by Mike Gomes
“I was just trying to be nice.” interjected Falau.
“You shut up boy!” said Joaquim to the big man. “I know how you tourist boys from the states act. You come here looking for a local girl and then have your way with them until you leave them broken hearted. Not with my mother yankee. Go home.”
“I can assure you that I was just giving her a walk. I have no alternative interest other than that. She did me a favor and I figured I could do the same for her.”
“Yo, Joaquim. Why don't you take your mom home and we will help out this nice man so he can find his way home. We would not want him to get hurt.” said Carlos moving the tooth pick back and forth in his mouth.
“You boys will not tell me who I can walk with and who I can't.” exclaimed Apollonia.
Grabbing his mother's arm Joaquim started to pull her as she struggled moving closer and closer to their home. Eyes peeked out from between the shades taking in the commotion of what was going on around them.
Falau watched as Joaquim pulled his mother into the apartment that was three doors away.
The remaining boys circled around the big man smiling.
Chapter 9
Standing firm and strong Falau kept his feet motionless but spread them shoulder width apart. He bent at the knees slightly keeping his body nimble in case of a sneak attack from any side. Falau watched as they moved past him in a rhythmic motion. The glint of the fire caught their eyes as they moved in and out of its wake. In an instant he sized each of the boys up seeing no challenge from any of them other than the largest one with the toothpick in his mouth. He moved gracefully and smooth. He would be able to fight just off athletic ability, but Falau doubted he had the training needed to match his prowess when it came to hand to hand combat.
“So, yankee, you find a hot little local girl and now you're thinking of making some island memories.” said Carlos continuing his stroll around the big man. “That's not something we like here. Guys from off the island have been doing that for a long time.”
“Nothing like that happening with me.” replied Falau. “The lady was being kind to me showing me where the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was in town. I was just trying to repay her with safe escort home.”
“So you think the women in Funchal have to worry about us local men?” asked Candido. “That's a bold statement for a guy who is all alone.”
“I didn't say anything like that. I just said I would escort her home and she said yes.”
“You should have thought twice before leaving downtown Funchal. That's where the tourists should stay.” said the slightly cracking voice of José trying to puff up his chest as he walked around the newcomer.
“You seem a bit young to be running with these older boys. What do your parents think about this?” asked Falau trying to gage the edginess of the boys and their willingness to attack him.
“What do you know about my parents?” snapped back José. “They are none of your business and they don't care what I am doing so just shut up, yankee, before I hurt you.”
“I didn't mean to offend you.” said Falau smiling “It was just a simple question. You guys don't need to keep calling me yankee. Just call me Michael.”
“Michael what?” asked Carlos stopping directly in front of the big man and turning to face him.
“Just Michael.”
Carlos took a half step closer and kept his eyes locked on Falau’s. José and Candido flanked the backside of Falau, one off his right shoulder and one off his left shoulder. It was clear to Falau that the kids had done this before, probably shaking down a tourist for their wallet.
“Just one name, like you’re some superstar. Are you like Sting or Madonna?” asked José with a juvenile tone coming from his voice that caused Carlos to break his gaze from Falau and give the young boy a hard look.
“Mr. Michael you need to realize that you are a guest on this island and that whatever you think you are, you are not that here.” said Carlos “Here you are nothing but a guest. You’re going to treat us with respect just as a guest should.”
‘”Where I come from respect is earned.”
Carlos froze in his spot as his jaw tightened and his chest and arms became flexed. Through gritted teeth the eighteen year old spoke with a hard steeliness far beyond his age. “You can bet your life that I have earned the respect of you and any other person on this god forsaken island.”
Carlos’s hand reached into his pocket not breaking the icy gaze that was locked between him and Falau like two heavyweight fighters meeting in the center of the ring before a fight. Sliding out of his pocket came a stainless steel butterfly knife. Without looking Carlos flipped the knife opening the handle on one side exposing the four inch blade. Snapping the knife back and forth without looking he stopped it in front of his own face with the tip equal distances between himself and Falau.
Falau’s eyes never shifted from Carlos and he looked straight through the blade into his eyes.
“Are you looking for a piece of this?” asked Carlos twisting the knife back and forth in front of Falau’s eyes. The light from the fire caught its reflection on the steel making it glint with red and yellow.
“Back where I am from they have a saying that is in movies and songs.” said Falau staying hard and focused on Carlos’s eyes. “If you’re going to be dumb enough to pull a gun on a man, you better be smart enough to pull the trigger.”
A soft breeze blew in from the opening of the courtyard hitting Carlos in the face. Pushing his hair back from his forehead.
“You don't give an inch Mr. Michael.” said Carlos with tension across his face. “You give nothing. Not a bit. What makes you so strong when you’re outnumbered and facing a beating that could end your life?”
“I haven't pushed you at all. I just have not backed off. I haven’t disrespected you or your homeland. I came to this island because it is part of my family history. I just wanted to see where my family came from.”
“And you think because you have family from the past that was local that gives you the right to act this way with me.”
