Sending up Shoots - Part III

Walking briskly through the turnstiles at the Central Park North station, John gripped the satchel tightly and glanced quickly from side to side, expecting him to emerge suddenly from the inky shadows like an evil specter. He tapped his Red Wing postman shoes nervously as he thought about the past year and what it would mean if his secret were let loose on the wind. It was the worst episode in his life and he wanted to keep it that way. Dealing with Tony would be child's play compared to the pain it would cause his friends and family if his unimaginable secret got out. Pushing past the other weary travelers on the platform, John looked down the tunnel toward the oncoming light. The rumble of the train moved from the platform and entered his feet , moving rapidly from cell to cell until his whole body shook. The squeaky brakes yelled in his ears as a fat, hairy index finger tapped him on the shoulder. Wheeling quickly, John caught the savage eyes he'd now despised for nearly a year. They were a disgusting shade of green, almost like something you'd find in the subway restroom. Every time John saw them he felt like he'd taken a bath in sewage. "Nithe to thee you again, Johnny-caketh," said Tony in his awful mixture of lisp and South Bronx accent. The sound of it made John's stomach turn. Tony grabbed John by the arm of his coat and pulled him behind the others in the station. "You got the money?" he said. Without saying a word nor looking his blackmailer in his horribly deformed face, John opened the satchel and showed him the cash. The requisite $5000 lay therein, and it brought a toothy grin to the villainous thug's lips. "That'th a good boy, Johnny," he said, reaching for the bag. "Thame time nextht month?" John looked deeply into the eyes he'd so easily learned to despise. Narrowing his own eyes to try and block out some of the rest of the hideous face, John handed the satchel to Tony. "How can you do this?" he asked with the proper amount of disdain in his voice. "How can you do this evil thing to me every stinking month?" Tony laughed. Spittle hit John's face as Tony folded the satchel under his arm and put his nose at the tip of John's. "How could you do what you did, Johnny?" he whispered eerily. "From what I remember, you thaid it made you the thcum of the earth, didn't you? Seemth like what you did ith way worth than taking a few buckth from you every month. Wouldn't you agree, Johnny?" Looking at the shoes he'd so carefully shined that morning, John turned and walked toward the exit, Tony's harsh laugh echoing in his ears. Tears started to form in his eyes and he let loose the biggest sigh of his life. "When will this ever end?" he thought. "Thee you in a month, Johnny-boy!!" yelled Tony. "Ba ha ha ha!!" ------ Coming soon - Part IV