",
"writing": "The odd thing about Jefferson Park and Astoria Park is that though being on two different boroughs from though being within sight of each other, they were both part of an Italian Neighborhood. East Harlem has been an Italian Community since the 1920s, but there has been a Puerto Rican influx during the late 1950s to mid 1970s. Many Italians who lived in East Harlem moved to Astoria at this time but Italian Influence of the neighborhood was still strong from the FDR Drive to First Avenue, from 110th street to the South to 123rd street to the North, which included Jefferson Park.\n\nAstoria in the 1920s was a thriving Greek Community before the Italians started to move in during the 1950s, and they were welcomed by the Greeks who were there. Astoria was more suburban in its nature than was East Harlem with smaller 3 story brown stones which many were 3-family houses, compared to the 6 story brownstone tenement buildings in East Harlem. Astoria, like its park and pool, was much larger than East Harlem, about 4X as large but with the same amount of people spread out in a much larger area. Thus about 50% of the patrons at Astoria Pool were Italians from the community with about 30% being Greeks from the community and 20% anyone and everyone coming from outside the community. Of that 20%, some wanted to diving platform at the Diving Pool. Much to their surprise, the tall diving tower was closed though the two shorter ones were open when the diving pool was open.\n\nLike East Harlem, Astoria has its Mob Bosses and Mafioso Members known as “Self Made Men.” Though they did not care too much about what happens at the Astoria Pool, they did have some influence over it. When some gang members from outside Astoria would come in to start trouble, they would be there within seconds to enforce the “Community Peace.” If a life guard rescues a mafia family member, they would honor that lifeguard with rewards and celebration. The Pool staff knowing this would try to put Fernando in a position where he would be useless in a rescue, but emergencies do not care of persons or locations.\n\nFernando's first rescue at Astoria Pool was during his first week there, a “Dry Rescue” - giving CPR to a relatively young man in his mid 30's named Dominic, having his first heart attack at the far end of the pool's deck. (A Dry-Rescue is when one is given medical attention though they never been in the water.) His wife, younger children and friends were there to witness what had happened. An ambulance was called and the man's life was saved though he had to stay in the hospital for a few days. Trying to give credit to another lifeguard, the pool staff was caught lying and to his dislike or dismay, the mob waited for Fernando to leave the pool at the end of the day and `persuaded' him to go with them; though Maria was with him and they tried to send her on her way. Fernando had to explain that Maria was his cousin and she could not go home alone; that he was watching her while he worked like he had at Jefferson Pool where he originally worked. Though Fernando and Maria knew themselves to be related as cousins, many in the Astoria Community thought them to be brother and sister as their resemblance to each other was uncanny. No matter how many times they explained that they were cousins, they were not believed. They leave trying not to offend anyone.\n\nThe only good thing of this was that words spread out that Maria was to be left alone when they were at Astoria Pool, though there were some idiots who went to the pool to show off that they were “men” by bullying those they thought were weaker and trying to “take girls” away from their dates, friends and families. This made Maria as a “wanted” trophy and any guy who was with her to be dealt with by Tony. Tony was a large brute at 16 years old, over 240 pounds standing at 6ft in height and Meat Clubs for hands. Fernando was 5ft8in at 150 pounds, though he has keep going to East Harlem Karate Academy for the past several years and was going to earn his black belt. But he knows that people fight dirty, and thus he has to fight dirty before they can.\n\nIt has been a week since Fernando's Dry-Rescue and unknown to everyone; it was Tony's father that Fernando rescued. Tony was with his friends when both the rescue was done and when the local mob members were trying to reward Fernando. Furthermore, jealousy would rear its ugly head, with the lifeguard named Dante was supposed to be credited with Fernando's rescue began spreading rumors of how he was the one who did the dry rescue but credit was given to the new guy (Fernando). Tony being good friends with Dante only added the group's animosity towards the newcomer.