It was Sunday night, two days after his Coney Island adventure, and his meeting Anne. It
was also the night before when he had to get up at 5:00 am and catch that whatcha- ma call-
it train to City College. He had been thinking a lot of Anne since then. He enjoyed their day
together, not doing much, just walking around, occasionally holding hands, talking of their
futures, the colleges they were going to, eating a couple of Nathan’s hot dogs, washing them
down with Orangeade, topping it off with one of Nathan’s great vanilla custard cones about
6 inches high. Then going on a couple of rides, they in particular enjoyed the Bumper cars,
where one steered their little cars to intentionally bump into another with a bang.
Anne had relatives living in Coney Island, so she was going to stay with them that night
leaving Danny to ride the subway alone. Oh, well, he thought, I probably wont ever see her
again. They didn’t exchange phone number since neither had a telephone. They didn’t even
exchange addresses, but each knew which college the other was going to. Maybe, I’ll look
her up some day, he thought. The train going home wasn’t as crowded as it was when he
went to Coney Island, probably because many of them were in no hurry to come home,
wanting to take full advantage of this day for they knew that it may be a very long time
before they would be able to do this again.
As he walked to the clubhouse to see if Louie and
Tony were there, it suddenly dawned on him, City College, oh my gosh, that’s not to far
from where he was born in Harlem. Why didn’t he think of that sooner. City College was
located on 138 Street in Manhattan and Danny was born on 111 street, just a little over a
mile away. Maybe, if I have time someday, I’ll visit the old neighborhood to see if any of his
old acquaintances were still living there. He thought that Jimmy and his boys still lived
there. I wonder how he’s doing?
“Hey Danny, how ya doin, where the heck ya been,” Louie called when he saw Danny come
into the club. “Been to Coney,” answered Danny, “ you fellows were busy and I got a bit
bored, so I thought I’d go there since I haven’t been to Coney since my parents took me
there a long time ago.” Didja have a good time, and didja meet anyone there?” asked Tony.
“Er, yes, I had a good time, and I did meet someone on the train going there, ”replied Danny.
Danny really didn’t have any thoughts of telling Louie and Tony that he had met a girl on
the train and that they had spent the day together, but they asked him outright and he
couldn’t lie to them. “Yeah, who didja meet and what did you do,” Inquired Louie. Well I
met a girl on the train, just a chance meeting when I gave her my seat, and it’s none of your
business what we did,” kidded Danny. “Okay, Okay, don’t get sore,” said Louie. “Come on
in and let’s have a couple a brews. Mr. Capiloni is coming over later, just to say hello, and
he’d be more than pleased to see you here. “Oh my gosh, Mr. Capiloni is coming here’”
thought Danny, “why am I so nervous just because Mr. Capiloni is coming here. He doesn’t
want to see me anyway. Probably doesn’t even know that I’d be here. He said he would give
me some time to get settled in college then he would talk to me. So why am I so nervous,
am I afraid of him? Maybe I am. Am I afraid of what he wants of me? No that’s not it. I
know what he wants. He’s not putting me through college and paying me for nothing. So I’ll
act natural when he comes.
The clubhouse was very quite tonight. The music was turned down. No one was dancing.
Just a few couples sitting in the far corners having a quiet chat. It was if it was a prelude to
something about to happen. But what? All Danny could think about that tomorrow was a
new beginning, at least it was for him, and oh, yes Mr. Capiloni was coming to pay a visit.
But not to him Mr. Capiloni had paid many such visits to the club in the past. It couldn’t be
that. It was probably his imagination. This was just an off night, wasn’t it?
The clubhouse got quieter as the couples stopped chatting. All eyes were on the doorway as
Mr. Capiloni and 3 of his associates entered the club. “Hi, Mr. Capiloni,” echoed Louie and
Tony, “glad ta see ya. Come on in, Danny’s here.” Mr. Capiloni peered over the room,
suspiciously looking at each occupant until his face broadened in a deep smile as he saw
Danny. Paying no attention to anyone as he approached Danny, his associates trailing along.
“How ya doin kid, long time no see, ”said Mr. Capiloni as he held out his hand for Danny’s
handshake. Trembling just a bit , Danny shook his hand and said. “ Nice seeing you again,
Mr. Capiloni, and yes it has been some time since we’ve seen each other. I want to thank you
for all you’ve done for me.” Hey kid, think nuthin about it, We’ve got a long way to go, you
and I. I hear you’re going to start college tomorrow. Is that right? That’s right, Mr. Capiloni,
tomorrow’s the day,” answered Danny. “Well, I’ll tell ya what kid, you have a good time
tonight, enjoy yourself, and if there’s anything you need, all ya have to do is ask, capish?”
Sure,” thank you, Mr. Capiloni.
“Suppose we meet in my office in about three weeks” said
Mr. Capiloni, “We’ll have a good talk together, you, me and the boys here. Is that okay with
ya Danny? Certainly,” replied Danny. At that, Mr. Capiloni, turned and walked to where
Louie and Tony were standing, said a few words to them, shook their hands, waived to
Danny and walked out of the clubhouse, the three silent associates trailing in single file.
Danny could only stare at the entourage leaving the building, his mouth slightly agape .His
conversation with Mr. Capiloni lasted only a few minutes, but it was enough to sort of shake
him up. Why? Why was he so nervous. He knew what was going to be expected of him.
Didn’t he? He would know more in 3 weeks. He thought that he’d better straighten up or he
wouldn’t be any darn good tomorrow. Oh, my gosh, what have I gotten into. Is tomorrow
going to be a new beginning for me or is it going to be the beginning of an end to me.
To be Continued