Stepping down on to the dock, his legs still felt unsteady after speeding so many days on the ship.  The journey from Italy had been long and the first several days were spend vomiting over the side.  But he was finally here and following the advice his grandfather had given him. 

“Son, you need to make your own future.  Sure, you can stay here and work for your father, but you will never reach your potential.  Go to New York and find your future.  You will never regret it.”  Those were the last words his grandfather had spoken before his heart attack later that night.  The funeral had been gut wrenching, but with resolve, he had committed to traveling to America and starting fresh.

Taking in a deep breath of coastal air, he watched as people quickly exited the ship, dragging large suit cases or carts to move their personal items.  Columbo looked down to see is filthy canvas bag next to his leg, which carried everything he owned.  “Good to travel light” he told himself as he hoisted the bag over his shoulder and merged into the crowd.

Columbo had worked his way across town to the warehouse district, figuring that would be his best chance for finding employment.  Leaning up against a streetlamp, he was shocked when a kid approached and handed him a note then said “I’d be there if I was you, Mister”.  Just as quickly as he arrived, he disappeared into the crowd.  Looking down, the note simply had an address and nothing more.  Getting directions from a stranger passing by, he begins heading in the direction of the surprise destination.

Standing in front of a non-descript building, wondering about the origination of the note, two large brutes walk out of the front door and directly in his direction.  Stopping on opposite sides, the one to right says “C’mon, the Boss wants to see you”.  Filled with apprehension, he follows the two men inside the building to a barren room with only a door on the other side.  Just as the one of the brutes closes the door, the opposite door is thrown open and another man, much shorter in stature, but with a menacing scowl says “Hurry up, ya pissers, she ain’t got all day”.

Following the angry man up a stairway, he hears the heavy steps of the two brutes coming up the stairs from behind.  At the top of the stairs, the leader opens the door and all four individuals step into an ornate room which is quite the contrast from the building and the entry way below.  A beautiful woman, stylishly dressed and wearing the tallest heels he had ever seen is addressing another man.

After several seconds, with the wave of a hand, she has dismissed the man she had been talking with and turns in your direction.  She says in a sultry voice,  “Thank you boys, that will do”.  Without hesitation, his three escorts exit through the door, shutting it behind them.  Once the door closes, the woman says “They call me HustlinHoe.  Let’s have a conversation, just you and me”.  But this time, the voice is different.  No longer sultry or alluring.  This woman is all business and deep down, he feels more concerned for his situation now that he was along with her than when surrounded by the thugs.

A short time later, he steps out of the office and softly closes the door behind him.  Unconsciously, his lips curl up in a smile as he says to himself “And just like that Grandpa, I have a job and now a family!  I love the Bronx!”

Zeb nods at the shrewd, mac clad detective tells him how much his wife loves his work

I knew your partner, the bald guy, Kojak I believe was his name. 

He reminds me of my penis. 

Gather round ladies.