Half the Blood of Brooklyn: A Novel by Charlie Huston

Author:Charlie Huston
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780345495877
Published: 2010-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

Joe Pitt 3 - Half the Blood of Brooklyn

--Like he's gonna tell you. Like the guy's from the Coalition and he's gonna tell you what he's doing here.

The Rebbe comes down the aisle, stops next to my bench.

--The Coalition, is that right?

I don't say anything.

--You didn't hear the question?

I shift, try to find a way of sitting on the bench with my wrists and ankles bound that doesn't make the hole in my thigh throb or my ribs grate or my face ache.

--Sorry, got lost in a little dŽjˆ vu there.

--This seems familiar to you? The temple? Us?

--No, being beaten and tied up and listening to some asshole try to frame my ass seems familiar. Swear I've gone through this shit before.

He taps one of my escorts on the shoulder and the kid gets up and the Rebbe takes his place.

--You're not from the Coalition, then?

--Fuck is he gonna say?

The Rebbe shakes a finger at Stretch.

--You want me to have them gag you again? Yes? No? No. So be quiet for a moment. What my sister saw in you, all the talking without ever listening. A midget, I could almost be proud she was blind to such a thing, loved you despite your infirmity, but the talking and the cursing and never waiting to listen to anyone else, it's a frustration.

--Fuck you, Moishe.

The Rebbe looks at me.

--See the mouth on him. With or without those grotesque teeth, the mouth. My sister, God love her and comfort her, she thought he was funny. She thought he was clever. To say fuck is clever? This is wit?

I look at Stretch, look back at the Rebbe.

--Fuck do I care.

He purses his lips, covers them with his fist, nods.

--Yes, you're from Manhattan. It's in your voice, your accent. And in your attitude. And an attitude like that, I would not be surprised if you are from the Coalition.

--He is, man, that's what I'm telling you.

The Rebbe bangs his fist on the back of Stretch's pew.

--Abe! If I have to ask you again to be quiet in the temple while I am speaking. I will be very upset if I have to do that. I did not tell these boys to do what they did.

He looks at his son, still by the Torah and the arc.

--I did not tell my son to abuse the Sabbath in this way.

--Dad!

--Shht! The things they've done, they raise grave questions. But they are done. Too late to change them. You are here. The girls are here. This man is here. Now there is nothing but to determine how best to proceed. And when you talk out of turn, you cloud the matter. And when you speak, Abe, it makes me think that perhaps you wish to cloud the matter. And that makes me regard you with doubt. So be quiet, Abe. For the sake of whatever passed between you and my sister. For the sake of my nieces. Be quiet.

The kid who scratched my head holds up a finger.

--There's also the other girl.

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