Welcome to the Family by Steven R. Schirripa

Author:Steven R. Schirripa [Schirripa, Steven R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-48878-7
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2005-08-14T04:00:00+00:00

here were four postcards the following day from Nicky's parents. They were written from four different islands, but were all postmarked from Barbados, and they all said the same thing.

We're having a wonderful time, the first one said. St. Kitts is divine! Beautiful beaches and clear water. You'd love the kayaking.

It's wonderful here, the second one said. We're on St. Lucia. You've never seen such beaches! You'd love the papayas.

From his father there was nothing. The idea of his dad trying to impress the boss—showing off with skeet shooting or bragging about winning some tough case— gave him a queasy feeling.

“What's the problem here?” Uncle Frankie said when he came down to breakfast. “Did something bad happen?”

“We had a call from Nicky's mother,” Tutti said.

“Are they having fun on the cruise thing?” Uncle Frankie asked.

“They've decided to stay an extra week,” Nicky said. “They want me to go up to camp, next week.”

“You just got here!” Frankie said.

“You want to call and tell them that?” Tutti said.

Frankie thought for a second. “No. But why can't he stay here?”

“They think he should be up at camp,” Tutti said.

“And what does he think? Is anybody asking Nicky?”

Frankie and Tutti turned to look at Nicky.

“I'd rather stay here,” Nicky said.

“There you go,” Frankie said. “Next time they call, you tell them, Ma.”

Grandma Tutti rolled her eyes, crossed herself and said, “Sit down. Drink your coffee. I'll make some eggs.”

Frankie left the house shortly after. Nicky walked out with him and said, “Are you going down to the social club?”

“Maybe not today,” Frankie said. “I gotta see a guy about some stuff.”

“Is it Mr. Capaldi?”

Frankie gave him a long look. “Even if you know about Capaldi, you don't know about Capaldi. You understand?”

Nicky nodded.

“I'm serious,” Frankie said. “A lotta people think he's a good guy. In fact, think he's a good guy. But we don't do business with him. Unless it's to buy bread. Capeesh?”

Nicky nodded.

“All right,” Frankie said. “End of lecture. You got any plans for tonight?”

“No.”

“We'll go out for a meal, you and me and your grandmother. Tell her I said to be ready about seven, okay? We'll do something nice.”

Nicky had an ordinary day at school. Tommy was absent, again. The tedium was broken slightly in first period, when Frommer asked if anyone happened to know what the expression “pi R squared” meant. Nicky's hand went up before he thought about raising it. Frommer asked him to stand and answer. His face turned red, especially when he realized that Donna Carmenza was looking at him.

Donna came up to him during the morning break. “That was pretty sharp, with that square pie business.”

“It's no big deal,” Nicky said. “We studied it last year in math.”

“It must be nice to be such a brain.”

“I'm not a brain,” Nicky said. “Not compared to some kids. And it's not all that nice, either. You get teased a lot. I'd rather be good at sports.”

“That's stupid,” Donna said. “Anybody can be good at sports. Being smart—that's special.

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