The Curiosity Shop: A comedy of errors about witchcraft

by Francken, Lillian

  “Just set it down,” Gino snapped.

  Gino pulled out a bill and gave it to the waiter. Gino yanked the umbrella out of the drink and tossed it on the table and then looked up at the waiter.

  “Keep the change.”

  Rocco walked into the restaurant just then. When he glanced around and saw Gino he came over to the table. Rocco glanced at Gino’s injuries as Gino picked up his Scotch and gulped it down.

  “Heard you had some trouble,” Rocco said with a grin.

  “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

  Rocco just shook his head as he sat down across from Gino. He stared at the little umbrella sitting on the table.

  “You got something for me?” Rocco asked with a half-hearted smile on his face.

  Gino reached in his pocket, nervously handed the wad of cash to Rocco, and then quickly added, “From yesterday’s collection.”

  Rocco counted the bills slowly. A puzzled look crossed his face as he glanced up at Gino and then snapped. “This all?”

  “I gave Butch and Jake a little something for their efforts,” Gino said without thinking. His eyes widened as he just watched Rocco’s reaction.

  Rocco just stared at Gino and was surprised at his honesty. It shocked him even more when Gino kept talking.

  “Then there’s my usual cut off the top.” Gino smiled as he tapped the wad of cash in Rocco’s hand. “What’s left is yours.”

  Rocco motioned for the two thugs who were standing off in the corner to come over by them. He then turned to Gino, who had no clue what he had just said or for that matter Rocco’s reaction to his honesty.

  The two thugs slowly walked over to the table where Gino was sitting. They stood on either side of Gino. The one picked Gino up while the other quickly grabbed his other arm, and together they dragged Gino off to the exit near the kitchen door.

  Chapter 15

  Three days later

  It rained the three days Gino was in the hospital, making his sour disposition even worse than it already was. For the life of him he didn’t know what came over him with Rocco that day in the restaurant. The more he talked the deeper in trouble he became. It angered him more that his only visitor was Rosy, his cousin. Gone were the bimbos that he so generously gave gifts to.

  Rosy quickly signed Gino’s release papers because his right hand was in a cast and it would be a month of rehabilitation after the cast was removed before he’d be able to write again. The foot boot was replaced with a cast almost up to the hip; the cast on his arm extended around his shoulder. His face was hardly recognizable and the tiny slits for his eyes made looking at him almost unbearable. All the while Rosy was busy at the desk, the orderly put Gino in a wheelchair to make his exit from the hospital a little easier.

  Rosy was finally done signing all the documents that were required to release him. Once again she had to step up to the plate and promised to care for Gino so they would indeed release him into her care. Rosy wheeled the chair over to the elevator. It had been the first time since he was injured that he had alone time with Rosy. Once the door shut and they were alone in the elevator, Rosy turned to Gino with a look of concern.

  “What did you say to Rocco to make him so mad?”

  Gino just turned away. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he snapped.

  “He was always so good to you.”

  “He doesn’t like being skimmed.”

  Rosy turned and stared at Gino and then whispered, “Oh, I’d hate to be the person who snitched on you.”

  Gino turned to Rosy and shook his head. All he could muster up to say was “Yeah.”

  “Any ideas?” she asked, curious who in Gino’s group would have the nerve to go against him.

  Gino didn’t say more as the elevator door opened. Rosy was busy trying to figure out who in Gino’s group was the rat. Slowly Rosy wheeled Gino out of the elevator. Before she could get to the door, he made her stop and slowly got up out of the chair. He hobbled over to the exit.

  “You don’t think Butch would...” she started to say.

  Gino just turned to Rosy and snapped, “Would you just shut up, you stupid bitch.”

  “I’m just trying to help!”

  Gino ignored Rosy as he hobbled out of the hospital lobby and then he turned back to her and snapped again, “If you have to know, it was me! I did it to myself.”

  Rosy burst out laughing, not believing Gino. “Come on, you got more brains than that.”

