Margaret and the gun...

Brooklyn, December 1929

Nefer passed her finger delicately over the edge of her glass of whiskey while sitting in a small bar close to her apartment. It had been a long day and she hated long days because it meant that business was stagnant or that everything was going so well that she didn't have to do much work.

Shrugging, she went to sip some of the drink, but before she could even raise it towards her lips the bar doors burst open and there stood a lady in tears, carrying a gun with her as she threatened everyone, and then she began to shoot.

"Not today," Nefer thought to herself as he recognized the young lady.

Gently rising from the chair she began to speak:

"Margaret, I know you're not having a good time but please lower this weapon"

The woman seemed reluctant to obey and continued to mutter to herself, pointing towards herself and the occupants of the bar. Nefer wasn't sure if she should jump on her and take the gun because she was not sure if Insomnia was able to hide the ammo from his drunken girlfriend, or if she was able to find it. This episode happened every year after Christmas, Margaret drank a lot to try to endure the holiday away from the family and in the end always made a scene.

"Come sit and talk to me, Margaret," Nefer said, trying again to have the woman lower her weapon and regain some control.

Margaret finally seemed to notice Nefer's presence and let the gun fall to the ground, but the gun was loaded and the knocker unlocked, thus firing the moment it touched the ground. The shot went whizzing and hit the window pane shattering it into a thousand pieces.

"What the fuck is this?" Exclaimed the owner of the bar enraged as he watched the expense of the madness.

Nefer ran and grabbed the revolver from the floor and gave it to one of his guards saying:

"Take this gun to Imsomnia and tell him to hide this shit better and before you go, check with the owner how much he wants as compensation for the windowpane. go go"

After a quick glance, Nefer noticed the guard obeying and she walked over, with a sigh, to the near-crying Margaret sitting on the floor. She seemed a little more alert, reaching out and Nefer helped her up and they both walked to the counter.

"Mr. Pablo, my apologies for the windowpane and the scene, but Margaret is in psychiatric treatment to improve that side the problem but when she drinks things always get a bit complicated. Could you make two large bitter cups of coffee for us? "Nefer spoke guiltily at the man.

"It's okay, my child, I do it only because it's for you, but keep this young woman away from drinking for the love of God," Pablo said as he handed over the two cups of coffee.

Nefer thanked the man and handed one of the glasses to Margaret as they both headed for the cold night of the streets of Brooklyn.

"Okay Margaret, I know it was not just the drink and the lack of your family that triggered this situation. What's troubling you?" Exclaimed Nefer, while looking at her friend.

Margaret looked a bit reluctant, but finally decided to open with her friend:

"I discovered that there is an old lover of my father trying to take the family business with the excuse that he loved her more and they had children while my mother could never have them this way which is why she had to adopt me in the first place"

"Oh no," exclaimed Nefer. "How did you wind up finding this out, my friend?"

"I could never trust that woman. You know how Nicoletta does everything for money she even sold her pics wearing those vulgar clothes to one of those new magazine forms that these men seem to be so interested in. So I always kept my eyes on her, and this morning my lawyer came to me and announced that he had received a letter wishing to arrange a meeting to discuss the outcome of the will. "

Margaret started crying again and Nefer became pensive.

To be continued…

Nefer exclaimed after a while thinking of her friend's problem:

"We could set up a meeting with your cousin Hotice and see what she thinks of it all.  She has great experience in front of the business and being close to us is a bonus. What do you think, Margaret? "

Margaret looked at Nefer and said:

"I don't know. She always seems to be busy with her own problems, but we can try. "

They continued their conversation until they reached a well-known restaurant where Nefer suggested they stop to eat. Maybe something to eat would improve her friend's condition.

The place seemed busy but the manager stopped giving orders as soon as he saw Nefer entering his bar and approached her saying:

"Welcome my friend, so good to see you again here. Do you want a table for two or are you expecting someone else? "

"Just the two of us by now but maybe someone special will be joining us a little later. My dear friend, please we want a more reserved table."Nefer said smiling at the pleasant man.

The manager led them to a table next to his office overlooking the beautiful park across the street.

Nefer motioned one of the guards over and told him to go find HotIce ask invite her to join them if she could.

Meanwhile Margaret seemed content to eat an appetizing seafood soup. Nothing like good food to improve the day.

As the guard returned with HotIce. Nefer rose from her chair in order to receive her friend and gave a hug saying:

"I'm glad you were able to reserve some of your precious time for us. We know things are kind of crazy lately in the business world but please sit down with us and enjoy yourself. "