It was how I made money. I set a chess board out on a tree stump in the park in New York. Waited for a man or women and then the money. It was the only way I could eat. sometimes I could play multiple people at once and the people standing around to watch bet on who would win. I won. Many people came and went. Politcians to Bums from Gangsters to Outstanding citizens. I was never a violent person in fact my philosophy on chess was one of the most pacifist ways of doing things. I would only go for the mate. Just the main kill. Getting what needed to be done so I can get my next meal. It was getting close to Christmas around the 22nd of December and well thats when I went from a hustler to a bum in my opinion. I stole a ladies purse, I know what you are thinking, how could he? In my only defense and I know its not a good one but I hadnt eaten in two days and she was wearing a nice fur coat. She had money. That was the only time I had ever stolen from a woman. Then there was this rush I got like when the chess game is in a blitz mode you got one minute to make all your moves and so does he, you cant think.. you just act, thats exactly what happened.

I played a man in chess one day he was a shady looking guy but he forked up a few bucks when I beat him. He wanted me to meet his friend or coworker. Now at first I thought his friends name was Don but it wasn't thats just what they called him. He looked me up and down and walked away. so I went back to making my money. A few days later a woman I grew close with came up to me. She loved watching me play. Her Name was OneSilentTear. She wanted me to meet this same guy. She had introduced me to some of my best friends already so I said "sure why not." Me, I had nothing to lose. You know, no family, no friends, no memory of who I was. Just an uncanny ability to beat people in chess. She took me to the corner of a coffee shop and there I stood in the rain. A Black car drove up beside us and a few men came out. I thought this man must be pretty important. He asked a few questions and I answered the best I could. Intrigued by me he asked if I wanted coffee I said partially dehydrated "sure, havent had a drink of anything all day."

We sat in a booth he asked me how I knew so much about war and tactics. I told him I read when I get the chance. CrazyNine was a good man A real Powerful man I told him one day I would have people escorting me around and buying me things like him. I dont think he believed me, after all who would? I'm Just a hustler I manipulate the minds of people so I can eat and I wasnt like him, a respected Gangster. Well at that time, I wasnt. When we finished eating, the owner of the Coffee shop told CrazyNine that the drink was on him. Weird cause I always had to pay somedays I wasnt even allowed in there. I liked being with CrazyNine He demanded Respect and people gave it to him. "Hector," he said, "we will do this again one day." Of course we will I thought. He departed and then a thought popped up in my head, I could be like him, I could be respected like this man.

I called Tom_Hagen the next day he moved down to Las Vegas and I always wanted to go. When he picked me up from the airport I noticed many people that he hung around with dressed like crazynine and his friends. "Tom?" I asked "who are these people?" He responded with a firm answer his family. I met a few of these people he called family and thought the same thing about every single one, dont get on their bad side.

A few days later I met a woman. Her name was Aurora. She looked a lot like the woman that I stole the purse from except she had men with her. A lot of men. I had the oppurtunity to speak with her for a moment and discovered she was the mother of Toms family basically. "Aurora?" I asked after a long conversation with her, "I want to be a part of your family." She gave me her blessing. The next day Tom called me up and took me to the bar where he told everyone I was his associate. Now I didin't know what all that meant at the time but what I did know was I shouldnt screw anything up cause if I do Tom gets into trouble. I had to prove myself to the family. Tom called me up one day and said we had to take out his other associate Sweeney. I Thought about that for a moment and looking in the mirror I said "Ok".

When I joined this, this thing of ours I didnt really know what I was getting myself into. What I did know was I got a long with a few people who were able to eat three times a day, who lived in las vegas and who had respect like Don Crazynine. I think about it sometimes and wonder where I would be now if I had not accepted the invite to join the family.

Thanks Amelia for helping me write it down. : )

Very well done Hector, describing your progression from the boat into an associate's position. I would think any new civvies would learn well from this in addition to it's entertainment value.

Mezz listens intently, almost in awe.

"You know my friend, it is a rarity that such people are given any opportunity, let alone one so great as yours."

I feel quite lucky, you see - I traveled here trying to escape the great depression that haunts most of Europe. 

My father always told me I'd be a 'down and out', that I would never amount to much. I was working in a grocers for the early part of my life and managed to save up enough money to trade into dollars.

After I bought my ticket here, I had around $500 dollars left - not a lot, but enough to put a roof over my head for the first few day's.

... and enough for me to make a few phone calls.

You see my life started in the grimy streets of West London. - My father was a butcher, much like his father had been. However he held a secret past, he walked these streets in a similar fashion to both you and I do now.  

My dream was to make something of myself, prove my father wrong and meet the people I heard so much about when my grandfather returned home.

Now I live my life like he did, occasionally sending a little money home to help my sister and her kids. But I look back on my old life and smile, not in a smug way, but in a way of joy...

Perhaps that I have proven myself, not in my fathers eye's of course. But I see that same smile in you.

Hector, If your travels ever take you too Saint Louis, be sure to join me for a jar of ale. 

My treat of course. 

Tom was sitting aside his associate as he told this tale, realizing some things he had not really known about his associate. Tom had found the guy roaming the streets with nothing but a couple of dollars to his name. But Tom saw something in the kid that some other people might not have, what he saw was Potential. And the potential to go far in this thing of ours is hard to come by some times. Tom lit a cigar and stood next to his good friend, almost offered him one but knew that he didn't like to smoke so he just placed it back into his coat pocket.

"You are a good associate and even better friend Hector, I know you will "make your bones" here in Las Vegas. You are a great addition to the family and our bloodlines have crossed before in the past, but I never expected to meet the son of a man that my father respected. Not for any power he had but for the way that he conducted himself and his business matters. So I wish you luck and you know I'll be there to help you along the way, but I know you'll do great things kid, I just know it." Tom gives Hector a brotherly hug and pats him on the back and then takes a seat back down next to Hector.