02 Mar The Mafia: Chapter Eleven

*This rough draft is entirely a work of fictional writing*

The three brothers, Avi, Jay and D are in the kitchen partaking in some casual conversation.

D takes a bite from his turkey and cheese sandwich, “So… the chef called me today and said that it is imperative that we increase the monthly grocery budget, or we have to eat less. He said inflation is through the roof and he’s not going to be able to keep us healthy. What we used to buy for $300.00 per week now costs $600.00”

Jay is peeling a tangerine, “D… why do you chew so loud? And that’s fine… tell him whatever he needs – luckily we can afford it.”

Avi puts his fork and knife down, “Yeah D… seriously… who chews that loud? Anyways, increasing the budget is not the point… the point is I thought inflation went up around 10% in the past year, which is already absurd, but honestly do the math…what’s 10 percent of three hundred dollars?”

D closes his eyes and moves his hands like a musical conductor, “Let me see, let me see…” roughly thirty seconds later he concludes, “That is about $30.”

Avi tries not to laugh over D’s childish antics, “Yes… that is correct. I always knew you were good at math. So with a 10% increase we should be paying $330 for what we paid $300 for last year, yet we’re paying $600 for the same exact stuff?”

D continues to move his hands like he is Sebastian Bach, “If my calculations are correct…which you know my mathematical skills to be iron-clad – that is a 100% increase.”

Jay eats the entire tangerine in one bite, “Yeah, I was talking to him last week and he said that a pound of some good chicken costs like $20 now… that’s only like two chicken breasts.”

Mary walks into the kitchen and pours herself a cup of coffee. Avi takes a bite of his salmon filet, “twenty dollars for two chicken breasts? I can get more breasts at a strip club for twenty dollars.”

Avi, Jay and D laugh a lungful. Mary rolls her eyes, “You boys are disgusting. But you’re absolutely right.” She winks and then walks out of the room.

Before the boys have a chance to catch their breath, Jane comes stomping into the kitchen with a ferocious tone, “D! Can I speak to you in private for a few minutes please?”

Jay sings a jingle, “Uh-oh looks like someone is in trouble.”

D flips the middle finger to Jay and then struts over to where Jane is, “Que pasa, Esmeralda?”

Jane folds her arms in frustration, “Don’t Esmeralda me… and don’t walk over here like you’re a part of the T-birds in the Grease movie – it is not flattering.”

D appears confused, “Dear darling, maybe you can enlighten me on why you’re acting so grouchy towards me?”

Jane sighs, “D – what did you say to Maria?”

D responds without hesitation, “Nothing, why?”

Jane stares into D’s eyes, “I don’t know, but she’s super upset and refuses to leave her room. She keeps saying that you want to divorce her.”

D gets defensive, “I never said that – I never said that. I swear.”

Jane squints her eyes, “You know how sensitive she is. Stand there and don’t move.” She then takes out her phone and calls Lilly.

Lilly: Hi Jane, how are you?

Jane: I’m doing okay, thanks for asking Lilly.

Lilly: Great… so what’s up?

Jane: I’m wondering if you can arrange a meeting between Susan, D and Maria for sometime later in the day?

Lilly: Susan who?

Jane: The marriage counselor, you know, the family therapist.

Lilly: Oh that’s right. Sure, but why?

Jane: D is being a dick.

Lilly: I would promptly diminish the validity of that statement. D is probably the sweetest guy that I know.

Jane: While I appreciate your opinion, I humbly request that you stay out of this one. You don’t know D like I know D.

Lilly: Oh… okay. Yeah sure, I’ll text D and Maria with a time.

—

Mary, Rose and Isabella are sitting at a patio table in the backyard, enjoying a meal of filet mignon steaks and glasses of White Zinfandel wine. The weather is sweet.

Mary eloquently speaks, “Well, isn’t this lovely, you know? Us three ladies enjoying a nice early dinner outside with some delicious wine – life doesn’t get better than that.”