  Gino’s frustration got the better of him as he stared at Rosy and pointed an accusing finger.

  “It’s that witch at The Curiosity Shop. She put a curse on me. It’s all her fault.”

  “How do you figure that?” Rosy asked. She didn’t want to tell Gino she also believed all the rumors about the old woman. If she hadn’t lost that potion last week, she’d have her proof that she was indeed a witch.

  “I go collect from her,” Gino relayed and then leaned closer to Rosy, and quickly added, “She handed me the money, then tossed something in the air and started talking this mumbo-jumbo.” Gino glanced around before continuing. “The next thing I know she tells me only the truth will come out of this mouth.” He pointed to his mouth as if Rosy didn’t know what he was referring to.

  Rosy chuckled to herself, as what Gino was saying almost sounded unbelievable.

  “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

  “Ain’t that spooky?” Gino quickly added.

  “That doesn’t seem so bad.”

  Gino just stared at Rosy for the longest time. He couldn’t believe how stupid she actually was.

  Rosy quickly flagged a taxi. When it stopped near them, she quickly walked over and opened the back door for Gino. “So now, what you going to do?” she asked.

  Gino shrugged as he walked closer to the taxi. “I don’t know. I can’t let her get away with it.”

  “But...” Rosy started to say but then stopped.

  Gino turned to her. She by then was looking a little nervous and didn’t want to continue. “But, what?” Gino snapped in a way that warned her not to say more.

  Rosy rolled her eyes and then leaned into Gino and whispered, “You know what happened to the Bel...”

  Gino put up a finger for her to stop. “That’s only talk. No one knows for sure. Besides, they were stupid thugs. What could that old woman have done to them?”

  Rosy quickly put in, “She put a curse on them, as sure as that.” Rosy snapped her fingers and then looked at Gino. “You said she put a curse on you, and look where it got you.”

  Gino was angry with her for saying what he already knew. Rosy quickly walked around the taxi giving Gino time to think about what she had just said. If the old woman put a curse on him, why couldn’t she have done the same to the Belzoni brothers? Rosy got into the taxi and didn’t say another word for fear of upsetting Gino further.

  *

  Gino wasn’t much good but he went on the collection runs just to keep his men honest so as not to have anymore run-ins with Rocco over the money that was collected from the various neighborhood shops. He had to step up the collections in order to make up for the money he took from Rocco last week.

  While the two thugs entered the butcher shop, Gino stood outside leaning on a lamppost for support. He reached in his pocket for the bottle of Vicodin. Quickly he opened the bottle and took two pills. He tilted his head back and quickly swallowed the pills. They would have gone down better with a beer, but the pain was too great and he couldn’t wait. He needed the relief now. The men in the butcher shop started arguing but his body hurt too much to care.

  JoJo was cleaning out back when he heard Mr. Romano yelling at someone. That was unusual for him to raise his voice. JoJo couldn’t make out much but knew for Mr. Romano to be this loud and angry it had to be bad. As JoJo entered the back door he heard Mr. Romano yell.

  “I gave Gino two hundred six days ago.”

  The one thug yanked the old man by the shirt and pulled him close to him. “That wasn’t enoug
h,” he argued. “He needs more!”

  Mr. Romano’s face was blazing red as he slowly opened the till and then stepped back as he pointed.

  “There ain’t enough to pay you and feed my family.”

  The one thug laughed. “Maybe you should get a real job,” he said, as he grabbed a steak out of the display. “Or better yet, feed them with your over-priced meat.” He tossed the steak at Mr. Romano, who deflected the steak to the floor and then shook his fist at the thug as he reached into the till and grabbed all the money.

  In the meantime, JoJo snuck up behind the two thugs. Quickly he took his broom and whacked the one thug in the head, sending him sprawling to the floor. Money went flying, catching Gino’s attention. Before the other thug could react JoJo knocked him to the floor with a right uppercut to the chin. Gino was about to step in, but the pain was just too much. He decided not to, given his physical condition. Instead he hobbled over to the alley and hid around the corner just as JoJo took hold of both men and dragged them out of the butcher shop. He threw the one man in the gutter. The other man he shoved and then kicked him in the pants sending him flying out of control falling on top of the other thug in the gutter.