“Again, I have shown you no disrespect in any way.”
“Prove it to me. Just break your eye contact first and that will show me that you respect me and know your place and that I run this area.”
“But you don’t. You boys don't even live on your own. Your moms and dads still take care of you.”
Carlos moved the knife closer to Falau and pulled his face closer as well. “Yankee, I am going to send you home in a box if they even find your body. I am going to cut you up and you will spend your last moments looking into my eyes wondering why you did not look away.”
Carlos flicked his wrist and the tip of the blade of the butterfly knife cut a one inch slice on the big man's left cheek. As quick as the knife made its mark Falau thrusted his left hand up sliding it in between Carlos’s arm and his chest. Falau’s hand grabbed the boy’s wrist and thrust it high into the air pulling the boy slightly off the ground. Within the same beat the big man drove his knee hard into Carlos's stomach causing him to let go of the knife and drop to the ground.
José and Candido closed in quick causing the big man to choose which to attack first. Kicking hard to the side Falau caught the older boy on the knee as he approached causing a hyperextension. By reflex Candido reached down and grabbed his knee and fell to the ground writhing in pain.
Falau pushed Carlos to the ground as José struck him hard across the face with his fist. The impact had more power than Falau had expected from such a young boy, but the punch lacked discipline and training hitting Falau more with the inside of his hand rather than the knuckles. Falau reached out and grabbed José by the shirt and lifted a fist into the air ready to punch down hard on the boy.
José looked up as fear crossed his face seeing the fury covering the big man’s face. His eyes closed and he turned his head not lifting his hands to protect himself. The boy's body attempted to curl up only being defeated by gravity. He hung limp by Fala
u’s large hand crushing his shirt in is hands.
The hand of the big man seemed to freeze in the air unable to drop on the child. Falau looked down seeing the boy was just that, a boy. Not a young man but a boy who was doing nothing more than following the lead of the older boys around him. If the hand were allowed to drop down and find its mark Falau was sure that it would happen over and over again rendering the child unconscious and possibly injured beyond repair. Falau’s hand relaxed and he pulled the boy close lifting him off the ground. With a furious growl in is voice he pressed his face against the boy’s face. “GO HOME!” he grunted throwing the boy hard to the ground.
José rolled over and looked to Carlos who had just gotten to his feet and picked up the knife. “You heard him. GO HOME. You don't want to be around for this.”
José got to his feet and ran hard across the courtyard and pulled the door open of an apartment that had no light out in front of it. Within a second the face of José had filled the front window watching what was next to come.
“You could not just leave things alone, could you?” questioned Carlos placing the knife in the opposite hand than he originally had. “You just want to make a problem. What guy who is on holiday wants to make a problem when they go away.”
“Did I hurt your arm? Seems like you can't move it very well?” asked Falau. “You have a chance to walk away right now and nobody will get hurt any more. Be smart.”
“You the one bleeding not me.” said Carlos moving in closer and moving the knife side to side. “That little nick is going to be staring back at you for the rest of your life. A souvenir of your trip to Madeira.”
“You make a move again and I will knock you out this time.” said Falau with confidence. The big man’s hands stayed by his side waiting for Carlos to make a move. “Be smart and walk away now while you have a chance.”
“FUCK YOU!” yelled Carlos charging forward with the tip of the knife aimed for the chest of Falau. The big man kept his feet shoulder width apart and twisted his body to the side as Carlos got closer. The knife slid just by his chest leaving several inches clearance. Falau grabbed the wrist of Carlos with his right hand and pushed the palm of his left hand behind the elbow of Carlos. Twisting Carlos’s arm so his palm faced the sky and his elbow pointed to the ground. Falau shoved his hand hard on the elbow pushing Carlos onto his tip toes. Falau pulled down hard with his right hand extending the elbow beyond its normal extension. The knife dropped from his hand as a grunt came from his mouth and he attempted to roll out of the hold he was locked into.
Feeling the distance running out that Carlos could extend himself, Falau pushed up harder forcing the ligaments beyond their capacity. Falau heard a slight cracking noise coming from inside the arm of Carlos.
“I could really hurt you right now, but I am not going to. Next time you cross me, it will be the last.” said Falau. Leaning his body back Falau pushed hard on the boy’s arm and dropped him to the ground in a lump of pain and moans before walking toward Apollonia’s home.
Chapter 10
“So what is he, your new boyfriend?” snapped Joaquim pushing himself up close to his mother.
“No, he is not a boyfriend. He needed help getting to a meeting so I offered to help him.”
“I bet he needed help and I am sure you were willing to give it to him.” said Joaquim lacing his words with sarcasm and innuendo.
Apollonia pushed hard back against her son only moving him about a foot but still giving her the separation to move away from him and make her way to the kitchen. “He is staying at the bed and breakfast and he found me crying in his room.”
“What do you have to be crying for?”
“Look at my face, Joaquim!” screamed Apollonia cramming her battered and bruised face at her son. “This is what I cry about in a stranger's room.”
