Brooklyn Story (6 page)

I put out my hand. “How do you do?” I asked.

Tony laughed and shook my hand. “So formal,” he said. He didn't take his eyes off me. “She's a real kick, Janice.”

Janice looked pleased with herself. “I told ya she was sumthin',” she said.

Tony didn't respond to Janice. “Where ya from?” he asked me.

“The neighborhood. Coupla blocks from here.”

“Nice, quiet area,” Tony said.

“Where
you
from?” I asked.

“Around. We just moved, but this is still where I hang out. It's friendlier.”

“It wasn't so friendly a few minutes ago, Tone,” Janice said. “That is, until you showed up.”

Tony ignored Janice once more and kept his attention on me. “Whatcha doin' out here tonight?” he asked.

“Nuthin',” I responded without hesitation. A girl needed to be a little bit mysterious; I remembered Grandma had told me that.

“Ya wanna walk wid me, Samantha Bonti?”

I stopped myself from looking as flattered as I felt. I knew better than to let on how attracted I was. Especially with this guy. Heaven only knew what I could do with someone like him. “Well, that sounds okay,” I said, “but I gotta meet up with Janice later.”

Tony waved his hand. “Forget about her,” he said. “I'm here now.” He put an arm around my shoulder. “Ya got a guy?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Good,” he said. “Unless you're some kind of lesbian or sumthin'. I mean, 'cause ya don' have a guy.”

“No. I'm just real picky,” I said.

“Good,” Tony said again. “Me, too.”

“Don't you have a girl already?” I asked.

“None that matters,” Tony said, and he narrowed his eyes toward Janice. She stepped back.

“Hey,” I protested. “I came with Janice.”

“She don' mind. Do ya, Janice?” Tony asked without looking back at her.

“'Course not, Tone,” Janice said. “I gotta go find Richie, anyhow,” she added, trailing off in the opposite direction.

Tony and I walked side by side and made our way through the crowd. A thin brunette wearing less than was decent waved at Tony and shot me a dirty look. What the hell had I done? I wondered. I was just walking with the guy. The neighborhood
was full of that kind of girl who always gave another pretty girl a look, as if it wasn't fair that she would have the local hot guy on her arm. Well, if he wasn't already taken, then honey, why aren't you with him? I thought. From the looks of things, Tony was available, but the truth at that moment was I did not even know for sure if I wanted him. I would go with the flow and wait for it to unfold like Grandma had taught me. Tony ignored the brunette while I smiled and looked straight ahead. “I came with Janice, you know,” I repeated, somewhat uncomfortable walking beside this outrageously handsome man who was getting looks of admiration from women of all ages every step of the way.

“Fuhgeddaboudit,” he said. “I'll make sure ya get home okay. You can count on me.”

“How do I know that?”

“You saw what I did wid dem guys. Janice sure was impressed.”

“So what'd you say to them?” I asked. “'Cause I never saw two guys so upset who shook hands so fast.”

“It was nuttin'.”

“Had to be sumthin'.”

Tony smiled. “I just told them if they laid a hand on each other, dey'd hafta answer ta Vin Priganti.” I knew nobody wanted to be on “The Son”,'s bad side.

Tony pointed to a couple up ahead at another punch stand. “Hey, there he is, wid Dara. How do ya like dat for timin'?” Tony waved to Vin and shouted, “Hey, Vin. How's it hangin'?”

Vin turned toward Tony. “Hey man,” he said, grabbing at his crotch. “Hangin' low.” His crudity turned me off, as when other Brooklyn Boys acted that way, but Dara held Vin's other arm close to her. “Seeya later, right?” Vin asked, his dimpled chin visible from fifteen feet away. “'Bout that thing.” Tony nodded as we passed the couple. “Later,” he said.

I was curious and wanted to know what “that thing” was,
but I knew better than to ask. All the Brooklyn guys liked to strut around like peacocks and act tough. Was it just an act? I wondered. There was something different about Tony and I just could not put my feel around it, but I just knew it in my gut, as I concentrated on the warmth I felt on my right side, where he was walking beside me. With his Nordic looks, he was practically a god compared to the other neighborhood guys, I thought. I wasn't sure why, but my body felt tingly, uncomfortable in a needy sort of way, and I had trouble getting any words out.

