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July 25. Two guys hanging out on the corner of Windsor Place and Ninth Avenue. It’s a little after eight in the morning.
Rob: Who ya like tonight?
Billy: Yankees.
Rob: You think they can beat Toronto?
Billy: Yeah man, the Bombers are on a roll.
Rob: Wait a minute, they just beat Texas three out of four but the Rangers suck.
Rob opens up his daily news and checks the line for tonight’s games.
Billy: Yeah, yeah, I know but a win is win. They are making moves too so watch out for them.
Rob: I need a winner real bad tonight Billy. I’m in the hole for two-hundred dollars. I can’t pick a winner for my life.
Billy: You still gambling? When you gonna give that shit up? I gave you the Yankees the past two nights. Didn’t you listen?
Rob: Yo fuck you Billy. I tried to get it in but I got stuck over in the city.
Billy: See there you go again. Why’s everything gotta be fuck you Billy?
Rob: Yeah well why do you always gotta break my balls about bettin’? It’s my life man.
Billy: Because I care about you man. You’re losing your mind with some of these bets. You bet every night. Shit you bet on teams you know nothing about!
Rob: Look bro, I enjoy it, alright.
Billy: Yeah but Rob, your family is suffering. My wife was talkin’ to your wife and you guys are two months behind with the rent.
Rob: SHE TOLD YOUR WIFE WHAT?
Billy: Take it easy man, they’re good friends. They’ve been friends since their Holy Name days.
Rob: Yeah I know Billy, I know how close they are. They’re on the fuckin’ phone every night with each other too. They live three blocks apart. My telephone bill is sky high.
Billy: You are out of work. Your son starts Bishop Ford in September and your younger daughter is starting Holy Name.
Rob: Yeah I know. The Hall is packed too. There’s nothing going up. I’m thinking of going with some guys out to Michigan. They are putting up three buildings over thirty stories high.
Billy: Man you ain’t leaving Brooklyn. I’ll tell you what, back to school shit is going to cost you a fortune. Supplies, clothes, fuck that shit gets expensive.
Rob: Yeah I know, you sound like my mother now.
Billy: Well let me ask you; do you listen to your mother?
Rob looks away, takes a sip from his coffee cup and stares out onto the avenue.
Billy: Here’s some more advice Rob, start listening to your mom. I don’t care if you listen to me but think about your family bro. They need you and depend on you.
Rob looks at Billy. He’s not happy.
Rob: You know what, fuck you Billy.
Rob rolls up his newspaper, stuffs it in his back pocket and walks across the avenue towards Farrell’s.
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com