THE ST FRANCIS HOME FOR MEN
1290 CEDAR STREET
THE HEIGHTS

March 15th 1963

I guess if I tell this story it will no longer be mine. Mine alone that is. But it's better out there now, I guess. And I need the money, as per usual.

Me and two of Eddie Sullivan's boys were the last stragglers leaving Joe's Gym that night, when up she comes. I forget the exact date. It was in the Spring of last year sometime. Anyway, this is the story, if you want to hear it, listen up.

I wouldn't say she put me in her pocket right away but she sure had something. Few women have it. You can't show it to someone. It isn't like a picture. She had it, that's all. It was lapping all round her like waves. When she was in front of you talking, you could see it. Just talking like. With her mouth all lipstick. Anyway, to get back to the story. I think it was an April night with a moon in it.

Me? Long ago I was a boxer. Should I say slugger, cause it never got scientific. But then again I have never been knocked out. Never. Not by the good or by the dirty. And some of them was really good, Champions some of them. I'm happy enough to let the record speak. Check it out if you want. Never knocked out. Got granite in the bone. Get it from my old man. He was a tough little squirt too. A handsome devil Ma says. I take after Ma in the looks, meaning they are very few and far between. 11 years of pounding don't help either.

The fight game aint what it once was. And I'm too old. So, I don't do it no more. I have another job now. Tollbooth Cashier over on the Keys. Sure, I still hang round Joe's and help out with things. But this is just to keep in the game. See the new kids coming up. I live with bunch of old hasbeens at St Francis Men's Home on the Heights's. I am 39 and next month is my birthday on the 17th. I'm a Ram.

Leo Kidd, my old manager, says we can never go back. Never know what the best fight was cause we weren't there. The best fight. The best right hook. The best points decision. Cause this all happens when the blood is boiling and the sweat is in your eyes and some guy is beating the crap out of you. This is Mr Leo Kidd talking through the hole he usually blows through. It's all bunk. I go back every night. I give myself 3 minutes to remember all the wins. I include the Jessie Donati fight for the title in "55". I won by a mile, and the crowd who broke the place up agreed with me. Even the papers said I'd won, but the Foran Gang had it set up and robbed me. I put the beer in front of me on the table, already open and give myself 3 minutes. Round by round. Then I drink it. Never drink till I remember them all. Never.

Friday is fight night and as I was saying this Mia came over.

"I don't know if you guys know" she says "but Little Jimmy Samson is dead. Heart attack this morning in the house. His wife asks me to find his friends and bring them over."

Now Little Jim had no friends but as I wasn't the only one around why should I tell her?

"You'll find some of them over in the Dopey Horse or The Ring." Ike told her. I said nothing but it's me she looks at.

"You a friend of Jimmy's?" she asks. Suddenly there's no space between the two of us. About arms length, that's all.

"Not exactly a friend" I say this while walking on, slow like.

She wasn't inclined to follow, so I turned. Ike and Toffee were sniggering at something like big kids. Then they walked on and left us alone.

"Show me where The Dopey Horse is?"

"I'm in kinda hurry"

"There aint no friends around, are there?"

"No, as a matter of fact. Not a one"

"Look, Ali Samson is by way of being a friend. I have to find some of you guys to bring to the house or I'm sunk with the family"

"The Dopey…"

"I've been to all of them. You guys were about my last hope. Now it's just you."

So we go around to Little Jimmy's house. His Missus or someone has gone to town on the makeup and stuff. He's laid out on the bed looking like he's having a nap before he goes on stage. The main thing about the house was it was the so dark. It needed the drains seen too pretty quick also. There's just five of us in all, a Minister, Jimmy's wife and Mia's Ma, Mia and me. That's it. Considering the years of hatred he had stoked up in the place and the fact that a few people would have liked to throttle him, I thought he did ok. But not Mrs Samson. She couldn't be consoled.

"Where are all his so called friends now" she says over and over.

The Minister was an o.k. kinda guy. Looked a lot like Charlton Heston in the Ten Commandments, with the white beard and all. He thanks Mia and me and say there's some booze and rolls in the kitchen. There's enough food to feed an army in there. Mia tells me Ali works in the Plaza Hotel and that where the grub comes from. She pours two warm Buds. The cheese rolls are harder than a jockey's bum.

Soon I notice all noise about the place starts to drifts away. The place is gone kinda spooky.

"Mums taken Ali out the backyard for air I expect" says Mia.