\n\nFernando had stepped away to get some lunch at an in-pool concession stand for both him and his female cousin while she remained camped out near the Life guard station-house. Tony and three of his friends step out of the Men's Locker Room, looking about as if they own the place. Fernando returns to Maria to hand hr their lunch while he goes into the life guard station to get a couple of things from his locker. But no sooner had he stepped into the station house, Maria calls for him in a loud panic. He steps out to see Tony and his friends standing around Maria and bothering her. He quickly steps in front of her.\n\nFernando tells them sternly, “I do not care who you are, leave my cousin alone!”\n\nThe four of them turn their attention from Maria to Fernando. Tony steps up to him.\n\n“You must be new here. So let me tell you, I'm the boss around here, mess with us and I can get you fired.” Tony taunts him before giving him a shove. His friends laughed.\n\nAt the same time as other lifeguards, Dante and the pool supervisor step to them and witness the events as it happens. Fernando tells him, “I do not know who the fuck you are, but you are not my boss and you cannot fire me. But I can get you thrown out of the pool.”\n\nTony steps up to him, giving him a shove, “Fuck you!”\n\nFernando quickly recovers and stands where he was pushed too, “Touch me again, and I'm going to fuck you up!”\n\nTony just lets out a roar, charging to Fernando and sending a long arcing punch to Fernando's face. Fernando blocks his punch with his left arm and sends an uppercut to Tony's groin. Tony's eyes open wide as his face distorts in pain as he doubles over in pain. Fernando grabs Tony by his hair, turns him around and then grabs him by the back of his pants by the belt, taking a couple of running steps to the pool before throwing him into the pool. He walks back to Maria, looking at Tony's friends. A couple of life guards jump into the pool to fish Tony out of the water.\n\n“You assholes want a piece of me?!” Fernando yells at them.\n\nA couple of police officers that are already there as several were in the pool and more in the park doing their patrols. They arrive as the supervisor begins to yell at Fernando, “YOU! In The Locker Room - NOW!”\n\nDante's smug smile did not go unnoticed by Fernando or some others.\n\nOnce in the locker room the supervisor tries to rip Fernando a new asshole, but Fernando was ready to tear into him just as badly.\n\n“Who Do You Think You Are In Attacking A Patron!” The supervisor starts off. \n\n“Who Do You Think You Are Protecting Some Asshole Who Is Dressed In His Full Clothing And Causing Problems To Other Patrons And Threatening and Attacking The Staff?!!” Fernando shouts at him back. He throws in “Say That I'm fired, and I'll be heading to Park Central and report your ass and the shit that is going on in this pool! If it gets you fired - good! If it gets the pool shut down - Even Better! Now What Is It You Have To Say To Me?!!”\n\nThe supervisor looks at him while trying to get something to say. He eventually throws in “You Do Not Mess With The Patrons, Especially When They Are Mafia Members!”\n\n“I Do Not Care If His Mother Is The Queen Of France! The Rules Are To Respect Each Other And Not To Cause Problems That We The Staff Have To Deal With! He Messed With My Cousin, And He Shoved Me Twice Before He Tried To Punch Me In The Face! I Defended Myself From His Assault And I Will Be Pressing Charges!” Fernando tells him. He turns to the door and throws in “You are either to back me up or get out of my way! Try To stop me and I'll have your job.”\n\n“You're just A Damn Lifeguard. I can have you replaced by tomorrow.” The supervisor says.\n\n“Why don't you ask about who I am as a Lifeguard. Being Number #2 in the Lifeguard Games back in May, it seems that everyone wants me but I get to choose where I go. I was send here because my Home Pool has filter issues that are being repaired and instead of staying home and collect a paycheck, I rather would work for it. But never have I have been disrespected at a pool like this, NEVER! And you think you got Mafia Problems? We got Mafia Problem, Gang Problems, Drug Dealing Problems, and every morning somebody get pulled out of our diving pool - dead! I seen the reports of this pool and you guys do not have those problems we have! So go ahead - replace me! Replace me and the crap load I will report to Park Central will shut down this pool and some other pool will pick me up while you go collect unemployment!” Fernando tells him. He warns him before he leaves the room, “Do it, and let's see what happens.”\n\nFernando walks out of the Life Guard Station. There are several police officers there holding Tony and his friends at bay as Fernando steps out. Fernando looks at the officers while pointing to Tony and his friends, “Charge them with trespassing harassing pool patrons and charge that one with assault of a Park Worker and Pool Safety Officer.”