Sylvestro walks over to the crowd of people on the the street. Wise guys, earners, goomba's you name it, they all stand around waiting for the boss's to pass by. He clears his throat.

So the other day I'm just walking down the street minding my own business. Business has been good lately too.Everyone laughs.As I'm walking, I see this sweet young thing unload on a bum. So being the daring sort I figure I'll grab some of her cash. She catches me and calls me out. So I offer the quick apology and the lame, get me back. Now maybe I ain't the brightest bulb, but she tells me not to worry and that she couldn't get me back cause she just took care of some other business. Being the not real dumb type I offer up a shrug and a "I wouldn't know" line. As I leave I flipped her a silver dollar. She seemed surprised at the tip and agreed with my lack of knowledge on conducting business. What she didn't realize is that I tipped her because she gave me so much more information than I already had. Yet in her mind, I was clueless one.

Sam "silver dollar" Carollo flips a silver dollar up and catches it himself. As he walks off he turns and says

Thanks for listening fella's, I'll keep the buck so as not to offend.

So you made a mistake and acted as if you did not know what you were doing? That is pretty genius i can not lie. Very mafia i think.

Singer sits back for a moment to hear if anyone else decides to speak on this matter.

Or maybe she was lying, gave you no information at all and then you tipped her.

Worth a thought, isn't it?

Anselmo happens to be playing cards outside a nearby bistro as Sylvestro tells his story to some wise guys on the corner

It's hard to tell sometimes if the stories mobsters tell on the street are true, exaggerated, or just plain made-up entirely. If this indeed happened to you, I applaud your cunning and the way you think. I enjoyed listening to your ancedote, my Friend. Short, sweet, and to the point. I guess if there's a lesson in this it's 'always let them underestimate you'. Well played, sir.

Anselmo nods at Sylvestro and looks back down at his hand, five Aces.

If she just said she had "taken care of other business", then she told you nothing. It could have been the same "business" you had with her, for all you know.

I guess if there's a lesson in this it's 'always let them underestimate you'. Well played, sir.

Again - she is a mafioso. She was 99% likely to be lying - I do not mean that all mafioso lie here by the way, just that they would never share their business with someone outside the family. In which case, she was not the one doing the underestimating.

Unless of course she was DOUBLE bluffing you. Either way, you're still clueless and you have no idea of her business.

Challenge her to a game of Texas hold em' poker. Then call her 99% of the time and see if she was bluffing? ...

This may be not the best story to tell since, if it is true, this lovely lady might decide to "take care of some other business" on a guy going around the streets telling people about her business.

Again - she is a mafioso. She was 99% likely to be lying - I do not mean that all mafioso lie here by the way, just that they would never share their business with someone outside the family. In which case, she was not the one doing the underestimating.

Then maybe it was him underestimating her, Afro. Either way the lesson is still there. Capice? Another thing, to say that all Mafioso don't share their business outside of their family isn't exactly accurate either, case in point being this story if it is indeed true. Sad but true unfortunately.

...case in point being this story if it is indeed true. Sad but true unfortunately.

This remark wasn't a knock on the guy's story... I rather enjoyed it. I'm just questioning Mr. Afro's claim that every mobster we come across follows the code. Indeed in a perfect world mobsters would keep their traps shut about business that doesnt concern those outside the Family, but in my experience with others that is not always the case. Maybe she was lying, maybe she wasn't. Either way, somebody got suckered, which makes the story all the more interesting

In which case, she was not the one doing the underestimating.

If you actually listened to what I said you would have seen that I said that already. Please clean your ears out before responding again.


No. No mafioso with any sense shares their family business with people outside the family. Are you saying you know people that do? Mobsters that don't keep their traps shut, end up with a cement block for shoes, capisce? So these mythical people you speak of wouldn't last very long either way.

I did listen to what you said and my ears are very clean. To answer your question, yes I do know people that do, as I just stated just a moment ago when I clearly said "Indeed in a perfect world mobsters would keep their traps shut about business that doesnt concern those outside the Family, but in my experience with others that is not always the case." To say that loose-lipped Mafioso do not exist in Our Thing would be innaccurate. My statement was based on fact and experience. But if it pleases you, by all means continue to believe these mobsters are mythical. I'm actually not sure why you took offense to what I said, but I appreciate your concern regarding the hygiene of my ears.

No offense was taken to what you said. It annoyed me a little that you repeated a point that I already made and then proceeded to act as though you were the one who had made it.

I didn't say they didn't exist - simply that they wouldn't last very long. In which case, they only exist for brief periods of time and with any luck their bloodline learns a lesson that their future generations won't forget. The reason I call them mythical is because people say they know things but all of a sudden forget their names when asked, hence the mythicalness of it all.

Oh - I almost forgot. I am not concerned about the 'hygiene of your ears', I was simply concerned that you were not in fact listening to everything I said. Perhaps that subtle hint was lost on you?

Regardless of this, I will say good day to you. If you wish to continue our conversation you can send correspondence Here.

I see no reason why two gentlemen can't continue a conversation on the streets. Your subtle hint was not lost on me, and in fact I was half-agreeing with what some of what you said. I am not sure why you think I was repeating your point and claiming it to be my own, as I am not fully certain our points are even the same. My original response to Syl's tale was to tell the speaker that I enjoyed his story and why. I actually didn't even really notice you standing there until you addressed me. But if it will put an end to this innane argument, I am content with agreeing that you were 100% correct and that I was just echoing what you said in an attempt to look intelligent. I can live with that.

Good day to you as well, Mr. Afro.

Sylvestro steps forward again.

I wouldn't have imagined my story would draw the attention of a Godfather, and my reply is with all due respect sir. I do not ignore you either Mr. AfroSamuri, and this is also to you with all the respect deserving of your station and rank. I just want to highlight that I had seen her unload on a bum. In our little interaction I was the only one with all the knowledge. She could assume that someone picking her pocket that quick knew more than the average Joe but that was a dangerous assumption. I had hoped to convey my amusement at her derision of my business acumen. Perhaps it was not as amusing as I had hoped.

With all due respect to you Mr. Stabone. Since I take my responsibilities very seriously and perform my duties flawlessly, any move on her part would be foolish. I have mentioned no names, families, or cities.

As a goomba I did want to garner this kind of negative attention, I merely thought some guys on the streets might see the humor I did. I apologize for creating a stir beyond my station.

Sam bows out.

I meant to say "did not want" to garner that kind of negative attention. All these boss's stopping by have me nervous.

For what it is worth Mr Carollo, it was an entertaining story. I for one am glad I was sitting close-by to overhear it

Definitely a good story, Sylvestro.   A nice twist on a day-to-day occurrence with a moral included.  It's important to watch how much information you may subconsciously reveal to others.

I would very curious to know, however, the definition of ,"unload on a bum."  I think that is very applicable here.

Never let it be said Sylvestro ignored a boss's question. "Unload on a bum" is what she did. Maybe like this:

Her: "Congratulations you won!"
Bum: "Won what?"
Her: "The wet t-shirt contest motherf****!"
BAM BAM BAM

Or maybe it was more like this:

Her: "Hey, can your mom sew?"
Bum: "Yeah she can sew."
BAM BAM BAM
Her: "Then have her sew that up, eh!"

Something along those lines Mr. Costanza.

:Laughs:

Ok.  I think I see what you mean now.  If that's the case, sir, then you had already gotten all the information that you needed.  Without all that, "Just taken care of some other business," business.