She's sitting on the kitchen table swingin her legs like a kid. That swinging of the legs is a sure sign of how young a person is feeling at any moment. She's about 24 I guessed.

"How long do you want to stay?" I ask as I walk to the door.

I don't want to be alone in the house with a corpse. I open the door and look out, casual like, to see if the Reverend's still there. He is. Sitting by the old bastard praying for his lost soul. A complete waste of time in this case.

"What's your name?" she says like she's really interested.

"Wait for it. Tal Kozhabaev, Talgat Kozhabaev, its old Russian but my friends call me Mixer"

"Hello Mixer " she says "Mine's Mia Geata. How come Mixer?"

"Fight name. Mixer O Brien. Cause I could mix it in the ring, see.

"You're a boxer?"

"No I was on the way to a modelling assignment when you met me"

"Fresh!" she says.

"Where do you live exactly?" I ask her.

" Not far"

Were walking down by the road works outside the new Basketball Arena when a Limo pulls up. Mr Anthony Geata gets out. This is not a person you'd see every day on the street. His wearing an overcoat that cost more then all the money I'd ever seen in my life. A side window slides down and I notice his son Nick in the car, not looking at anything or anyone in particular.

"Mia!" says Mr Anthony Geata.

"Uncle Tony" says Mia

"Shit" says I but too myself.

She runs over and hugs the big guy. Same time two large gentlemen emerge from the back of the car and stand beside it. "

Who's this?"

"This is Mixer O Brien, Uncle Tony. Friend of Little Jimmy Samson"

"Very singular" say Mr Geata.

"Hi" I say, friendly like and hold out a paw.

This is ignored but it's not deliberate. He just doesn't see me standing there.

"Where's your Mother kid?" he says "Got some urgent papers need her signature"

"Over at Samson's place"

"Good girl" He kisses her on the forehead like a little girl in pigtails.

"Take her home bud," he says to me like I work for him or something.

I ignore this and it is deliberate. Mia sidles up to me and makes like were just pushing off. She's a little nervous the way most people are around Mr Anthony Geata. We begin to move off. I notice Nicky looking now at Mia. He sure is looking at her.

"So, you family?"

"Pop was a cousin of Uncle Anthony's. Ma still sees him on business now and then"

"Careful kid. Don't tell me anything I don't need to know"

"Ok. Its all legit anyway."

"Sure"

"It is!"

"I said sure"

We came to this nice house with a garden and railings. This was home.

"Well, interestin' night" I say.

"Drink?"

"Naw, next time maybe. Thanks anyway.

"Scared off?"

"Yes, very."

She laugh's real hard at this, as if it was funny. I'm laughin' too like a dolt.

The phone is ringing in the house. I look at her.

"Uncle Anthony?"

"It must be Ma. Better answer it" She's inside the gate now.

I don't want to say anything dumb, so I decide to say nothing and get the hell away.

"Why not come to the fights next Friday" I say. This is clever.

"Might just do that, Mr Mixer"

She turns and bounces towards the house. Now I'm the one looking

She doesn't come the next Friday. She comes to following Friday. She comes with Nicky Geata and two heavyweights. She's sits up front. What ever she's not wearing is dazzling all the shmucks in the hall. The boyfriend knows zilch about the fights. You can tell by the way he cheers at all the slips and mistakes. He's a slimeball anyway but she's got a mesmerized and frightened look. Someone like her shouldn't be watching animals like us. I'm sorry now I ever asked her to come over. She looks but she don't see. No one telling her there's other things going on up there in the ring. Skill. Guts. And that's about all our guy's got left, guts.

I'm in this black kid's corner with Ollie Pepper on sponge. Were fillers to the Main Bout, down the bill. The kid sure looks the part. He's got the muscle and the moves but no experience. This is his big chance. Some chance. We're fighting Johnny "The Maltese" Cross and are we getting slaughtered. The amount of blood the kid is losing is no one business. He keeps slipping on it because we can't get it off the canvass quick enough. He stands for the 5th.

"Go down kid" say Ollie. "It's ok, we'll get the bastard another time"

The kid can't hear him above the roar of the crowd. He looks at me. I nod to encourage him. It's all you can do now. He's down. And again. This time I throw the bloody towel into the ring. Ollie clambers in to help the kid. He takes the gum shield from his mouth and lifts him to help him breathe. Its five minutes before he knows his own name.

I'm in the back taking off the kid's gloves when she comes in.

"Will he be ok?" She looks beautiful and flushed like she's just been running.

