buy it, but he decided not to ask any further. He just left an extra $20 on the bed before he left and hoped she would take it.
When she was done work for the night, Shannon put on her “off-duty” clothes so no one would pick her up as she walked back to the Bush House. She was so lost in thought that she bumped into Chief, the panhandler and spilled his change all over the sidewalk. As she stooped to help him scoop up his day’s earnings, she decided to ask his advice.
“Suppose you meet someone, but you’re afraid of what they’ll think about you if they see you at work?”
Chief thought for a second, or maybe he was trying to dig a dime out of the sidewalk crack. “Just be yourself and don’t worry about what he thinks. If he loves you, he loves you and not your job.”
Perhaps Chief wasn’t a crazy bum like the whole town thought. So she asked another question. “What if your boss is, umm, a little possessive? I’m trying to get away, but it’s so hard!” With that she fell into Chief’s arms for a reassuring hug.
“If you’re talking about Papa Big, you either need to hide your relationship really good or run like hell.”
Chapter 3
Welcome to the Menagerie
Jimmy D opened the doors to his pride and joy, the Menagerie. He would be having a fifth anniversary celebration soon. No one thought he’d make it this far. A small time hustler in Philly, he’d run askew of the mob and come to Quakertown. Why Merlino never came after him is still a mystery. Then he shocked Quakertown when he built the town’s first nightclub. “Quakertown is too conservative,” they said. But Jimmy knew better. Play it straight on the outside, get enough cops on your payroll, and anything goes.
As soon as B. Piddy started spinning the tunes, Knuckles unhooked the velvet rope and it seemed like half of Quakertown came pouring in. Jimmy D just smiled and said to B. Piddy, “Looks like a slow night at the Shoe Bar.”
When Jimmy D came up to Quakertown he was bad news for Papa Big. It started as just open market competition in the drug trade. But things almost got bloody when Jimmy D started taking some of Papa Big’s girls, including his star, Nina Ross. Fortunately, both sides agreed to find a peaceful solution to the rivalry and lines were drawn on the map. Jimmy D got the south side of Quakertown and Papa Big got the east side.
Jimmy D watched all the revelers down below on the dance floor and at the bar from his private room upstairs. All he could think about was making his next move into the Q-Mart. His best thieves, Hot Pockets and Fingers could make a killing as pickpockets there, and he could unload a lot of hot merchandise too. And some money laundering, of course. But Fingers heard on the street that Papa Big wanted the Q-Mart too. Maybe the truce was about to go by the wayside.
After the Menagerie was open for about an hour, Jimmy D unleashed his girls on the crowd, hoping to take in even more money. Unlike at the Shoe Bar, there were no “dancers” at the Menagerie. The ladies mingled with the crowd and you could even order one at the bar.
Nina walked around, looking for a customer. Suddenly she stopped. Up at the bar, she saw a group of guys from school. Nina was a 19-year old senior. She started working for Papa Big two years ago, but then when she picked up Jimmy D at Fifth and Broad he paid her more money to move to Quakertown West.
One of the guys in the group was Champ Didden. He was the high school track star and Snuffy’s cousin. Snuffy moved in with him when he was ten, after his parents died. Champ was turning 18 that weekend, and just finished first at the district track meet. Some of his friends decided to kidnap him for the night. What did they care if some booze and women wrecked his straight A’s? They didn’t have to come staggering home to his parents. Just then, B. Piddy started the “Chicken Dance Remix”. The crowd went wild! Champ snuck out while his friends were talking to some girls and Nina went to the other side of the room.
Nina was very careful to hide herself from anyone she knew from school. There were rumors at school that she was a hooker, but there were rumors about everyone. It is Quakertown after all. She had no problem selling herself to total strangers, but for some reason she couldn’t tell anyone she knew, especially the guys. Who knew how they would take it. Either she’d be the belle of the ball or the butt of a joke.
After the other guys left to find Champ, she started working the room again. She’d make over $500 that night, but the image of Champ Didden sitting at the bar haunted her the rest of the evening. Suddenly she realized why. Nina Ross loves Champ Didden. But could it ever work? She was the bad girl and he was the honor student. What was it they said about opposites? If only she paid attention to magnetism in science class. Ah yes, opposites attract.
