Every typical mobster's life is a tough one.

It's funny how we all end up together, how we work all together like one big happy family. But others who weren't like us would say otherwise. Big happy family huh? Crimes 'round the streets huh? They would say. But hey, isn't it all the same? We wake up every morning like you, we eat every breakfast, lunch, 'n dinner like you, we dress to go to work like you, 'n we laugh 'n have fun like you.

You see, we're not all that different.

I suppose you're wonderin' why a good lookin' guy like me ended up in this place. No, I geddit, you're alright, it's what everyone asks 'round here in Chicago. Everyone wants to know the story behind that hungry lookin' shady guy at the end of the boulevard, who dresses like he's worth a million dollars. Plus, it don't help that this alley cat have his suspicious left hand dug in his suit pocket all the time.

But we lick ourselves clean every time. Police ain't got evidence down on us. Our suits are pinstriped and black as the night, and spotless. Our hats are snazzed to the brim. Our ties are ironed straight. Our eyes are restless. We're cold as cash, you could say. You're dead right.

Oh yeah, that story—Listen here. I trust you enough—You're one of us. But you can't tell nobody, got it? Or else. Anyways, sit down, take a chair. This'll be awhile. Plus, looks like the streets will be poured on with that heavy Chicago wind and rain.

Chapter 1

I guess it only makes sense to start from the very beginning.

Anyways, like a lot of us, we all start out poor. Dirt poor. I remember the street and little townhouse I grew up in. Had no Momma, but I got a Daddy, as I can recall. He used to push me on the swings on that playground, boy, I laughed so hard 'till my ribs hurt! Loved goin' on those swings. I didn't like having to swing myself, not that I didn't know anyway. So I'd waited on the swings until Daddy came home, and he'd push me again 'n again, my ribs would hurt, like I said, and we'd go home. You ask, what did my Daddy do? Well, that's for later. But I'm a lot like him, I suppose. And then you'd ask, well, what did I do when he wasn't home? Well, I'd walk around the streets. Didn't feel like going to school, Daddy didn't push me to go, and I was already a smart, clever little guy.

Oh yeah, so I started walking around the streets when I was about five, maybe six years old. I was looking out the window one day, and I saw this newspaper boy riding his red, shiny bike outside, tossing out the Chicago News every Monday or something. Boy, I was so jealous. I loved that red bike. I wished I had that bike more than any other kid on the block. I supposed he wouldn't mind if I could ride his shiny red bike. So after looking outside that window too long, I decided to go outside and follow him.

As soon as I looked up, it was getting dark and cloudy outside. You could hear that sort of rumble those clouds make when it's about to rain, and to rain real good. It was morning, and my Daddy had already gone to work like every morning, and that newspaper boy was on his cue. And there I saw him—him and his little cap and big freckled smile cuz he rode that shiny red bike and throwing newspapers to every little townhouse.

As soon as he passed by my house, I slipped out the door and chased him like the wind. The thunder grew louder, but he still had that freckled grin, all big 'n wide. I remember laughing so hard inside my head that he didn't have the slightest clue I was chasin' him down to get his red bike. No clue! Every time he'd turn his head to sideways to toss a newspaper, I hid behind every alley or dumpster or car. Still no clue! The rumbling grew louder, and only began to help mask my steps.

Finally, I was close to gettin' out of breath, but the kid turned left on the next street. I was about to give up, 'til I saw him turn left to his own little townhouse, and discovered that he didn't live to far from where I was. He looked like a new kid, he was too happy and not around from these parts, I could tell. That poor dumb kid left his shiny red bike outside on his yard, supposing that it would fend for itself. Not a clue!

I laughed and shook my head. It was all too easy. I could feel the rain beginning to drop gently on my face. Then I looked up, and the clouds roared its first roar, and the rain fell down. I pounced onto his lawn, and sniped his red shiny bike when he thought he was alright in his own little townhouse, and I rode off, laughing.

I didn't need any lessons on riding that shiny red bike, I just knew. I laughed and laughed 'til my ribs hurt, and that little shiny red bike laughed with me. He put up with his sheltered little owner far too long. And while the clouds rolled in and lighting struck throughout the sky, they seemed to be on my side, praising my little evil deed, and showering me with reviving rain. It seemed to laugh with me, as I rode away through the streets. Every body feared the weather and shut themselves up inside, while I embraced it. I lifted my arms like I had wings, and they all feared me and my little evil deed, as I rode all around Chicago, and finally went back home, with my shiny red bike, before Daddy came home.

Chapter 2

A year or two later, Daddy said I should get small job or something.



TO BE CONTINUED :)

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