"Hey Jimmy wait up." The familiar voice of Jimmy's life long hustler
buddy Screech called out. "You ready for the big rivalry game Saturday
against East Side High? You ain't nervous none I hope" Screech mocked.
"I don't get nervous and what do you care you don't like sports
anyways?"
Jimmy replied smugly knowing that his friend wanted something, he
always had something up his sleeve. "A guy can't show support for his
pals these days? Jeez! But anyways I had something else to ask you
about anyways." Screech responded smartly. "Here it comes." Jimmy
thought to himself. "My boss wants to see you for something Jim and
don't ask me why, those guys never tell me anything. All I know is that
he wants you to come to that old bar down Madison at 7:00. Oh and Jim
he said that it would be in the best interest to me if you attended
that meeting, if you get my drift." Screech explained with a note of
fear in his voice. Jimmy's stomach dropped as soon as Screech mentioned
who wanted to see him but sensing the fear in Screech's eyes he decided
it would be best to just go. "Tell him I'll be there" Jimmy replied
after a deep breath and a long hesitation. "Thanks Jimmy I really
appreciate it" Screech exclaimed with the life returning into his eyes and walked quickly across
the street.

Jimmy stepped into the old bar and was engulfed in cigar smoke as
soon as the steel door behind him closed. He stood at the door for a
second looking around and the bartender noded at him in the direction
of a booth in the far corner of the bar where an old Italian man was
sitting by himself. Jimmy nodded back at the bartender then walked
through the smoke filled room toward the old man. "You must be Jimmy
the all American Quarterback I've been hearing so much about?" The old
man said with a big grin across his face. "Yes sir but I have to ask
and I don't mean any disrespect in any way, but what is it that you
want with me?" Jimmy replied with more seriousness in his voice than he
meant to speak with. "Straight to business. huh? Sit, sit make your
self comfortable. I want us to be friends Jimbo. You don't mind if
I call you Jimbo do you? Well it's like this Jimbo, That big rivalry
game
thats coming up in three days, well I need you to not perform to the
best of your abilities." The man said calmly with the same eerie grin
on his face. "Excuse me sir? What do you mean?" Jimmy stuttered.
"Well Jimbo what I mean is this if you make sure that your team dosent
score anything more than fieldgoals or at least not any touchdowns
thrown out of your hands then I can make it so that we both become very
wealthy new friends." The man explained still very calmly but with a
sly smirk on his face now. "Well sir I would like us to be friends and
I could do with the money but this is a very important game for meand
there are going to be college scouts there. All the hype is that I'm
supposed to show out this weekend and everybody is kind of counting on
me to. So I have to do well Saturday." Jimmy replied nervously."Now
don't you fret about anything like that Jimbo. Like I said I am a very
beneficial friend to have. I have some pull with some high people at
alot of these Universities. I can make sure that you make it to one of
these colleges with a great sports program. I'm talking colleges that
even the pro's scouters regularly visit. So how about it Jimbo? You
have
the first bad game you've had sense
little league and you go home with one hundred grand and a new good
friend who owes you one." The old man said with that weird grin
plastered back on his face. "I'll think about it sir and let you know
before Saturday if that's alright with you? Sir" Jimmy replied standing
up to
get ready and leave. The old mans expression changed instantly from a
grin to a stale face when Jimmy said that. "Oh and son isn't that your
mom's hair salon down Franklin Ave? And your Dads dinner on Ridgeview?
It sure would be a shame for something to happen to such nice
establishments. Oh and hows your buddy Screech doing? Tell him that he needs to come see me right after you've let me know what your decesion is?
I think it would just be alot better for everybody if you took my deal
son but I'm sure you will make thee right decesion. Keep in touch son."
The old man said as calm as possible but with that same stale face.
"I'll be seeing you son" The old man said to Jimmy Winking and pointing his finger in the shape of a gun at the now way past nervous Jimmy...