“There and back again, a Mafia adventure”

June 1, 1938

Nara S Imhaya loves to read. It doesn’t mater the genre or even length he’s reading any chance he gets. But never had a book changed his life like this. It was back in December and he was looking for holiday gifts to donate to a local orphanage. While juggling several packages he saw a new book. Sold as “Juvenile Fiction” The title Intrigued him almost as much as the slender form of a wyrm wound round the title. 
“The Hobbit”
“Dragon” Nara said, “Here there be dragons.”  He chuckled at the thought of his grandfather’s stories and how it clearly was a wyrm having no legs, but he wouldn’t argue with the author. The thought of grand adventure and travel burned in him through the Winter. Spring had brought him some business he had to handle but he had earned a vacation. Never one to let money get away the trip still had a side job making it both lucrative and enjoyable. 

He began his journey in the Shire of brotherly love. Taking a Train to the Citadel of New York was the first leg. Before entering his gate, he stops at a newsstand to buy some more things to read. Newspapers, a true crime novelette and some comic books. Nara loved comics either the short story with artistic panels to add depth. Or his favorite, serials, where you had to wait a month to see what happened. Ace Comics, Detective Comics, New Adventure Comics, He pauses as he is taking his mental tally of all his favorites. 

Action Comics?

He looks at it skeptically, a man in his long johns is holding a truck over his head. Deciding to give it a try he pays for his purchases and boards. Soon he is being rocked gently to the soothing sound of a train on smooth tracks. He reads the newspapers first frowning at the main headlines. “Germany finalizes annexation of Austria” He had seen men like Hitler before and knew where their intolerance led. Turks still killed Christians every day in his homeland. “Jews advised to leave Germany” was the byline. Nodding sadly, he hoped they saw the signs in time and did just that. He wonders if he could have somehow gone back and told his friends and neighbors. If he said the signs are true and their smoldering hate will flare into an inferno and consume them would they leave? 

Reading the entire newspaper, he moved on to the comics. Deciding to start with Action Comics he was enthralled at this tale of a man from another world. He was super strong, super-fast and super tough. He was about to read it a third time when he noticed some eyes upon him. Two boys maybe age 7-9 or so were staring at him. 

“Gonna keep that comic book mister?” One asked before their mother could shush him

“Sure” he said, not really done but he knew if he gave it away there wasn’t much chance, he would see it again. “You got to promise me something. Take care of it, some day when you can still read it you will be glad you did.”

They both nodded happily and as the porter entered letting the car know lunch was being served he turned to see a lovely young lady walking tward the direction the boys disappeared into. Smiling he held the door then seeing there were few empty tables asked if he could dine with them.  They talked about where they were heading and why. He gave his cover story of traveling businessman specializing in imports. He learned she was a widow, her husband killed in an accident at work. During dessert and coffee, she let her last name slip.  Holding together all the control he could he showed no crack in his poker face. 

Charlie “Crackers” Norton, wise guy out of Chicago. He could have been great, but something didn’t jibe with him. Confirmed bachelor he stayed in a single room in a tenement never going out or having visitors. Or at least that’s what he wanted everyone to think. He snuck out every night to a tiny shack house way too near skid row and lived a double life. He married the wife of one of his henchmen who took a bullet for him. He raised this guys child and a couple years later added one of his own. From all outside appearances he was a hard-working teamster and faithful family man. Nobody could recall even one time he ever raised his voice or fist in anger. 

That deception by itself may have been forgiven but, he oversaw coke shipments at the East docks. He wanted to do the best he could and impress his boss. That’s how it started, a little rounding up here, a small increase in profit there. He never meant for it to get out of hand. Just about the same time the shadow assigned to him reported on the secret life the accountant for that front noticed a large discrepancy in the books. 

He looked into her sad eyes. Here was why you can’t have this life and a family unless the family is in this life. Had she been in the circle she would have been cared for. She would have a job in one of the nicer businesses. Hell, they may not have ordered the hit if he was a known family man. Now she was going home to her folks with nothing. No not nothing, the teamster’s union would be paying a pension, but not much. The whistle blew and they could feel the train slowing as the conductor strolls through. 

“Grand Central Station, final stop” 

Slipping as many bills as he could spare into the other comics, he slips them into a bag and hands them to her. 

“For the boys, remind them to take good care of them. They may be worth some money one day” 

With a smile he heads off to his gate eager to see what other adventures he has in store. 

In the cloud of steam from a nearby train, if you had enough imagination you might see an image. It’s of those 2 boys, now grandfathers. The family is gathered round the table trying to solve a problem. They have all gotten in deep with the bank trying to keep themselves and one another afloat. The once impressive spread of farmland outside of Buffalo was a third its size. The bank was about to take the rest. The 2 fellows look at one another and nod then open a small fire safe. Inside is Action Comics #1 still in good to very good condition. They sell it for $750,000