After school the next day, Nina dropped by the Fotomat in the Shoe Bar parking lot where Champ worked. It was being repaired again, after being hit by a drunk for the zillionth time. At least it didn’t flip over this time. She bought a whole roll of film before school and used it all, taking pictures of anything, just so she could drop it off with Champ. She was looking as girly as she could, with no trace of hooker discernable.
Nina flirted a little, just to test the water and Champ flirted back. The game was on.
Chapter 4
Guys With Feelings?
Champ was lying in bed, reading a book, when Snuffy came in and tossed his schoolbag on his bed. The cousins had shared a room since Snuffy moved in with the Diddens after his parents died in a car accident years ago.
“Rough day, Snuf?” Champ said as he set down his book.
“Ever been in love before, Champ?”
“I have a feeling I’m about to be soon,” said Champ. The two were total opposites, but now they found some common ground. Champ was into sports and studies; Snuffy was into music and didn’t bother with school. After Snuffy dropped out of high school, Champ won gold medals in track and field events at states. Snuffy only went for his GED after realizing everyone in Quakertown thought of him as some kind of stupid illiterate loser.
“So who is this girl, Snuffy?”
“You tell me first, Champ.” Snuffy was curious as to what kind of girl would be interested in Champ. Champ was just as curious about Snuffy.
“Well, last night at the Fotomat this girl came in. Nina Ross, I think it was. I heard some stuff about her at school. But anyway, she was really flirting with me. I didn’t know what to do though, because what if that stuff I heard is true? They say she’s a hooker, and I think I saw her at the Menagerie last night.”
Snuffy was almost spit out his drink. Champ at the Menagerie? “What were you doing at the Menage?”
“Stinky and some of the guys took me there for my birthday. I’d never go there myself, if that’s what you were thinking. But I hear the guy who runs that place is into, you know, all sorts of shady stuff. Including prostitution, and what if Nina was, you know, working there?” Champ explained.
Snuffy, in all his infinite wisdom replied, “Don’t worry about the rumors. There are always stories like that about at least one girl in school, plus we’re in Quakertown. Let me ask you this: Do you like her?”
“I guess so. I don’t know. Ever since Becky cheated on me I’ve had a hard time trusting girls. Which comes back to the hooker issue again. So tell me your story now Snuffy.”
“OK, there’s this girl in my GED class. Her name’s Shannon. We never used to talk or anything before, but then we got paired up on a project and became friends. But I have a feeling she wants more than that. But what I don’t get is why she doesn’t hang out with me more. She says she’s always working but she won’t tell me where she works. It’s like she’s hiding something. But I just can’t get her out of my head.”
On and on they went, until Felix the Cat meowed twice. Champ thought it was a creepy looking clock, but it reminded Snuffy of his parents. They decided it was time for bed and that they would talk to Shannon and Nina the next day and get their feelings out in the open.
Champ went looking for Nina in between classes but chickened out when he saw her with a group of dangerous looking girls. But he decided that before he approached her he needed a make over. He needed to look and act and even be a little tougher. “Starting tomorrow, there’s a new Champ in town,” he said to himself.
Snuffy had better luck with Shannon. He had the guts to talk to her after class. It was the first time he’d seen her since her run in with Chief outside the Shoe Bar. It worked out perfectly for Snuffy because she was planning on telling him exactly what he wanted to tell her. They decided to have dinner at Dominick’s as their first official act of dating.
Shannon was amazed that Snuffy wasn’t upset when she told him about her job. But they decided it was best to keep their relationship a secret, at least from Papa Big. He could be very possessive at times, like most pimps are, and expected Shannon to spend her time with paying customers when she wasn’t at class.
That night, Snuffy and Champ discussed the day’s events. Snuffy was excited because Shannon would talk to Papa Big about getting him a gig at the Shoe Bar. There was already a house band, but maybe he was the reason patrons were going to the Menagerie instead. His name was K Jell, and he was a one-man band. Not exactly the kind of live music Papa Big wanted to be associated with, but the best DJ in town went to the Menagerie instead of the Shoe Bar. But at least Papa Big had his dancers.
K Jell would probably lose his job but Papa Big would see to it that he didn’t get too upset. He could be very persuasive. For Snuffy, it would be a big opportunity and could lead to even bigger things.