  “Let that be a lesson,” JoJo snapped while pointing an accusing finger. “We are taking back our neighborhood!”

  Other shop owners along the street looked outside their doors to see what the commotion was all about. Some had fear in their eyes and quickly went back into their shops and shut the doors, locking them behind them.

  Mr. Romano came out finally and walked up to JoJo. “What have you done?”

  JoJo turned to the elderly man and snapped. “It’s about time you and the others stood up to these thugs.” When JoJo’s Irish blood was riled, you better stand back and get out of the way.

  Mr. Romano just turned around while he shook his head. Meanwhile, the thugs quickly got up from the gutter and hurried off down the street trying to pretend nothing happened.

  JoJo was left standing alone in the street. There was no one who was going to back him up. It angered him that the shop owners just stuck their heads in the sand and pretended that it would all go away on its own. He knew unless a stand was made, nothing would change. He also knew he couldn’t do it alone.

  JoJo turned to look at Mr. Romano behind the counter. Mr. Romano refused to return his glance. All JoJo could do was walk away. He knew that if he entered the butcher shop, an argument would ensue about what just happened. He knew if he were going to fight the thugs who were now threatening the neighborhood, he would need help. It was clear the shop owners were not going to be of any assistance. So JoJo would have to go to the only person he knew who would possibly help him in his quest to rid the neighborhood of these thugs.

  Chapter 16

  JoJo sat on Mitch’s couch while Mitch paced the floor, not knowing how or what to say, but then he stopped. He ran his hands through his hair. Granted, he was a cop, but he didn’t have the authority to go after a thug like Gino. He knew there was a task force at the precinct to deal with organized crime. Any activities that were observed were supposed to be reported to them to handle. Mitch was just a beat cop.

  “Did you see Gino?” Mitch asked.

  “No.”

  “Then why do you think they were his thugs?”

  “I just have this feeling.”

  Mitch shook his head and didn’t know what else to say. He had heard Gino got roughed up by Rocco’s crew for some infraction. Rosy was keeping her mouth shut about Gino, so he only had information from the street. She had been seen going in an out of Gino’s apartment after his release from the hospital. Given their strained relationship of late, Mitch never asked where she was going, because an argument always ensued. He knew in time he would have to deal with her, but for now it was easier to just let it go.

  “I’m tired of Mr. Romano paying these thugs. He works hard everyday and all they do is come in and clean out the till as if it’s their God-given right.” JoJo argued.

  “I don’t know what to tell you,” Mitch said

  “I need your help to stop them.”

  “I’m just a beat cop. I can’t condone vigilante justice.”

  JoJo got up and walked to the door. “Well, if you won’t help me, then I’ll do it myself.”

  With that, JoJo stormed out, almost knocking Rosy over as she walked into the apartment. He was angry with Mitch for his indifference. JoJo always liked Mitch and felt he was one of the good guys. He seemed to care about what happened in the neighborhood and the people living there. But now he feared that Mitch was like all the rest. There was no one else to turn to and he feared if anything was to be done, he would have to do it alone.

  *

  Mitch couldn’t stop thinking about JoJo and what he planned to do. He was torn about canceling his plans for the afternoon: his mother was planning on seeing him and he’d promised Cassandra to show her the city. What JoJo was planning would take more than an afternoon to accomplish. Mitch planned to talk to JoJo and come up with a plan of action, but it would have to wait until he got back that evening.

  Mitch rode up to The Curiosity Shop on the motorcycle he borrowed from a friend. Cassandra was behind the counter and when she saw him a big smile crossed her face. Mitch slowly got off the cycle and undid the helmet that was strapped onto the back seat. He turned and walked into the shop.

