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Tuesday morning – May 5
Mikey is sitting alone at a table in Terrace Bagels enjoying a Cinnamon-raisen bagel with cream cheese and jelly. He washes it down with a large hot coffee; milk and three splenda. It’s a little after eight.
“Fuckin’ Rangers lost last night,” Mikey barked to Louie who was wiping down the table next to him.
“Yeah I know, I watched the whole game,” Louie answered.”They couldn’t score a goal.”
Mikey’s eyes went back to his Daily News which was spread out on the table. Louie was the owner of the Bagel shop. He put in a lot of time to build the business.
“Tell me you didn’t bet the Rangers last night?” Louie inquired as he tossed a few empty paper cups into the garbage.
“Nah, my gambling days are over,” Mikey assurred him.
Louie wasn’t so sure. He has known Mikey for a few years.
“I lost my pants last week, I couldn’t pull a winner for anything,” Mikey cried.
Louie knew all about Mikey’s gambling habit. There were mornings where Mikey spent a couple of hours in the bagel shop reading the newspaper then placing bets with his bookie right there in front of everyone.
Louie was done wiping the tables and now headed behind the counter to help with the sudden rush.
“WHO’S NEXT?” Louie shouted.
Mikey looked up at the line and saw a long-time friend.
“Yo Patty,” Mikey shouted. No response.
“Patty Smith, what’s up bro?” Mikey shouted.
A tall guy with glasses and a Mets cap was waiting on line, looked over at Mikey.
“Hey, how you doin’?” a guy said.
It was Patty Smith, he used to live in the neighborhood.
“What are you up to these days?” Mikey asked as he got up from his table and extended his hand.
“Nothing much man, just in town for a few days visiting,” Patty answered.
“Where ya’ living these days?” Mikey asked.
“Jersey, I moved to Jersey about five years,” Patty said.
“Jersey huh? What part?”
“South Jersey, down by Philly,” Patty informed him.
Mikey looked towards the front door where the line had grown as Patty moved up a little. When he thinks of Philadelphis the Sixers, Phillies and the Flyers come to mind.
“How ya like it down there?” Mikey asked. “I go down to A.C. every now and then.”
“It’s cool, the old lady got transferred down there so we packed up and moved the whole family.”
Mikey seemed intrigued. Not that he would want to move out of the neighborhood, it’s just that he along with his friend Billy are always wondering why people are leaving Brooklyn.
“Everyone’s moving out and headed to Jersey,” Mikey said.
“I know, these prices for apartments are getting out of control,” Patty said.
“Tell me about it, our landlord just raised to rent,” Mikey explained.
“What we pay on our mortage in Jersey is the same as our rent here,” Patty explained. “Plus there’s no traffic, no crime and no bullshit.”
“You miss your friends?” Mikey asked. As Patty had made it up to the front of the line.
“Gimme three salted, two plain and a whole wheat,” Patty informed the girl behind the counter.
“You turn into a Flyers fan yet?” Mikey asked Patty.
“Nah, I will always be a Rangers fan,” Patty answered.
“Well they sucked last night, lost to Washington one zip,” Mikey explained.
“I know, we watched the game,” Patty echoed.
The bagels were bagged and Patty was ready to leave.
“Good seeing you Mikey, take care,” Patty offered as he extended his hand.
“Sure Patty, it was good seeing you.”
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com