"Sure just a few scratches. He's tough" The kid lifts his head from the bunk but can't force any movement into his face. I thumbs up every things ok and move her outside into the corridor. I never knew how dingy the place really was until I saw her standing under the green lights in the corridor. The Doc is finally coming in from the bar to fix up the kid as we go out.

"Nice of you to come"

"Nicky brought me"

"Nicky?" As if I don't know.

"Nicky Geata, Anthony's son"

"Boyfriend?"

"Jealous?"

"Yeah. Sure. Jealous"

There is a scuffle down the hall that I'm trying to ignore but it keeps coming our way. It's the slimeball. He's pushing into every room looking for guess who. Some of the guys are wound up before a fight and they don't care who the hell he is, they want a piece of him. He sees us. This is just great.

"Mia, What the bitchin hell are you at? Where'd you go?"

"I'm ok Nicky. This is Mixer. He's an old friend of the family"

"Not my family. Beat it Pluger"

"Sure" I say "When the lady is ready"

"Look, I'll be out in a minute Nicky. Just give me a minute and I'll be out"

"Now" He says and right on cue, like in the movies, the two heavies loom up.

"Have to go Mixer" she says in a hush. "See ya"

The two of them move off. He holds her by the elbow and runs her along. She looks back once. Her high heels clickin fast down the corridor. The two heavies hang back. If he gave them the wink I didn't see it. I thought I knew the taller guy. Raymond something from over at the Riverside Club. But the other guy was new muscle. They wait till the heels click past the showers at the end of the hall.

Then this new guy says "Mr Geata wants you to know that your attentions.." I go to say something but Raymond holds up a big hand to stop me " …are not welcome" This was a speech he had used before and he had to get the whole of it out. I look at Raymond. He means business.

"If we have to we will see to it that you ain't round here for some considerable time"

"Considerable time, huh?

"Considerable time"

Ollie comes down the way. I can see him trying to decide should he come on or not. Fair play, he comes on. Ollie is a friend of mine.

"Excuse me gents" say Ollie "But this man is needed at the ringside". He grabs a handful of me and pulls me along. I'm more then willing to go but try not to look it.

Three weeks later I'm collecting the Champ at the Hotel Plaza. Eddie Sullivan has me in this blue peaked hat. This makes me a Chauffeur. I drive the Champ to and from the Plaza to the Gym. He's using our place to train while in town. 20 a week was the deal. This is my third morning and like before I pull round to the side entrance.

Mrs Samson is leaning against the wall with two other women in kitchen uniforms.

"Hi! Howya doin Mrs Samson" I say.

She don't know me with the cap so I take it off and walk over.

"Mixer O Brien. I was with Mia at your house"

"Yeah. I remember now. The boyfriend"

"Well not exactly"

"Sure left her in a state. Some boyfriend"

"What kinda state?"

"As my sainted Jimmy used to say; You're all bastards anyway"

"Tell me what kinda state?" I say a little rougher and I don't believe my face was the picture of happiness.

"You should know. You beat up the poor kid"

I knew it was a waste of time explaining

"Where is she now?"

"Home" she says. She throws the burning cigarette butt at my feet and walks inside.

I'm driving the Champ over to Joe's but my mind isn't on the job. I like the Champ but this morning he's having a little fun at my expense.

"Got me a white nigger to drive me to town" He laughs loud with his two bendover buddies. I cant say a thing cause I guess I'm a bendover too, for 20 a week.

"Don't spare them horses James" He just ain't funny this morning I go round to the house in the afternoon.

All the blinds are down. I tap on the door like there's a death in the family. No one comes. I ring but the same result. I'm trying to write a message on the back of one of Eddie's gold cards when she opens the door. Dark glasses and a scarf. She leaves the hall door open and walks back inside. She's carrying a slight limp. I follow her into the kitchen. She sits at the table with a bottle of medicine and a pot of coffee. Without much by-your-leave I start to take off the scarf and the glasses. I flinch at the naked effect. I know what it takes to inflict damage like that. I could almost tell the hardness and number of blows.

"What was it about?"

"Couldn't find his lighter"

"Explain," I say

"I asked him for his lighter and then when he asked for it back I couldn't find it."

"So he hits you"

"He grabs the bag see. Throws everything on the table. There's a packet of condoms there and when he sees them then he goes berserk"

"Why because of them?"

"Cause I've been askin and askin him not to get me pregnant and he wont use them. They're against his religion see".

"I see," I say and sit down next to her.

"What happens then?" "He punches me in the face and belly and when I fall he kicks me all over the room"

"He punches you in the face and belly and when you fall he kicks you all over the room?"

