The gun was slowly coming to a halt. It lifted slowly, higher and higher. The target was unaware. He stared with tears rapidly filling his eyes. This was the end of his best friend and all he had to now was pull the trigger. The target turned around and smiled until he realized the gun was pointed at him.

Gatsby cleared his throat. He was a little shook up. Out of all his time in the mafia this was one of his favorite stories. He enjoyed listening to new ones and old ones but the stories about friendship were always the most gripping for him.

John, what are you doing? Its me...Your brother! You cant pull the trigger. What happened to Brothers to the end?!

He stood with his arms to the side. John could barely see because his eyes were so watery. The lights blurry. He tried to swallow but there was a lump in his throat. He could not believe he was asked to kill his closest friend, his brother. John was born on the other side of Chicago. A side that pretty much sums up the wealthy part of the world. His brother was not. In fact they were not really brothers they just called themselves that. Often, even though there in different families would talk about how they killed and robbed so many people. They laughed about the times they picked pockets of strangers who would get angry. They busted each other out of jail and spoke in affirmation of each other in the streets. In the past their family lines were so closely linked as their ancestors lead families and organizations together. Yet never have their family lines been on opposite sides.

I understand John, i do. Its ok. You can pull the trigger. Listen, dont be sad brother. Everything you have done has been amazing and now you will get the chance to lead your own family just like your father. You know me, i told little pete not to be around any of my business associates. I never wanted him to be a part of this world. So it looks like this is where the family line ends for my lineage. It looks like i am the last to be placed here in the mafia. 

John lowered his gun. It was not a personal motive for him to kill. It was just if you were not from the same organization you were not truthfully together. It was how this life went after all. You killed often, not necessarily cause you wanted to but because you needed to. Most times it was never personal vendettas it was always a business reason. John loved his friend. Looking around the room where he was staying John saw a photograph of the two of them as boys on the floor around a bunch of other photographs. Papers thrown around. He obviously knew someone was coming for him. It was war after all. It looked like Johns side was going to win as well. His friend only had so much time. Good that he found it reminiscing of the past. 

You know John, it was me who killed Mikey. Thats what started this whole thing. But He deserved it John, you know he did. He specifically said that my family line was trash. After all we been through, you know i could never allow that! Whats hard is here you are defending a dead man who spoke ill of my families work! After all we been through i wish it was not so. 

John lowered his gun. He could not kill him. They promised friendship, brotherhood above all in this life. That no matter what happened their relationship would come first as their forefathers. But if John did not kill him someone else would. Would they make him suffer? Would they beat him hours upon hours for Mikeys death? John was unable to forsee the future but he knew he didnt want him to be abused senselessly.  

John do not put the gun down. Just pull the trigger. Please John. If you do not kill me someone else will. Your organization already ripped through my entire city. You might as well end it all now. You're the next auth it makes perfect sense if you are the one to get the final kill. Please John, just do not let Peter enter this life.

John never saw himself kill a friend. But he knew it was the correct thing to do. John instead tried to urge him to retire and leave this world. To take Peter and go somewhere far away. Keep his life raise his family and do something meaningful with his time. There was no use in dying for a dead organization. Loyalty to that extent was pointless to John. He decided to hug him one last time before he fired the bullet. As they embraced John knew at that moment he would not kill his best friend. A whisper slowly reached the ears of John.

I am sorry brother, but war is war. I wish you would have just pulled the trigger. 

Johns body fell to the floor. Blood spilled out and covered the rug. Everything was more blurry than before. He was now dizzy as well. He saw John standing above him smiling. He placed a picture on the chest of John. It was the two of them when they were boys. 

I am sorry John. I do hope you can forgive me. HAHA Believe it or not i really thought you were going to shoot me. I thought i was a goner. Alright well i probably should leave this city they'll be trying to find me soon. Ill make sure i speak at your funeral. Ill say, Brothers To The End.

Johns eyes went black. The paramedics came rushing in the locked door. It was of to no use. Johns life had passed before him. He was the next auth. To be the next  big thing in Chicago and then in the blink of an eye, all the work and effort he put into everything had just disappeared. It was all over. Rest In Peace John. 

***

Gatsby drank out of his glass and politely gave a few seconds of silence. 

A long story. A long moral. One i find myself to struggle with. When you find yourself on opposite sides with a friend can you still shoot them if necessary? We see that John could not but his best friend was able to pull the trigger. Brothers to the end. A phrase i have so much love for. In the end is it all business or is friendship bigger than the wars we enter into? I leave that for you to decide. 

BillyJoel positions himself at a piano.  He is a man, with hair and eyes and fingers and hands.

BillyJoel thinks for a while, collecting his thoughts on what Gatsby had said before playing the piano and singing a song about brotherhood, love, loss and shooting people

"I wake up in the morning 
And I raise my weary head 
I got an old coat for a pillow 
And the earth was last night's bed 
I don't know where I'm going 
Only God knows where I've been 
I'm a devil on the run 
A six gun lover 
A candle in the wind 
When you're brought into this world 
They say you're born in sin 
Well at least they gave me something 
I didn't have to steal or have to win 
Well they tell me that I'm wanted 
Yeah I'm a wanted man 
I'm colt in your stable 
I'm what Cain was to Abel 
Mister catch me if you can 
I'm going down in a blaze of glory 
Take me now but know the truth 
I'm going down in a blaze of glory 
Lord I never drew first 
But I drew first blood 
I'm no one's son 
Call me young gun 
You ask about my consience 
And I offer you my soul 
You ask If I'll grow to be a wise man 
Well I ask if I'll grow old 
You ask me if I known love 
And what it's like to sing songs in the rain 
Well,I've seen love come 
And I've seen it shot down 
I've seen it die in vain 
Shot down in a blaze of glory 
Take me now but know the truth 
'Cause I'm going down in a blaze of glory 
Lord I never drew first 
But I drew first blood 
I'm the devil's son 
Call me young gun 
Each night I go to bed 
I pray the Lord my soul to keep 
No I ain't looking for forgiveness 
But before I'm six foot deep 
Lord,I got to ask a favor 
And I'll hope you'll understand 
'Cause I've lived life to the fullest 
Let the boy die like a man 
Staring down the bullet 
Let me make my final stand 
Shot down in a blaze of glory 
Take me now but know the truth 
I'm going out in a blaze of glory 
Lord I never drew first 
But I drew first blood 
and I'm no one's son 
Call me young gun 
I'm a young gun"

Billy, you have a wonderful voice old sport. Thank you for taking the time to write a song about the story. It is a wonderful gift. 

Gatsby shakes BillyJoels hand and proceeds to walk into his house. Excuse me, Mansion.