[link] Picture Number Nine drabble

Detective Sullivan studied the picture they'd pulled from Ginelli's pocket as the mobster had cooled and stiffened on the sidewalk. Ginelli and a kid, both dressed fancy, like respectable people. The kid watched Ginelli, maybe thinking "I'm going to be just like him."

Sullivan told himself it was just a neighborhood kid, a "hero"-worshiping nobody. In his gut, though, he knew that somewhere a kid was about to find out that his father was dead, that he'd fallen to the cops. Somewhere a kid would look at his weeping mother, would look for his father's weapons, would join his father's cronies, and keep the whole sick wheel turning.

Connie, I love that last paragraph.

I've got another gangster drabble percolating. It's good to feel the writing loosen up again.

What's the difference between a mobster and a gangster?

Not all gangsters are mobsters. Mostly, now, it seems to break down ethnically with mobsters being more likely to be the old-school neighborhood Italian, Jewish, and Irish wiseguys. Gangsters can be black and Hispanic... Maybe actually it's an organization thing...gangsters not being able to trace back to the Five Families and such. Dude, I'm "Rain Man" with brass knuckles and a bag of chronic.

Dude, I'm "Rain Man" with brass knuckles and a bag of chronic.

You are a font of arcane and specialized knowledge. People get paid for that sort of thing.

Except for...I'm not sure that I'm right.(There goes that job at FEMA. Dag.) But I think you can't be a mobster without being able to trace your bona fides. And you're only mob-connected till you take the oath and get "made", which some close mob associates never can because they're not fully Sicilian.

There goes that job at FEMA. Dag.

I don't think a job at FEMA requires you to be right, only confident.

Deb, got today, have eaten three. Am in chocolate bliss. Thank you and my anonymous benefactor muchly.

Hee! Will do, Deena.

I'm not going to get anything written until tonight. Neighbours on both sides are doing construction projects. Fucketyboo.

I think you can't be a mobster without being able to trace your bona fides. And you're only mob-connected till you take the oath and get "made", which some close mob associates never can because they're not fully Sicilian.

You don't have to be specifically Sicilian. But, yes, you do have to be fully Italian and able to trace your roots back. Until you get made, you're just an associate.

I'm suddenly picturing an appendix to Miss Manners that I never imagined. "Solly, it has come to our attention that you've been claiming status you're not entitled to." "Joey, I swear, I'm Italian through and through." "Your mother's from Minnesota, Solly. As far as I know, lutefisk is not a featured dish at the Sons of Italy."