\n\n“We will need to talk to your supervisor.” One of the police officer says.\n\n“He won't press charges because they are friends of the family, but as the one who was assaulted, you need to listen to me and only me.” Fernando tells him. The police officer stares at him for the moment, prompting Fernando to say, “No towels, no bathing suits, they need to get out. They were told to leave and refuse to get out, so here you are to make sure that they do.”\n\nDante steps in, “They were not told to leave! In fact the supervisor told him to leave.”\n\nFernando turns to face Dante, “You just fucked up you fucking liar. Don't let me catch you after work.”\n\nThe supervisor steps out of the locker room having hearing what was said by Dante and Fernando. He points to Dante, “Get your things and leave. You're suspended for the day without pay.”\n\nDante stands there with his jaw dropped opened.\n\nFernando throws in, “You got five minutes before I ask these fine gentlemen and ladies in dragging you out of the facility in your bathing suit.”\n\nDante stomps angrily into the locker room to change.\n\nThe supervisor then tells the cops “Get those assholes out my pool. And you two wait for that other one to come out and drag him out as well.”\n\nThe cops do as requested, taking Tony and his friends out of the pool facility, with a couple of other officers waiting for Dante to come out and remove him from the pool facility as well.\n\nThe supervisor leans over to Fernando and says silently to him, “We back each other up to an extent. You are on the line of that extent. But watch yourself around here, you might find yourself standing alone.”\n\n“I prefer to stand alone. This way I know who will stand with me, who will stand to just and who will stand against me.” Fernando tells him. He pauses for a second, “Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to have lunch with my cousin.”\n\n“Though lunch is supposed to be an hour, the sooner you finish, the faster you get back to work. Somebody got to make up for Dante's absence.” The supervisor tells him.\n\n“Yeah, whatever. Talk to the union rep about that.” Fernando tells him before going to Maria just a few feet away. He sits down next to her. As he sits down he asks her, “Why have you not started on lunch?”\n\nMaria replies “I waited to see if we were going to stay or not.”\n\n“OK.” Fernando replies, adding, “Give me the RC Cola and two hot dogs. You eat what you want from what is left.”\n\n“What about some ice cream?” She asks.\n\n“I'll get you an ice cream before I go on patrol.” He answers.\n\n“Thanks.” She replies.\n\nFor the short time they had for lunch they tried to keep it quiet. Half way done with their lunch Maria asks a question “Fernando, do you love me?”\n\nFernando pauses in his bite and turns to face her to answer “Besides the fact that we are cousins and before that as friends and that we have been `doing it' when we can?”\n\n“Well yeah. I want to know if you love me with your heart or just want to - you know - fuck me?” She asks.\n\n“I could almost ask you the same thing, because all this time we been together, neither you nor Tonya every said that I was your boyfriend though we do boyfriend and girlfriend things - besides fucking. I mean, I've taken the both of you out on dates, hang out down town, taken you both out to the movies and the museums, and hang out in downtown Central Park. I'm not complaining about that or that I had to pay every time we went downtown. It that you and her never told me what we were to each other and when the other girls ask you what we are you both always deny to them that we are special friends, and deny that we do anything even though they know about the few times we did it because they told you and Tonya to do it as a dare.” He explains.\n\n“If Alex was not abusing and raping me, I would have been a virgin when we did it on a dare, but dare or not, I wanted to give you that part of me because I really-really liked you and wanted you as a boyfriend but I could not let the others know that you are my boyfriend or they would have went after you, and I did not wanted you to fuck any of those other girls other than Tonya because those girls are sick. I mean it - they are sick with some disease and I did not want you to get sick from sticking your dick in them.” Maria explains.\n\n“I know my Sex Ed about such diseases. But Maria - I do not like those other girls because of their attitudes and actions. They all swear they are better than everyone and they bad mouth everyone - even you and Tonya. You and Tonya are not like that.” Fernando explains.\n\n“Well, cousin or not, I do not want you to get sick from them hoes.” Maria begins.