Part 2 page 1

Chapter Nine: The wife of a man carrying the Curse of Alphonso lived with dčje'vu

The following twenty years were years of relative peace. The families grew with power and success. The war years delivered huge benefits from counterfeit ration cards, stolen merchandise, and contracts awarded through mob contacts. At the war's conclusion, growing labor unions provided the mob with plenty of cash and opportunity...

Though the War and it's ultimate economic boom had more than made up for the loss of revenue caused by the repeal of prohibition, The Curse continued: Pepe had gone senile -- with his secrets firmly buried? Gina was rewarded for her assistance with a joint in Queens; a small bar that catered to gamblers. Gina and Jeanette became friends and were seen together constantly. Franky continued to grow in riches and property as he cared for a rapidly wasting Antonio --and was unaware of Pepe's complicity in his fathers misfortunes. With Fatso long since gone, the blame for all past transgressions were placed on him... at least for now. Luciano served time in prison, was released, and deported to Sicily. New faces of the old were "standing in for him". The Donatelli brothers sold their restaurant to Joe-Pep and his brother Carmine. Joe was made into the family and married Jeanette. The Baffa and Dicanio clans became joined as one.

Yes, the scene was set for a continuance of heritage. Though times had changed, events remain the same. With Antonio lying on his death bed, Francis had replaced him as a third generation wiseguy. Louise married Dominic, quit the mobster scene, purchased the home she always wanted in Hicksville, New York, and became the "Grand" mother she always wanted to be-- though her contacts kept her informed as to developements--of which two in particular had truly weighed heavy on her mind: The first was the old rumers of Pepe's complicity in the downfall of Antonio, the other, Joe's philandering! She warned Joe that she would not put up with it. She felt the sufferring he was putting Jeanette through could not be tolerated. Joe just shrugged it off. Dominic hung around with Joe and Carmine while becoming a grandfather figure to Joe's children -- his gambling continued to grow. Pepe, the oldest survivor of both clans, was content in his world of no cares -- or was he. No one new, for no one could communicate with him: He just sat around mumbling to him self and dribbling all over the Almond Toast cookies he seemed fond of. His legacy was maintained through his sons and the fact they were producing male grandchildren to carry on the name and traditions of the family -- the next generation of soldiers of the hand. It seemed like all of the intrigue had ended with successful conclusion and change. Even the hierarchy of the mob had changed. Luciano had been disposed to the Island of Sicily and a new figure ruled by the name of Genovese -- with a guy named Gambino lurking in the shadows. Thus, the newest members of this thing of ours embarked upon a road of continuance. Desires, plans, and a history of repetition would soon lead to further destruction and misery

With four children, three of them boys, Joe-Pep was well into his goal: he had a wife to birth and raise his children -- while he continued to date mob women. His reasoning produced a reaction he was not prepared for: Jeanette would not put up with his philandering and frequent fights -- most of them physical -- ensued. His brother Carmine, "The Professor", had been caught in the middle. He had always been caught in the middle. Though these circumstances evolved and molded his character to deal with the precarious situations his brother always placed them in, he longed for his own world: but the fact of continuance and dedication to his ancestral ways proved a wall of stone that would not crumble to simple blows of wishful thinking. He had to watch and protect his brother with a dedication of love and respect.

Carmine became the street lawyer. He learned diplomacy. He learned how to think before he acted. His wife Josephine was dead set against Joe and his ways, but she was of the old way: a product of tradition. She realized that these loving brothers were soldiers of the hand steeped in the way of life that had been handed down through the ages. She, like Grandma Angela, feared for her husband and children's future: The wife of a man of respect lived with proof of dčje'vu...

.

Joe-Pep rounded the turnpike's embanked curve at ninety miles an hour as Gina, giggling and carrying on with the delight of a teenage school girl, hung on to his arm for dear life. In the back of the '62 Caddy, Carmine was yelling to Joe to slow down..

