down on the street sam saw a newsboy
extra! extra! the boy shouted
sam took a nickel out of his pocket
perhaps there really was some news
i hope not, he thought
too much change is never good
extraordinary events usually portend trouble
here, kid - sam flipped the boy the nickel
in stride he grabbed the paper
sam blanched
cold panic swept over him
on this day of all days!
nick must have known about this
fool that i’ve been, thought sam
unless nick has been playing us all
sometimes you have to grasp at straws
i feel sick
on the sidewalk a raindrop fell
now what?
he considered his options
everything would come apart now
forget any hope of playing a long game
eddie would declare total war on everybody
let the bodies fall where they may
tomorrow was today
sam shook his head, trying to clear it
there would be a funeral for mickey
regrets for his untimely passing would be expressed
and after that…
no quarter would be asked or given
great would be the woe and lamentation
eddie would see to that
last night everything seemed so rosy
yesterday was a million miles away
can i get away? sam wondered
and where can i go?
let me think
my options are severely limited
eddie might be on his way over here right now!
very likely, in fact
emptiness opened up in front of sam
run! he thought , i have to run!
yes, that’s it
tomorrow will be too late
hold on - take a deep breath
inhale… exhale
now walk slowly to the bank
good thing it is just around the corner
when sam got to the bank
a wave of panic swept over him
sam! he heard a voice call
great, he thought, i can’t catch a break
out of nowhere a figure appeared
ike mccarthy!
never in a million years had sam expected him to turn up!
good to see you, ike, he mumbled
that’s not a very enthusiastic greeting, ike boomed
oh i was just so surprised to see you, sam responded desperately
booshwa, ike answered
every one of you guys are the same
all forgetting an old pal
lest you forget
lest you forget, ike repeated menacingly
rejecting me is not on your best interests
i want my share
get me?
humor me