Tony, however, had no trouble speaking at all. “That Dara,” he said, shaking his head.

“What about her?” I asked.

“I don' know. She's really been around. What I'm tryin' ta say is, she ain't no virgin.”

“Yeah? How do you know? You dated her?”

“Fuck no. I like my women real pretty and, well … innocent.”

“She might still be a virgin,” I said.

“Tell me another one,” Tony said, laughing. He stopped walking and looked at me. “Ya don' really think that, do ya?” I knew all about Dara's history. Everyone did.

I pursed my lips and then shook my head. “Not really,” I replied. “But it isn't her fault.”

“Whose fault is it, the boogeyman?” Tony asked, laughing again. I couldn't help chuckling at his crack but felt sad about a girl who was like so many others in Bensonhurst.

“Dara had it pretty bad when she was a kid,” I said.

“Well, anyways,” Tony continued, “she ain't like you. Right?”

“She's pretty enough.”

“I meant the innocent part. You are innocent, aren't ya?” Tony asked. It was none of his business and I didn't respond. He seemed to sense the truth, anyway, and changed the subject. “Janice tells me you're a half-breed, huh?”

“Like Cher. My mom is Jewish and my dad is Sicilian.”

“I don' know 'im.”

“Join the club. I don't, either. He left when I was born.”

“Aw, jeez,” Tony said. “What kind of a Sicilian man leaves his kid? Sorry.” His sympathy seemed genuine, but I didn't really know this guy, I thought. Janice knew him, though, didn't she? Didn't that stand for something? Richie was a regular in the Bensonhurst crowd, and according to Janice, he'd taken to the Dutchman right away. Tony's association with the Prigantis wasn't the best of things, but I knew the way it was for the wannabe Bensonhurst guys. It didn't seem fair to hold it against Tony, and there didn't seem to be any reason not to enjoy the interest he was showing in me.

“Your mom has a tough go of it, huh?” he asked.

“She manages to get by.”

“What about you?” Tony asked.

“I'm like everyone else. Goin' to school and hangin' out.”

“That's not what I hear.”

“And what, exactly, have you heard?”

“Not a lot. Just that you're different, is all.”

I looked into his eyes. “Maybe.”

“Ya sure look different. Not a lot of makeup or teased hair,” Tony said. “I like that.” A warmth rose in my body. “What about you?” Tony asked. “What do ya like?” His blond hair and blue eyes had my head spinning.

“I like the way you look, too,” I said.

“No, I mean what do ya like to do? Besides hangin' out.”

“Stuff.”

“What kinda stuff?” I wasn't sure I should tell him about my aspirations. Anyone who wanted more than the pastimes and cliques that Bensonhurst offered wasn't looked upon favorably. But I figured if he couldn't handle it I might as well find out sooner rather than later. “I like to write,” I said.

“Really,” Tony said, and pondered that for a moment. “What about?”

“Anything in my life,” I said. Tony reached for my hand and it felt comfortable, natural, in his.

“Well, ya can write about me now,” he said. His eyes continued to stir my insides. “So, Samantha Bonti, you wanna walk some more with me?”

I loved the way he said my full name. “Okay,” I agreed.

We sidled through the crowd and Tony exchanged slaps to the shoulder or slight nods with the men he knew. We stopped at a few game booths and then Tony bought Papa Tucci calzones for us. I wish I could've taken some home for Grandma. We talked some more while we ate, standing across from the kiddie rides at the entrance to the next block.

“Ya like kids, Tony?” I asked.

“Wid da right woman, sure.”

When we finished the calzones, Tony took my hand again to walk up the avenue. “I'll get you a cannoli or an Italian ice later,” he said.

“I'd like that.”

“I'm sure you'll like a lotta things,” Tony said. “Wait here a sec.” He walked over to a whirligig to help a young mother take her twins off the ride. The woman kept her eyes on Tony as she strapped the children into a stroller while he ambled back to where I stood.