“You’re making too much of this. If you had just backed off then I would have been fine.”
“You’re blaming me for your shitty behavior?” said Apollonia with an eye roll. “You know I was married to your father for ten years and he was no saint, believe you me, but he never once put his hands on me. All it took you was getting mad once and then you hit me down like a dog. What your father would do to you if he were here, God rest his soul.”
But he isn't here, is he.” said Joaquim stepping in closer to his mother again and puffing his chest out. “He was too slow and he left us behind with his mistakes. I am the man of this family now so you are going to answer to me.”
“The hell I will. I am the one who brings home the money and I will call the shots. When you bring in the money you can have a say. If you don’t like it you can take a walk.”
“Oh, I will be the one bringing in the money and then you can listen to what I say.”
“What are you talking about?” questioned Apollonia placing her hands on her hips. “What, are you and your thug friends going to make the money for me to run this house? I don't think so.”
Pointing his finger into his mother's face the teenager pressed hard against her. “You’re going to see what I am made of. How I am more than you and more than Dad. I am not going to make the mistakes he made. I am smarter than the both of you and when you’re coming to me to ask for money for some food, you’re going to apologize to me for ever having doubted me.”
“You have all the potential in the world Joaquim but you're wasting it just like you always have. Looking for the fast buck and the quick way out of things. If you ever had just kept your mind on the important things you would be far beyond this place already. But you’re a quitter and never did what needed to get done for what you needed to.”
Apollonia took both of her hands and placed them hard into the boys chest and pushed hard bracing her back leg against the cabinet. Her son stumbled back bumping into the table knocking two dishes onto the floor shattering them into hundreds of pieces.
The boy regained his footing and straightened himself up lifting his eyes slowly looking at his mother. “You just can’t learn your place with me, can you? I am the new man of this house. You need to fall in line with what I tell you then you’re going to be OK. But, if you put your hands on me one more time I will need to discipline you the way dad used to discipline me. You think the back of my hand hurt, just imagine what I could have done to you with my fist.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The pounding on the door broke the tension in the room. The hand that hit the door sounded full and moved the door in its frame. It was no child on the other side of the door and Joaquim knew it.
The teenager moved with purpose to the door and pulled it open leaving just the screen door between himself and Falau. Looking past the big man he could see Carlos and Candido pulling themselves together a short distance away.
“What the fuck are you here for? Didn't you have enough of a problem already?
“It wasn't much of a problem for me.” said Falau showing no expression on his face. “I am here to see your mother. Is she in?”
“Tell your story walking, American. She has no use for you and the people of this island have no use for you.”
“I didn't ask your opinion on anything. I just asked if your mother was in. How about you just go get her.”
“So, what, I am your errand boy now. I work for you?”
“Get your mother.” said Falau sharply and with purpose.
“Joaquim, let the man in the house!” called his mother from the next room. “He is my friend and he can come in this house.”
“You have no opinion on this. This is all up to me.” said Joaquim looking back into the kitchen at his mother. “You keep your mouth shut and do as I tell you.”
“Don’t speak to you mother that way.” said Falau with no emotion in his voice.
“And who the hell are you to tell me how to talk to my mother?”
“I am her friend and someone who knows basic manners so don't speak to her in that manner.”
“Go to hell.” said Joaquim grabbing the inside
door and started to close it in the face of Falau. His hand slipped through the screen as he thrusted it forward and damaged the door with the palm of his hand. The glass that was held loosely in the door frame providing the windows for the door shook at the abrupt stop from the big man's hand.
“I said get your mother and I mean now!” said Falau shoving the door open and smacking it into the chest of the teenage boy.
The door swung open hard and Joaquim reached for the screen door filled with rage. Gritted teeth and a piercing stare shot like daggers deep into Falau’s soul. The boy was ready for blood and Falau had questioned his authority in the home of the woman he had just met a few hours before in the calmness of his hotel room.
Falau stepped back and made way for the boy to come outside the home.
Banging hard against its full extension the screen door sprung back met by Joaquim’s arm. The boy was ready to defend his home from what he considered an intruder into his and his mother's life. Lifting his right hand a fist was formed and pulled back as he closed the distance to the big man. The boy gave away his intention by staring directly at the target of the big man's nose.
Falau kept his hands by his side ready to slip the punch and restrain the boy. Striking him would only cause the new friendship he had just started with Apollonia to disappear in an instant.
The boy moved to within two feet and his fist started to move forward to make its strike. Before it had reached four inches in the forward direction, his fist came to an abrupt halt. Hanging off his back arm the boy’s mother was stopping him from making the attack on the big man.
“Joaquim! Stop it at once.”
The boy shook hard trying to get his mother to release him but she held on tight like a cowboy on a bucking bronco. “Mom, go back in the house!”
“No! You stop what you're doing!” she yelled, getting her feet anchored to the ground and feeling the loosening of the boy’s arm. “Look what this man did to your friends! You think you have a chance against him by yourself.”