Snuffy agreed with Champ’s idea to change his image to fit Nina better. “Women never change, but they will try to change you so you might as well do it. What color would you like your hair? Or should we shave it all off?”
Chapter 5
Champ is the Word
Champ strutted down the halls of Quakertown High School sporting blue hair, an Enyce fleece shirt, and pants down around his knees. He looked for Nina all day, but didn’t see her. He finally caught up with her at the end of the day. She didn’t look like herself. She was wearing glasses and a sun dress, and she had her hair up in a bun. She looked like a 19th century schoolmarm.
Nina was standing at her locker when Champ approached her. They just stared at each other for a minute. Champ spoke first. “Hey Nina, I was just going out to the corner to see Frosty. You want anything?”
“No thanks, Champ. Umm… did you do something with your hair?” It was very awkward for the two to be the opposite of who they really were.
“So Nina, what happened? I thought you were like, the bad girl or whatever.” Champ was puzzled. It went against logic for the woman to change. Human nature was always supposed to be the woman trying to change the man. Or so he thought.
“You’re different too Champ. I guess I was tired of everyone thinking I’m the bad girl. What happened to you?”
He had to come clean. The other law of nature is that no matter how small the lie, she’ll always find it out. “Well, I just thought that…umm, well, I thought you would like me better if I was one of the bad kids too.”
Nina was shocked by his honesty. “But Champ, I like you because you’re NOT the bad kid. I’ll be honest with you. I changed for the same reason you did, and you know what? I think I like the new me better.” It was true. Nina took a look at her life and where it was going and decided that she wanted out of Jimmy D’s clutches.
“There’s something else I need to tell you too, Champ. But not here. Maybe we could go out sometime.” She had to tell him about the Menagerie.
“Are you doing anything Friday night? I get out of work at 9:30.”
“I can’t that night. I’m working too. How about Sunday? I have to work Saturday too. Anytime Sunday afternoon is good for me.”
Champ thought for a minute. What about tonight? We could go over to QFR or wherever right now! Well, after I change out of this ridiculous outfit.”
“I really can’t tonight. If I miss work my boss will kill me. And I mean it too.”
“WHAT? Where the hell do you work? You need to get out of there if you think your boss will kill you!!!”
Nina felt that she said too much, but she couldn’t take it back. “We’ll talk about it later Champ. Just not here, and I can’t go out with you until Sunday.”
“OK, Sunday it is. Meet me at the Fotomat at 2:00 and we’ll have us a little picnic at the lake.”
Later that night Champ and Snuffy had a lot to talk about. The big news going around town was that shootout at the Q-Mart. Snuffy told Champ that Shannon wanted to talk to him about it. He couldn’t imagine why.
Champ gave Snuffy the lowdown on his adventure with Nina. “She’s very mysterious. She won’t tell me where she works and says her boss will kill her if she misses a day. Do you think she really does work at the Menagerie?”
“It’s possible. Either that or she works with Shannon at the Shoe Bar. We have to keep or relationship a secret from Papa Big. The way Shannon sounded, I think he had something to do with the shooting at the Q-Mart today. But I think I’ll try to stay on his good side anyway. Besides, he might get me a gig at the Shoe Bar sometime. Ever hear his house band? I think I have a good chance at it.”
“What’s his name? K-Jell? I never heard his music but I hear he sucks. I hope you replace him, not just get a gig.”
The phone rang. Snuffy’s dad yelled up the steps that it was for him. He ran downstairs to get the phone. It was Shannon.
“Snuffy, I’m coming over right now. I need help!”
Snuffy heart dropped. “Where are you?”
“I’m hiding in a boxcar at the freight yard. I can’t let Chewbacca see me. I have to sneak out.”
“I’ll be right over. Which boxcar are you in?”
“No, don’t Snuffy! It’s too dangerous!”
“I’ll be fine Shannon. I have to get you out of there.” He hung up, and swallowed hard. “Champ, let’s go for a ride,” he called up the steps.