"Yeah"

I don't know what I'm feeling but its red-hot. "

When he finds the lighter in his pocket he laughs. That's what hurts the most."

Mia's mother comes in through the front door, which is still open. "

What have you been sayin Mia? You know what Anthony said"

"What has Anthony said Mrs Geata?"

"You go now please. I don't have to talk to you"

"What kinda mother are you, Mrs Geata? Lettin' this punk get away with doin this to her own daughter".

"Leave Ma alone. She's doin her best, honest she is. She always does her best."

"All this because we have no one," say Mrs Geata

"I thought Anthony Geata was family," I say.

"There's no man in this house to take care of us. If Luigi was alive this would never happen" This remembrance brings tears to her eyes. Her eyes look worn away with years of crying.

I don't know what makes me put my arm round the old girl. Strangely enough she lets me. After a minute she goes to Mia and kisses her. Then we hear her go up stairs. Boxes are been moved about up there.

"She looking at the old photos of Pop again" says Mia.

When all is quiet I sit down again and take Mia's hand. We look like a pair of dolts.

"Know somethin'," I say "I think I look prettier then you now"

She nods and agrees with half a smile. Just about then I was thinking of a small kiss on the cheek. Nothin' serious like. But she sees the move miles off and stands up.

She goes to the dresser and brings down a bottle of Johnny Walker and two glasses.

Later on that day I meet Ollie at The Ring bar. He's just drinking soda but I'm knocking it back big time. He tells me that we have a new young black kid for next Friday. When I don't show much interest he knows there something up.

"Girl?"

"Maybe. Maybe"

"Not Nicky Geata's girl?"

I say nothing, which is enough for Ollie. He looks scared

. "You must be tired of livin," he says.

"No, just tired"

"And I always thought you had smarts"

I'm a little drunk now and have to get off the stool and sit at a booth. Ollie sticks round for a while and has a soup and roll dinner. Then he has to go to his AA meeting. We know each other since the Army so we don't have to talk much.

"You working at the Tollbooth tonight?" he says as he gets up to go The truth is I don't know if I'm on or not. I shake my head -No. With Ollie gone I'm feeling alone for the first time in years. Makes you wonder why. The drink plus her maybe. Some combo.

The Greek from down the hall comes knocking at my room next mornin'

"Somebody wants you downstairs" he wheezes at me. I feel lousy.

Downstairs two sharp guys are waiting. One of them I know. Detective Michael McNamara from our Police Dept.

"Nicky Geata is dead. Murdered," he gets to the point.

"What's it to do with me?" I'm showing nothing but I sure could have used a drink at that precise moment.

"We talked to his girlfriend and your name happens to come up"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah"

"Only met the guy the once. That was weeks ago"

"You didn't make it to work last night. So your Night Manager says"

"Had a couple over the odds. Hit the hay early. Bout' 10. What time is it now?"

"9 30"

"You guys sure up early"

"We find it gets the worm"

"What you need from me?"

"An alibi. Someone see you last night?"

"Ollie Pepper till about 7. Bartender at The Ring till about 8.

"Then what?"

"Came here as I said"

"2 hours missing from that statement" he says

"Was I makin' a statement?"

"Any one here see you come in?"

"Not that I know"

"Too bad Mixer"

Eddie Sullivan calls me into his office that afternoon.

"Mixer you've let me down old friend"

"Ollie got the Champ this mornin' like he said?"

"Yes he did. But that is not the point. You let me down."

"Couldn't be helped Boss" I say

"The Champ was very annoyed. Didn't take to Ollie at all"

"Couldn't be helped Boss"

"Where were you this morning?"

"Down at the Police Station. Helpin them with a problem"

"Yes so I've heard. Nicky Geata. Nasty business."

"Nasty!"

"What your part in this?"

"Ain't got a part in it. Strictly a sideline view"

"Shot in his own home I believe"

"So I hear. So I hear"

"I like you Mixer. You've always kept your nose clean and I've always liked you"

"Sure Boss"

"Now, Mixer. I don't have to tell you that Anthony Geata has a big finger in this place. When he asks anything of me I am almost bound to say yes. It's become necessary for us to part and go our separate ways. But only because it has become absolutely necessary, mind. I wouldn't dream of doing this otherwise. Here, if you have more trouble from the Police, use this."

He hands me a card.

"And this is?"

"The best Lawyer in town. He's a very close friend of mine"

I knew Eddie had a close friend but not that he was Abe Jackson.