The day was good Friday and he was supposed to be home taking his wife Josephine and several of his young children to mass, not riding hell-bent around the city. Joe demanded that he wait until he picked up Gina and drove her to her apartment in mid-town Manhattan. As they came upon the gleaming structure of the Triborough Bridge, a car darted onto the roadway and nearly swiped the Joe's sedan. As the intruder grappled with his steering wheel in an attempt to corral his tires to the road Joe lost it in a fit of anger.

"You #$%%^%$#-%%$#, who the $#%$%$# do you think you are?" He screamed through the open window at the driver of the car that was beginning to correct itself.

"I'll blow your ^%$^%^&^$ brains out!" He continued as he pulled his revolver out and pointed it straight at the guy.

The driver realized that a mad man was pointing a black revolver through the window of the Caddy and attempted to slam his brakes to avoid the shots...

Several shots hit the car.

Carmine had had enough. He yelled at his brother to slow down and pull over.

"Let me out of this car!" He demanded as he made an attempt to open the door of the moving vehicle.

As Joe slowed down and exited the highway a police cruiser pulled along side.

"Hey, Pep, pull that damn car over..." Jolly Green Giant yelled, pulling his squad car behind the brothers.

"Listen, you guys think your it! I've been around longer then both of you." You keep doing this #$#@ I'll bust you!" Ball hammed, standing directly into Joe's face.

"Who do you think your talking to, huh! My father and his friends made you. Your garbage, that's what you are! Simple rouge cops on the take! You guys never had the guts to do it no other way." Joe spat back, his eyes flashing with wrath.

"Put your $%#$%#$ hands on the ca..."

"WAP, BANG..." Joe tore into Ball..."

By the time Carmine and Jolly Green tore the two apart, Ball's face was a mess.

"Some one's gonna hear of this, you hear me. Your @#$#$#@ not gonna get away with this!"

Ball screamed as Jolly attempted to calm him down.

Jolly convinced Ball to get into the car and Joe could hear him shouting revenge through the window as the car roared off....

Harry, bad blood was prevalent between the two cops and Joe for a long time. The brothers refused to pay them and had actually scammed them on several occasions. Joe thought the two were acting to big for their pants. When threatened with a loss of protection, Joe had Pauly Ham "speak up" of the cop's broad latitude in which they treated the every day soldiers by shaking them down. When the Mafia Commission heard of this accusation, they summoned the cops on the carpet and reminded them that over the previous thirty years, they in fact had committed as many crimes as anyone else. Told to "lay off" the brothers, they obeyed... though they steamed every time they saw them-- which was frequently!

"You just keep on pushing, don't you. You just keep digging it in.."

"Wait a minute, that rat %$#%^%$ threatened me and he was in my face, he an't got no respect!" Joe said as he threw his arms about in explanation.

"Hey, wait a minute. If you did not..."

"If I did not what? Huh? What? It's my li..."

"You might have killed that guy! Did you think of that? You caused them to stop, think of that? Are you crazy or what! Your wife Jeanette and your kids are waiting for you and here you are driving like a maniac with a whore in the front seat shooting your mouth and your #$%$##! Gun off! You know that Gina and Jeanette are close! What do you think Lou will say if she finds out about you and Gina... and you know she will!? When is this garbage gonna end? We gota work tonight! And you know the facts... Pauly Ham is on his way out... With Pauly sick we gotta watch our backs! He was the one who got that contract rescinded! That guy from Florida is gonna wanna get even! He was the one that got those jerks off our backs... short of whacking them!" Carmine said shaking with rage.

Joe calmed down as soon as he realized what he had done. He realized the facts of Carmine's message. They had been under the wing of Pauly Ham: the wise guy whom ran the rackets in Harlem. Both Joe and Carmine had recently did a number on some jerk whom deserved the treatment he got. Only problem was, this guy they had thrown around had a brother whom was a "Big Shot" from Florida. When he demanded retribution, Pauly stepped in. Joe and Carmine were called "on the carpet" to explain what had happened. It was Pauly whom protected them. And now that Pauly Ham was sick, who new what the tide would bring...

He apologized and promised that he would drop Gina off, drive Carmine to the Island, and then join his wife and kids for an early evening mass before returning to open the restaurant.