Rose smiles and takes a sip of wine, “Indeed. So, pardon my manners of bringing up business talk at the table, but I Just finished running all of the background reports of the people that will be staffing our event next week. All of them came back clean. We should be good to go with the catering crew.”

Isabella appears to be struggling with cutting her stake and then suddenly starts repeatedly stabbing it with her knife while murmuring,  “Die! Die! Die! Die!”

Rose looks over at Mary then places her hand on Isabella’s forehead, “Honey, are you feeling alright?” Mary takes the plate away from Isabella and starts to cut the steak for her.

Isabella speaks with an embarrassed tone, “I’m so sorry. I sincerely apologize for my erratic outburst, but I haven’t been able to sleep very well. I’ve been getting really bad panic attacks – I just hate big events. Plus, I don’t trust any other people that say they are apart of the family.”

Mary finishes cutting Isabella’s steak and then slides the plate back over to her, “You have to trust some people; innocent until proven guilty is the motto.”

Isabella maintains her conviction, “Well, Jay always told me never to trust anyone.”

Mary responds, “That’s because Jay has trust issues.”

Isabella rebuts, “Avi always tells me not to trust anyone.”

Mary sighs, “That’s because Avi also has trust issues.”

Isabella remains convicted, “Well, D was the first one to tell me to never trust anyone.”

Mary takes a sip of wine, “That’s because D has the biggest trust issues out of them three.”

—

D walks into the lounge room where Susan is sitting at a chair in front of two opposite facing couches. Maria is sitting on the couch to the right, wearing a silk robe, her hair up, sunglasses and a blanket over her shoulders. 

D takes a seat at the couch on the left. Maria speaks softly, “I’m surprised that you even showed up.”

D is offended, “Why wouldn’t I? What did I even do?”

Susan intervenes, “Let me start this meeting properly. First and foremost, I want to thank both of you for being here. I also want to reiterate that this is a safe place for everyone to express how they truly feel.”

Maria grabs a few tissues, “Do you know what he said to me?”

Susan shakes her head no, “What did he say that triggered you?”

Maria uses a tissue to wipe underneath her eyes, “He said, and I’m quoting verbatim here: ‘I have to do, what I have to do – and that’s what I’m gonna do.’”

Susan gasps and quickly glares at D, “How could you?”

D looks confused, “When I do what I do, I do it, ya know? What’s the big deal I don’t understand how that statement is menacing or filled with convolution in the form of innuendos.”

Maria frantically replies, “That’s what he said after I asked him if he still loves me!”

Susan gasps again, “Who does that?”

Maria continues, “I know right? I bet he would never talk to Littia that way.”

A voice suddenly emerges from around the corner of the large lounge room, it’s Littia and she’s lying on a couch with a cold towel over her forehead, “I beg your pardon my dear.”

Maria is shocked and bellows over to Littia, “Littia… wow, how did you get in here? Why are you here?”

Littia mumbles loud enough for them to hear, “Susan and I go way back. And I’m here… well I’m here because D said the same thing to me. I’m feeling woozy.”

Maria responds sincerely sympathetic, “Oh my gosh… pour baby girl – I feel your pain. Come over here and sit with me on the couch.”

Littia lethargically walks over to Maria and then sluggishly takes a seat next to her. Maria extends the blanket over her and Littia says, “I’m so cold.”

D is slightly outraged, “Is this a joke or something?”

Susan walks over and hands both Maria and Littia a bottle of water. They both quickly chug the water then Maria takes a deep breath and says, “Thank you. I was feeling so dehydrated – I haven’t drank anything in days.”

D stands up, “What the hell? I could use a bottle of water also. Is this a joke?” he calms his assertion, points at Susan then continues, “And aren’t you supposed to have your emotional equilibrium balanced in an objective way?”

*To Be Continued In Chapter Twelve.*