Sulley’s Opening
FauxNe
Another
Friday on 3rd
St, both sides of the street teeming with normal afternoon activities
of the locals. Mother’s stopping at the store with kids in tow,
getting enough food for the weekend. Street vendors line up on the
curb outside each store pitching their fresh vegetables. Every store
and sidewalk vendor had a relationship with each of the families that
bought their goods. For the most part, you got some things at the
store and other things from the vendors. Times were good right now
and Joe could feel it in the air as he walked down the block with his
freshly pressed suit, the Italian loafers knocking on the sidewalk.
3rd
St, roughly a two mile section of the street down the hill near the
bay, had turned into a thriving community in the years after the war.
Shops lines the streets while families settled into the apartments
above, work and jobs had been readily available for the past few
years now. And the community liked to spend the money they earned in
the clubs that were located at every corner. Usually there was one
club at every intersection, with a few located in between the shops
in the middle of the block. Each place was usually named after the
owner with a few that had their own original names, and every one
made their money by serving the locals that were able to drink and be
within walking distance to their homes.
It
was in these clubs where Joe was a king, the undisputed local
champion of the pool tables. There was never any shortage of players
as this was the preferred game of most men during this time. And Joe
would beat every single one of them. It never started this serious,
he mostly played friendly matches while having a good time.
No
one really knew where Joe came from or how he got his money for that
matter, he simply walked into Dario’s one night and started
playing. At least that’s what everybody says, and that was
that. Now Joe was a celebrity that people sought out to try and beat
as some sort of ongoing competition. The one thing that stood out
about him to everybody, was that he would never turn down a bet. Some
people saw this as a weakness which was their mistake.
This
is how money and bets slowly became the focus of every club where
winning was viewed as status symbol. By this time everyone knew Joe’s
face as he walked down the street on a busy Friday afternoon. Every
vendor showing their respect as he walks by.
“Joe
I got some fresh tomatoes next week….big as your fist.”
“Here
Joe take some carrots and zucchini, I picked them this morning. Don’t
worry you can pay next week.”
Every
vendor with their own line, and every time Joe would smile and keep
walking slowly taking puffs on his cigarette. When going by the
butcher’s shop, George, a Greek giant with logs for arms comes
walking out with a smile peeking out from his bushy mustache and
bloody clothes.
“How
ya doin Joe?”
Once
again Joe smiles while taking a drag but his time he stops walking as
he expects George has something to say.
“You
playing at Peregino’s tonight? I’m looking to get my
money back from last week.” Says George with a boisterous
laugh.
“Not
tonight George, I am going to play at the new club out on the end of
3rd.”
Replied Joe as he throws his smoke into the street and lights
another.
“Oh
that new place they been workin’ on? I heard they’re
going to have more tables than chairs to sit in. I didn’t know
they opened.”
“That’s
what I’ve heard but I’ll find out when I get there.”
Joe was really never one for conversations.
“So
what’s the place called?” George quickly asked.
“Sulley’s.”
Joe quickly replied.
“Yeah
that’s a long walk but it sounds like that’s where the
action is tonight. Maybe I’ll head out with the misses. And
maybe you’ll run into that new player that everyone has been
talkin’ about.”
“Who?”
Joe finally changed his expression with genuine curiosity.
“AH,
so big George knows more than Joe,” he said with his bellowing
laughter, “all I know is that it’s a young guy named
Charlie. Some people say you might actually lose some games now.”
“Is
that right?” Joe’s face return with his trademark
expressionless smile.
“I
guess we’ll find out, see you later George.”
With
that said Joe keeps waking down the block, enjoying all the activity
as the afternoon slowly turns to twilight…..
……….
…
“Joe.”
“C’mon
Joe.”
“Hey…”
Joe
slowly comes to, his cigarette burnt down to the filter. He slowly
looks around to see an empty hall with 7 pool tables. The bright
light shining onto the tables blurs his vision for a moment.
“I
don’t think anyone going to play tonight Joe.” Said
Sulley as he gathered up Joe’s bottle, glass, and ashtray.
“Yeah,
you’re probably right.” Said Joe as he puts his cue in
its case.
Another
moment passes with only the sound of Sulley’s shuffling feet
drag across the floor.
“Times
aren’t what they used to be….” Joe statement
barely audible as he lights his smoke.
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