That night about 1130, I'm on the Toll at the Keys when Anthony Geata pulls up.

"Get in" he says

"I'm working now. Can't leave the booth"

"Get in now" he says

I figure I'm going to have to talk to him sometime. It may as well be now I get out and head for the car. The Night Duty Manager sees me going and calls out. Then he sees Anthony Geata and shuts up.

The car glides along without a sound. At least the car has class. I'm in the back with Tony Geata. One of his boys is up front with the driver. They act like no one is in the backseat.

"Now we have things to say to each other, Mr O Brien. And it goes no further than this. Is this very clear to you Mr O Brien?"

"Yeah. Sure"

"I killed Nicky," he says

I'm sure I make a sound but have no idea what. Things don't look good for me, knowing a fact like this.

"This fact will come out soon. For sure in a day or so. You can help me beat the rap."

"Yeah?"

"This is the gun that shot Nicky," he shows me this black "45". I move slightly back from it. It looks like its still hot from firing.

"How do I come in?"

"Your story goes like this. You fight with Nicky over Mia. He gets mad and pulls this gun. You shoot him in a struggle. Self defence. Second-degree murder. Worst case 12 years. 9 with parole. What do you think?"

"Shit"

"Is that a Yes or No answer Mr O Brien?"

"What would make them think a lovely kid like that would go for a mug like me?"

"I already know she could. Anyway, stranger things then that happen all the time"

"How am I suppose to get in the house?"

"Nicky invites you over to warn you off Mia"

"Nice. How come the bodyguards don't get me?"

"Its their night off" he looks at the guy in the front who smiles back at him in the rear view mirror.

"And for this I get?"

"50000 in any bank you care to name"

I didn't ask what the alternative was. I knew there wasn't one.

"I wouldn't have needed to shoot him"

"I know. I saw you fight"

The car moves on. Further and further away from town. We wait while I try to figure all the angles. Anthony Geata watches me decide my life and his.

"Why did you kill him?"

"He was a punk kid. He was my son and I loved him but he would not grow up. I warned him not to beat on the girl. She's family I said. Then her Mother comes to the house to complain and he treats her like dirt. I have it out with him that night. How I want to be proud of him. How he's letting the whole family down. He's drunk. He pulls a gun and goes as if to shoot himself. "Is this what you want Pop" he cries out like a baby. "You want me dead Pop?" he says. I try to take it away from him and it goes off. Straight though the heart"

I don't think I believe his story. I sounds too rehearsed but this is beside the point anyway. There is silence in the car for a long while

"Sorry"

"Sorry?"

"Can't do it"

Anthony Geata didn't expect this answer. To be fair, neither did I. We were both surprised. He lays back slowly into the seat and laughs a small hollow laugh. Like he just heard he had won the Irish Sweepstakes and had 2 months to live.

"You know what this means?"

"I figure I'm in a box either way," I say. Sweat is running everywhere on me.

"Well now. Ain't this somthin'. Ain't this somethin' Franco? Ever see guts like this? Bet you wish you had balls like this guy?"

Franco is the guy in front. He looks back at the shmuck with the death wish.

"Yeah", he says.

We drive on. Now I watch Anthony Geata decide on his life and mine.

He must have run all the different angles over and over. Killing me wouldn't get him off. Most like it would bring the heat closer. But I did know too much now. I had no family and he couldn't threaten me with hurting Mia. But I did know too much. Maybe the Police were waiting for him now.

"Sure?" He shoves the gun in my ribs. "Last chance Mr O Brien"

"Yeah," my mouth is stone dry. I'm sliding around in the seat of my trousers.

"Stop over here Angelo"

The car stops at a Gas Station on the edge of the city.

"Get out" Anthony Geata has decided to let me continue breathing. T

he car moves off and with a swish on the gravel turns out on to the highway. I walk over to the Station and get some change for the phone.

At his trial Anthony stuck to the story he told me. He got the benefit of the doubt and got off. I saw Mia a few times more but we never could relax together. Never get close enough to touch. We drifted apart but are still friends. Good friends. She was married last month to a nice guy, Clive Topper, a Navy Captain from up north of here. I wasn't at the Wedding but I heard it was great.

By the way, I held on to my old night job at the Keys in spite of a row with the Management.

Anthony Geata was killed in an accident last month. He crashed his plane in the Lakes and they never found his body. I got my job back at Joe's from Eddie Sullivan right after that. Matter of fact we have a new young black kid fighting on Friday. Why don't you come down and have a look see.

^