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| I believe in America | Started by: Fredo_Trapani on Jun 30, '25 01:16 |
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I believe in America, I believe in the American Dream, and these fools have taken it from me. Fredo and Carlo_Gambino are listening wide-eyed to an old man staring at the wall, talking to himself in Fredo's cafe. He continues on for some time, repeating himself. Fredo looks at Carlo and then back at the man and loudly says, "Hey, yo, are you alright?" The old man turns around and says loudly, "Hey, mind your fuckin' business, I'm trying to rehearse." Fredo looks shocked, glances back at Carlo, who's laughing so hard he's crying. Fredo shakes his head and says, "Oh, you think this is funny? Fucking crazy people running around the cafe, that's just what we need right now. The whole neighborhood's gonna say, 'Don't go to Fredo's place, it's a crazy house.'" The old man continues to talk. Fredo grabs a coffee cup and walks over to the man, taps him on the shoulder. The man turns around with a look of disgust. Fredo grabs his shoulder and tells him, "Look, I don't think you're okay, but look at me, look at my face, read the name on the building, and then look at my face again." The man looks at Fredo and then at the sign, then back at Fredo. His life seems to drain from his face, and he starts to stutter, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Mr. Trapani. I truly did not know." The man apologizes for what seems like an eternity. Fredo escorts him to the door and lets him leave, locking it behind him. He flips the open sign to closed and walks back over to his table where Carlo is sitting. He grabs a cigarette and looks at Carlo for a moment, then says, "Glad you got a good laugh. Let's go count this money." The two head to the back room to count the week's take. Fredo looks back and sees the old man waving at him from outside with a smile, and a shiver runs down his spine. Fredo shakes his head and walks to the backroom with Carlo. |
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…Fredo was just locking the door behind the old amateur actor when a loud, fast knock rang out from outside. BANG BANG BANG. “You know who that is?” Carlo asked, still laughing, wiping tears from his eyes. Fredo sighed. “I know that knock. It’s Babs.” And sure enough — outside stood Babs, soaked from the rain, a suitcase in one hand and a cigarette dangling from his lips. On the door — a sign: CLOSED. Next to him — that same old man, still clearly ready for Act II. Babs tugged at the handle. Locked. “Hello? What is this — tea party at Princess Margaret’s?” He looked left, then right — and then noticed the old man watching him like he was on some covert mission. “Closed, young man. Fredo Trapani doesn’t just let anyone walk in, you know.” Babs squinted at him, confused. “Hey, old-timer, move outta the rain before your spine rusts and folds backward.” But the old man was already deep into character. “Fredo Trapani… now that’s a name with weight, son. Back when I was young — during Prohibition — his uncle ran the tightest safehouse on the Tri-River stretch. A legend.” Babs blinked. “Who the hell? What are you even talking about?” “His father, I heard, once solved a turf war by inviting both rival crews to dinner. None of them walked out. You understand who you’re dealing with, kid?” Babs stared. “Did you eat soap for breakfast? I came to drop off money, not get a history lesson on the House of Trapani.” The old man chuckled, nodding slowly — as if he’d just confirmed that Babs was naive, but forgivable. “You think you just knock on this door and it opens? Doesn’t work that way. Fredo Trapani is an institution. In Paris, you say ‘Trapani,’ sommeliers bow.” “What’s next? He built the Eiffel Tower?” Right then, Fredo opened the door and caught the scene: Babs soaking wet, suitcase and cigarette in hand, while the old man pointed dramatically at the café, going on about the “Trapani estate in Tuscany.” Fredo didn’t know whether to laugh or throw something. “Get in here, Babs, before he starts telling you I was born in a lion’s den.” Babs brushed past the old man, muttering, “If he looks at me again, I’m slamming this suitcase on the pavement and making my own door through the window.” Carlo was nearly doubled over in laughter while Fredo locked the door behind them again. He looked at Babs and said: “You know, brother… you’re the only guy who can bring me cash and a headache at the same time.” Babs shrugged. “You’re the only guy whose PR team is a retiree in a fedora with war flashbacks.” As they walked toward the back room, Babs glanced once more at the window. The old man was still standing there, waving with a smile like he’d just met Elvis. Babs shuddered. “You know what, Fredo… if he waves at me again tomorrow, I’m moving my business to Clampazzo.” ⸻ Fredo flipped on the light in the back room with a grin and said: “You know what, Babs… I’ve seen all kinds of characters. But today? You boys killed me.” Three men, one suitcase, and laughter echoing through the café — just another day at Fredo’s. |
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| Reply by: Babs at Jun 30, '25 06:12 | |
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