The Coming of Fabrizze: A Novel (Black Squirrel Books) by Raymond Decapite Page B

Look behind me. Tony Cucuzza throws a long shadow, eh? You know what I mean?”
    Tony began to squeeze his arm. Presently they were both up on tiptoe. Tony was smiling.
    â€œGive me your hand,” he whispered. “I want you to feel how my heart is pounding. You know what I mean?”
    â€œI know, I know,” said the victim.
    It was Tony Cucuzza who provided music for that first party in the house on Jackson Street. He was caught in the midst of preparations for it. He helped to decorate the basement. He carried invitations like threats through the neighborhood. One afternoon he sang the baby to sleep while Grace was making fresh sausage.
    â€œThey spread these rumors,” said Fabrizze. “They say you sang a lullaby and took a nap with Paul. I knew it was in you.”
    â€œIt’s you and your wife,” said Tony. “You put things in me and then you find them.”
    â€œYou’ll be here to play for us on Saturday?”
    â€œBut what is this party?” said Tony. “Tell me the reason for it. I hear different things from everyone.”
    â€œChoose a reason,” said Fabrizze. “Soon I’ll be a citizen of this country. One thing more. A girl is coming from Italy. She’s called Lucia and she’s coming to marry Mancini. One thing more. I made the last payment on the house. One thing more. I have a location for a store. I’ll know for sure in a day or two.”
    â€œAnd nothing more?” said Tony.
    â€œIt’s April,” said Fabrizze. “We’ll be together.”
    And so they were.
    The basement was packed with friends. Tony played a song of welcome for the lovely Lucia. Afterwards he sat beside the stairs to salute each of the guests as they arrived. He played songs of welcome until he coaxed from the night a complete stranger.
    First came Lucia.
    â€œLook, Fabrizze, look,” said Mancini, flushed with wine. “Is she what we thought? Here’s the picture.”
    â€œPut the picture away,” said Fabrizze. “The girl is here and you look at the picture. What a beauty she is. I see the blue of her eyes across the room. Such color in her cheek.”
    â€œI can’t believe it,” said Mancini. “I can’t believe it.”
    â€œBut why are you so shy?” said Fabrizze. “She’s waiting there for you. Ask her to dance.”
    â€œShe says nothing,” said Mancini, helplessly. “She blushes if I go near. She’s disappointed in me. I feel it.”
    â€œWhat more can she say?” said Fabrizze. “She came thousands of miles for you. Wait then. Rumbone is asking her to dance. Look out for him. A dangerous one.”
    Mancini went after more wine.
    Adelina swept Fabrizze into the dance.
    â€œTalk to me a little,” said the old lady. “They say your husband was a fine dancer,” said Fabrizze.
    â€œIt was all dancing and talking,” said Adelina. “Sweet words, Fabrizze, and not a bone in him. Not a bone. I knew it before I married him. I foresaw it!”
    â€œAnd you took him in spite of it,” said Fabrizze, proud of her.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œI say you took him in spite of it!” said Fabrizze, immensely proud of her.
    â€œThat was the reason!” said Adelina, bursting into laughter.
    Mancini was pulling Fabrizze by the arm.
    â€œCome aside,” said Mancini. “The dance is over. Rumbone is gone. There she is again. All by herself.”
    â€œIt’s a good chance for you,” said Fabrizze. “Are you ready? But she knows we’re talking about her. How alert! How she blushes! She’s turning away. Look at her ear!”
    â€œHer ear? Which one?”
    â€œControl yourself,” said Fabrizze. “Look, look. Her ear is like a pearl. Are you ready? Wait, wait. Poggio is asking her to dance. A dangerous one.”
    â€œA curse on him,” said Mancini, softly.
    Josephine was celebrating at the