You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Mafia Zone.

”Submitted for your approval . . . a young goomba named Joey Joe Jo Junior Shabedeux.  We’ll call him Joey for short.  Joey is an angry young goomba, irritated with his crewleader for not making him a Made Man yet.  He curses his boss behind his back.  But, when he wakes up this morning, he’ll realize what happens when the shoe is on the other foot!”

Joey:  “Damn!  I hate when I put my shoes on the wrong feet.  It’s so uncomfortable.  And, another thing . . . why won’t the Don make me Made yet?  He’s so lazy.  I do all the work, and he reaps all the reward.  So unfair!”

Joey switches his shoes around, and looks into his mirror.  But, instead of the fresh faced visage of a goomba he’s used to, he sees the grizzled, wise face of his boss.  Don Flaminco.

Joey:  “What the hell?  What happened to my face?”

The door opens and a young man comes in with breakfast and kisses the ring on Joey’s hand.

Young Man:  “Breakfast for you, Don.”

Although Joey doesn’t understand how, he slowly comes to understand that he’s the boss now.  His first act is to order hits on all the people he grew to dislike over the months.  Then, he ordered all his crewmembers to wear pink bowties.  Then, he went to his first meeting with the heads of the other families.  All the Dons were there . . . Don Amece, Don Alduck, Don Key, and Don Johnson from Miami.  As they sit down for the meeting, Joey realizes he doesn’t have any idea what they’re talking about.  When they ask him for advice, he pretends he has laryngitis.  When he leaves the meeting he goes back to the office.  There’s a mountain of paperwork to go through . . . promotion requests, witness statements, drug prices, etc.

Joey:  “This is a lot more stressful than I thought!  Everyone wants something from me.  I wish I was a goomba again.”

Joey goes to bed that night, and wakes up and looks in the mirror.  He sees his old face again, and is grateful to be himself.  He runs up to Don Flaminco’s room, busts open the door, and kisses the Don’s ring.

Joey:  “Oh Don, I just wanted to say . . .”

BANG!

Joey lies dead on the floor.

“Here lies a dead goomba.  Grateful to his boss, but too late.  Now he lies in a pool of his own blood.  If only he had learned never to interrupt his boss when he’s with his mistress.”

SINGERROURKE applauds.

This is honestly one of the best stories i have ever heard. I wish it was just a little longer so i could feel bad for Joey Joe Jo Juniour but none the less i love it. Great job friend.

I agree with Singer it was a great  story just needed to be a bit longer though other then that I applaud you.

An excellent piece of work friend

Richard makes an appearance

"I applaud you for the work you have done. It almost brings a tear to my eye to see some effort be put into something here in the streets. Well done regardless of length in my opinion and I encourage you to do some more work for us to enjoy in the future."

Eats a connoli and reads the story

Well thought out story my friend artaniS. One point of criticism however you did not mention anything about cannoli or baked goods!

Shame on you.

eats another cannoli and goes off in the crowd

Eats a connoli and reads the story

Well thought out story my friend artaniS. One point of criticism however you did not mention anything about cannoli or baked goods!

Shame on you.

eats another cannoli and goes off in the crowd

That was better the second time, Sal.

why make the story longer? the story describe many young goombas and gangsters that i have seen in my time here.

My comment was not to be taken negative rather it was a compliment. I wouldnt and dont listen to long tales of nothingness. Artani told a great story that was short and sweet that i was just blown away by. If he comes out here and tells more tales from this MAFIA ZONE i surely would be one happy mobster.

SINGERROURKE turns to the Man and smiles shaking his hand.

It was more than an honor to have heard this story today. I find this better than the papers that come out every time they do.

I agree, this is a great story, yeah its a bit short, but how many people would'nt have bothered to read it if it was longer? now we know artaniS writes a good story, prehaps the next one will be a bit longer. congratulations

The story definately caught my attention, Great Job!

G-Force appears out of nowhere. (Where exactly is nowhere?)

Great story Artanis, my friend. I wasn't sure what to think reading the start but was quickly drawn in to the story. I honestly never saw the end coming and there was a lot of small twists for a story so short. I loved it and would like to hear more like it. Well done.

G-Force disappears back to nowhere.

Moydadir nods, "Hmm..That sounds eerily familiar.."

hmm good storie, i would like to add, dont jump around so quickly "hits, bowties, bang dead" ? needs little more in between kinda made me feel like something was missing. other then that awesome =]

{i love twilight zone and tales from the crypt}