“The hero comes to the rescue again,” I said. Tony smiled broadly and put his arm over my shoulders as we started off again, serenaded by cries of glee from children on the amusement rides. I looked at all their happy faces and sang quietly along with the Beatles, who warbled from every loudspeaker,

Ooh, did I tell you I need you ev'ry single day of my life?
Got to get you into my life …

“The kids are sure having a lot of fun, aren't they?” I asked Tony.

“Everyone can have their fun here,” he said. I certainly could, I thought.

When we reached the next corner Tony led me into a side street. He stopped next to a parked van and nudged me up against it before pressing his body into mine. “I need ta tell ya sumthin',” Tony whispered. That had happened so fast my mind was spinning. Who is this person? I wondered. I don't even know him and yet I allowed myself to be taken by his charm, his persistence, his … way! I looked into his eyes, which were so close to me I could hardly breathe. I felt perspiration form on my forehead.

“Ya shouldn't be hangin' round here alone at night,” Tony said. “Nice girl like you.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked as I wiggled for some more room between us. “Why's that?”

“'Cause I like ya and ya can get into trouble out here,” he said. “Make yourself a bad name like ‘Donkey Dara.'”

“That's not very nice,” I admonished. “Anyway, I can take care of myself. Been doin' that a long time now.” We looked at each other for a moment. “Besides,” I finished my thought, “I wasn't alone. I was with Janice, and right now it looks like I'm with you.”

“Yeah,” Tony said, smiling. “You're in luck tonight.” I'd let him act like a big shot if that was what he wanted, and said nothing. “I been around some,” he said with a laugh.

“So have I,” I fibbed.

He must have sensed the truth again and laughed. “Ya ever been kissed?” he asked.

I stiffened. That wasn't any of his business, either. “I ought to slap your face for asking that.”

“Well, have you?” Tony persisted. I looked him in the eye.

“Are you asking if you can kiss me?”

“I don' hafta. I can jus' do it if I want.” He leaned close to my face and grazed my ear with his lips. I edged away and giggled nervously.

“No you can't,” I said. “I don't even know you.”

Tony leaned close again, and my eyes couldn't help focusing on the large gold cross that swung out from under his black T-shirt and swayed gently back and forth. I felt drawn to his eyes. They bewitched me and held a strange power over me. What was it? I wondered. The scent of Brut engulfed my nose as Tony's mouth found my lips. I closed my eyes. His lips felt soft and I placed my small hands around his waist. “Now you do,” Tony breathed after our lips parted, and then he moved softly with precise motions, kissing my cheeks and my chin with tenderness. I felt as if I were melting into him. Was I really sharing this kind of intimacy with such a great-looking guy, a stranger whom I was getting to know real fast? Tony brushed my lips with his, pressed both sides of my head with his hands, and then thrust his tongue deep into my mouth. I was startled, but my mouth drew him in. I had never been kissed like that before, I had to admit, and I had to admit, too, that it felt good. I liked that feeling and felt as if he was talking to me without saying any words. I also felt privileged that Tony, the great blond gladiator whom everyone showered with admiring eyes, was kissing me. Poor, no-father, sick-mother me!

I relaxed a little and he kissed my neck and ears. I shuddered and turned my face completely toward him, asking for more as a John Paul Young song, muffled in the distance, wafted through the branches to where we were:

And I don't know if I'm being foolish,
Don't know if I'm being wise …

He wanted me and no one else, I kept telling myself. I allowed my tongue to probe his mouth and felt a familiar moist heat between my legs. There was something about Tony that made me tingle all over. With his body pressed so close to mine, I felt a man's hardness for the first time and
my body stiffened again. Tony seemed ready for anything but I wasn't. The kiss had been fine but this was way too fast for me. I pushed his shoulders away a bit, took a deep breath, and smiled at him. He backed off.

“You're a natural, Samantha Bonti,” Tony said, “since this was your first kiss and all.” Did he really believe I'd never kissed another boy in my whole life? I wondered, my pride somewhat dashed. But I knew it had never been like what he had just done. And I knew I sure as hell wasn't going any further than kissing.

Tony leaned toward my ear once more. “I want ya ta know that I really like ya, Samantha Bonti,” he said. I just loved the way he said my name. “And that's a pretty big thing in a girl's life, when a guy like me falls for her. I know we just met and all, but there's sumthin' about ya that I could get used ta … if ya know what I mean.”