Chapter 6
Trouble at the Q-Mart
Big Mike strolled through the Q-Mart, looking for the manager. Papa Big sent him to “make a business proposition.” For added muscle, he brought Mr. T with him. Big Mike was the Shoe Bar bouncer and Papa Big’s enforcer. At 6’5”, Mr. T was almost as big. He was normally the doorman at the Bush House, but today that assignment went to Chewbacca, the freight yard security guard. The Q-Mart deal was too important to mess up, so Big Mike had to have backup.
On a Friday morning the Q-Mart was nearly empty, except for a few weirdoes trying to get an early start. In Quakertown, it’s never too early to be weird. As they walked down the hall to the office, Big Mike recognized someone coming the other way. It was Jimmy D’s enforcer Knuckles. Guns were drawn and the truce was over. The manager, Mr. Fuji, heard the commotion and ran out to see what was going on.
Most of the shoppers and merchants had left by then, and after the first shot hit Mr. Fuji in the shoulder the gunmen scattered. It was a matter of time before the police showed up. Big Mike and Mr. T hid in the field behind the Q-Mart and crawled into the woods. Mr. T had his cell phone, but decided not to call Papa Big for fear of a wire tap. After spending a few hours in the woods, Big Mike and Mr. T decided to circle around to East Broad Street and either steal a car or walk to the Shoe Bar.
Knuckles was having his own adventures escaping. He was in such a hurry to get away that he got stuck trying to get into his VW Rabbit. By the time he left the Q-Mart there was a police checkpoint set up on Old Bethlehem Pike. As he nervously waited in line, he remembered his disguise kit. He easily slipped through the dragnet and made his way back to Jimmy D’s office at the Menagerie.
Papa Big heard the news but reports were sketchy. Big Mike and Mr. T hadn’t called and there were no arrests made, but he did know that someone was shot. He was expecting retaliation that night at the Shoe Bar or the Bush House so he needed his big guys, but he also wasn’t sure if he should send anyone out looking in case something happened before the night. He needed to have business as usual though.
Chief was at the doorstep panhandling when Papa Big came up to him. “Would you like a job for the night?” he asked him. Chief was floored by the offer.
“What kind of job, Chief?” He had a habit of calling everyone Chief. Papa Big explained all the ins and outs of being a bouncer. Chief happily accepted the job. Anything was better than bumming for change. After a quick shower, Chief was at the door and the Shoe Bar was open.
Papa Big also kept Chewbacca as his doorman at the Bush House. He wasn’t as big as Mr. T but he sure was scary looking, hence the name. Papa Big was sure the police had his phone tapped so he knew better than to try calling Mr. T or Big Mike, but he was anxious. He decided to send out one of his bookies, Numbers. He also decided to call Slappy and send him to the Q-Mart. If Big Mike’s De Lorean was there, his orders were to tow it.
Numbers caught up with Big Mike and Mr. T at Broad and Franklin. They were relieved to see each other. Numbers was wise enough to take the roundabout way back to Fifth and Broad, just in case the cops were following. Papa Big was glad the guys were OK and gave them the night off, but put them on call just in case. Then he sent for Shannon.
“Have a seat, my dear. I have a special job for you.” It was Mr. Fuji. “Take these flowers to Mr. Fuji at the hospital. I want you to do whatever it takes to get Fuji to the bargaining table. Anything. Numbers, get the car. Oh, and Shannon, you might want to wear the sexy nurse’s outfit.”
Shannon presented a lovely spring arrangement to Mr. Fuji and got straight to the point. “Listen, little man,” she said. “Papa Big sent me here for a reason. He wants in on the Q-Mart and I’ll do whatever it takes to get him in.” Mr. Fuji’s eyes lit up.
“Rub my foot.” Shannon was surprised. She hesitated for a second.
“Rub it I say. Chop chop!” Shannon did as she was told. “I’ll agree to have Papa Big meet me here tomorrow on one condition. You come work for me. I run another business, Fuji Spa in Coopersburg. I need a new masseuse. I think you’ll do nicely.”
Shannon was at first excited at the thought of getting away from Papa Big, but then she realized what kind of masseuse Mr. Fuji was looking for. And as bad as Papa Big was, Mr. Fuji was a lot creepier. Plus, she’d probably wind up being shared by the two of them once they got to negotiating. All she could do was hope for Jimmy D to make a better offer, one he couldn’t refuse. What would she tell Snuffy?
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