It started 24 hours ago and trust me this day started wrong. I went to bed at 2am and at 5:45am the phone rings. I was ordered to get up and make the rounds collecting from the local community shops. Now that was not as easy as it sounded. Picking up the Dons collection from the locals was something that angered me every time. They would cry each and every F'n time.

My goumada was sleeping next to me, so I had to get up and stay real quiet which was harder then expected. I started to stretch and dam I caught a charlie horse in my f'n right leg. The pain radiated up and down my leg. After a few minutes of nonstop agony I was able to sit up. Still dazed from a lack of sleep I started towards the shower and bam I stub my f'n toe on the night stand all I could think of was WTF over and over again. Now I'm pissed off, ready to fight and yell but I can't because the woman I loved was sleeping. So I shook it off and hobble to the bathroom and took my shower the time is now 6:09am.

As I started getting dressed, I discovered a hole in my socks as my middle toe is sticking out, knowing that shit would irritated the hell out of me the whole day so I found another pair. Then I found a stain on my trousers so I had to change again and waste more time. The time is 6:57 am. I headed out the door as I got started down the street, two blocks from the house I was pulled over by a rookie cop and I receive a $20 ticket. A $20 ticket that f'n little punk. As if I'm going to actually pay it. Asshole, f_ _ K him! So I started collecting the tribute. At 11am I decide to go and get something to eat. I stop at a local dive in queens and would you f'n believe it, the first three dam orders I placed they couldn't make. So I tried to be a gentleman living in the community, I asked the waitress wouldn't it be easier if you told me, what you can make? I hate getting my hopes up and my appetite going and then you end up telling me sorry were out of that. She was chewing gum and replies apple juice, left over pumpkin pie; we can make you a waffle and a hamburger.

I replied what no bread to make toast, no coffee and no syrup for the waffles, no eggs what kind of restaurant is this. She just chewed that f'n gum louder. So I got up and walked out. So I ate a nutritious bag of peanuts and drunk a cup of coffee from a news stand. While standing at a news stand a couple of cops turn the corner and I get pinched. I begin to wonder WTF, someone forgot to pay the captain and now I gotta go down town, now that was the last straw it was only 12noon. That f'n jack ass captain took his cut plus a bonus for making him work so hard and I gotta eat that shit out of my earns.

I'm late meeting with the Don and I still have ten more stops to make. So now gotta grab a taxi to get back to my car. The cabby wanted me to pay him and again I'm trying to be a man of the community I gave him $5 and told him to keep the change. Then as I got to my car yes I got another ticket for $10. My car was parked in a no parking zone. I look up at heaven and yelled are you serious. I began to think can this day get any worse. I made nine of the pick ups without problems and wouldn't you know it the last one for the day. This guy said he has to pay two many people for protection. After five minutes I asked him a one word question. Really? Then I broke his jaw with a right cross and stump on his chest then kicked him a couple of times and took the f'n money and told him next time I'll cut his tiny f'n ballz off and feed them to his own f'n dog. That felt great, except my fist was hurting and I was running late as hell, I would have to take a few short cuts and drive at a high rate of speed if I was going to meet with the Don.

I arrive 2 hours late with the Dons collections and he starts busting my chops about being late, young punks this, young punks that. Young Jerks no respect coming to him late, unorganized pricks, F'n kids, and then he finishes with I love this f'n kid he got ballz and he's never short with the take, he's never on time but he's never short. Then I was dismissed like a bag of trash. The Don and some of the made men were going out to eat; while I'm F'n starving. So I'm back to the streets to earn my own keep.

It's now 6pm and I'm off to the range after making some good money for myself. I was at the gun range letting a little frustration out, when I notice that while I was shooting down range some one was shooting at us. I saw my trainer moving in slow motion as each bullet hit his chest. So I hit the dirt and low crawl to a cement wall. I looked at my trainer as he lay dead. His green eyes looking directly at me blood oozing from his mouth. I looked around and I noticed that my box of bullets was still on the stand twenty feet away. Then I remembered that I did reload my pistol before I hit the ground. I didn't hear it a car took off or if it stopped. Again I look up to heaven and shake my head no this is too much for one day. I realize this shit is going to end badly for me if I don't focus. You would think that with about twenty people at this gun range that someone, anyone one of them would have shot back. Well I knew I had to get out of there before they come to finish the job or the police arrive. I had to laugh for a second to prevent myself from just giving up just as I remembered that I parked my car at the far end of the range and I was low crawling in the wrong direction. Then I saw my F'n hat blowing down range so I lost that to. Shit! So I turned around and low crawled back to where a started and then towards my car.

I made it to my car and then I lost my F'n keys. So I had to reach under the steel front bumper and remove the taped spare set of keys. I made it to my safe house on the west end of Hoboken a real piece of shit apartment building. I couldn't go home just in case some one was following me or waiting for me. I had to collect my thoughts and figure this out. Then form a plan to either seek revenge or let the Don handle it. My father would tell me that to subdue your enemy without fighting is a skill best acquired. Still I had no known enemies and I kept a low profile. I got friends and lots of them but this is ridiculous who would gain from my death. What would they gain from my death?

At my safe house I stored a shot gun and plenty of ammo it's now 9:16 pm. I ate my sandwich that I bought at the deli and drink my three bottles of beer. 10:15pm I attempt to call my soon to be wife but I couldn't reach her. I started worrying about her safety. Then the phone ranged the voice at the other end is a female friend, wanting to know I'm ok. My thoughts went straight to how the hell did she know I was here? So I asked her that dam question, she laughed we've been friends a long time and I heard about the hit at the range. I know that you go there every Thursday and today's Thursday. That's when I realize it's time to change my habits. I began to think she set me up. So I asked her did she know who or why I was set up. Her reply was no. After a few more questions I then hung up the phone thinking that women can be just as deadly as men if not more so. Women smile at you then you blink and their gun is in your face.

Its 11:01pm Then the phone rings again it's my best friend asking me am I alright. Now I'm having trust issues. This sucks. I finish my conversation and then I begin to remember I never gave this number out so how the hell did all these people get this number, hell this wasn't a safe house it's an f'n trap. At 11:27pm and my phone rings again this time it's a member of the family. He asked was I ok and then tells me the hit was not suppose to be on me and not to take it personally. How the hell do you not take it personally? Then my father's voice kicks in. Don't trust anyone when you've been shot at. Know your enemy and yourself. Remember the person that acts like a friend may be your enemy. So I grab and loaded my shot gun and some 12 gage shells and three boxes of bullets. I turned off all the lights it was 11:59pm. I open the door and I walk out with my shot gun in my hand ready to shot the first person that looks out of place. I reached my car and drove away as if I had no worries. until I got back to Manhattan, back into my house. I entered looking for my girlfriend but she was sleep again. Dam a hold day gone without spending time with her. I turned on the radio and low and behold over the air the announcer reported that and apartment building on 5th street caught fire killing 19 people; the problem with that was that building was my f'n safe house.

Sun zu said choose brains over brawn you will win every time. Attack what is weak avoid what is strong you will become stronger. Know your enemy and know yourself. To subdue your enemy without fighting is a skill best acquired.

To be continued