  “Are you ready,” is all Mitch said.

  Cassandra just stood there with wide eyes, not realizing what he meant. Lucinda walked in from the storeroom out back with Spider in her arms. Cassandra just turned to Lucinda.

  “I can’t... the shop, I’m working.”

  Lucinda looked at Mitch and then turned to Cassandra and smiled. “I’m perfectly capable of handling things for the afternoon.”

  Mitch turned to Cassandra and smiled. “See, you don’t have any excuse.”

  Cassandra shook her head. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s my mother’s birthday, remember? Then we can drive around town.”

  “But...” Cassandra started to say.

  Spider jumped out of Lucinda’s arms; the old woman walked over to Cassandra and pulled her out from behind the counter.

  Mitch handed Cassandra the helmet. She stared at it for the longest time and then put it on.

  “I’ve never been on a motorcycle,” she said.

  “Then you are in for a real treat. Just hang onto me and lean with me when we go around corners.”

  Cassandra followed Mitch out of the shop. Once he hopped onto the cycle, she climbed on after him. Within minutes they were on their way. Mitch zigzagged between traffic until they got to his mother’s Brownstone on the Upper East Side. It was an old section of town. Once they got to 61st Street, it didn’t take long and Mitch parked outside the old townhouse. Cassandra slowly got off the cycle, her stomach in knots. She really didn’t know why she was going with Mitch to his mother’s on her birthday.

  Mitch got off the cycle. He took off his helmet and put it on the handlebar while Cassandra took off her helmet. Mitch strapped it onto the back seat. He then took out the package from the saddle bag and took Cassandra’s hand, and the two walked up the steps to the door.

  “Does your mother know you are bringing me?” Cassandra asked.

  “No, I thought I would surprise her.”

  Cassandra swallowed hard. It was too late to change her mind. She hadn’t really given much thought as to what Mitch had planned for her that day. She had forgotten about his mother’s birthday.

  Mitch rang the doorbell. It didn’t take long, when the door quickly opened.

  Mitch’s mother was a matronly looking woman in her late fifties. She was dressed in an attractive navy-blue velour pants suit that showed off a well-maintained body. She had a big smile for her son and a surprised look at his guest.

  Cassandra could tell that Mitch didn’t tell her he was bringing someone. She was curious how he would explain her, seeing he definitely had a girlfriend and was sure
his mother knew that fact.

  “Rosy?” Mitch’s mother asked with a curious look.

  Cassandra shook her head. Up until then she didn’t know Mitch’s girlfriend’s name. And knew her name now.

  “No, Mom, this is Cassandra, a friend of mine. She’s new in the city and I’m showing her around.”

  “Well come on in,” she said, pulling Mitch into the entranceway.

  Cassandra was surprised at the elegant interior. The floors were polished oak wood. Not the artificial stuff they sold now. The throw rugs were Oriental in design and fit well with the antique furniture that was scattered around the room. Cassandra didn’t know much about the city but knew enough to know this was the better part, judging by the cars parked outside and the neatness of the neighborhood. She was now curious why someone who came from this part of the city decided to be a beat cop when it was clear he came from so much more.

  Mitch handed his mother the package. She sat down and proceeded to open it. When she saw the wind chime her eyes lit up.

  “This will fit nicely in the garden,” she said in a way that was genuine.

  “When I saw it, I thought of you. It will go nice with your collection.”

  The three of them sat in the sitting room visiting for the longest time. It was all small talk. Mitch enjoyed it but his mind always went back to JoJo and what he asked him to do. A part of him wanted to help but given his job he knew he could get in trouble.

  “Mitch, are you listening?” his mother asked with a smile on her face.

  “I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately.

  “Well, I’ll tell you what. You take Cassandra out into the garden in back, and I’ll fix us some lemonade.”

  Mitch helped Cassandra up. She followed him out the back door into the well-maintained garden that was fenced in out back. Cassandra was surprised at how private it was, you almost had the feeling you were no longer in the heart of the city.