\n\n“That is not going to happen. I'm not saying that as long as you are giving me some pussy, why should I go to somebody else? It is not like that at all. I don't know how to say it, but what we have is more than just you and me fucking when we can even if we can fuck everyday and do. You are my cousin and you are my friend. We hang out, talk, play, go out and do things, or stay at home and watch TV - you know do those things that boyfriends and girlfriends do. But you never told me that we were boyfriend and girlfriend, just acted like we did with each other when in private. You never said `I love you' though I know you do in some way by your actions. Because of that I do not want to hurt you in anyway.” He explains.\n\nMaria sits there looking at herself and her food in her hands before letting out a sigh. She then carefully chooses her words, “I do Love you. That is why I want you to fuck me, and why I won't say you're my boyfriends because the other girls would go after you if they knew.” She pauses for a second, hoping that he would say something to interject before she could. He sat there thinking, making her add to her statement “I'm rather confused about what to do from my feelings for you. I know I love you. I wanted to give you what I got to show you that I love you, and I want you to be there for as long as we live, but I know that will not happen because how things are in life. So until we no longer can be together, I want you there for me as long as you can be there.”\n\n“Like you used to say when we first found out we were cousins, `being cousins is better than being boyfriend and girlfriend, because boyfriend and girlfriend can break up, cousins are for life!' All you have to do is make sure where I live and go there when you need to. I will always be there for you when you call.” He says to her.\n\n“Yeah.” she says with a half hearted smile.\n\nHe quickly follows with before she can add to her statement “Look, Maria. As hard as it is for m to say, I Love you too. I love Tonya too, and it is not because I get to fuck you both. It is because the way you two treat and respect me compared to all the other girls in the neighborhood. And though I may have other girlfriends, I have not seen them in a long time and who knows if I will see them again. So it is just you and Tonya that I have and for whatever reasons neither of you both would admit to me that I am your boyfriend, but that is fine because we tend to do things than say them. If I didn't love you, you would not be here with me.” He then lets out a sigh.\n\nMaria nods for the moment. \n\nIn a few more minutes they finish their lunch though there was plenty of time for them to rest and digest their food but Fernando did not want to stir the pot. After getting her an ice cream from the concession stand, he cleaned up their area and surveyed the scene before returning to work.\n\nHe only had to patrol small area at the end of the pool by the diving pool which is currently closed, otherwise he would be manning one of the lifeguard towers for the diving pool. It is about 70 yards from where Maria was camped out at in the shade of the Lifeguard station.\n\nMuch of the day was uneventful. Though Fernando returned to Maria's side on a few occasions to check on her, there was nothing much for him to deal with other than getting her some refreshments from the concession stand.\n\nThough they were kicked out earlier in the day, Tony and Dante return with more of their friends and Tony's father with a few of his men return at about 4:30PM to with deal with some asshole who `assaulted his son.'\n\nFernando had Maria in the lifeguard locker room while he writes his daily log quickly. Since she was dry from going into the pool to cool off and then lying in the sun which essentially dried her off, she did not had to change out of her bathing suit. But she decides to change with Fernando, and went to the desk where he was writing his logs. Being mostly an uneventful day, with the exception of Tony and Dante's actions to get them thrown out earlier in the day, there was little to write down in the logs. He then takes Maria to the concession stand for one last snack.\n\nAs they wait on the line with some of the staff and the supervisor who all had the same idea of having some refreshments before the ending hour of the day (the pool closes at 6PM though Fernando leaves at 5PM). Dante is heard as he spoke loudly and points to Fernando's direction at the concession stand, “There He Is!”\n\n“Yeah, let's go get him!” Tony is heard as they start walking towards Fernando and Maria.\n\nThey catch up to him as Fernando was handing Maria their end of day snack, surrounding him. This catches the concession stand's staff, which a couple of them went to get the pool supervisor and what life guards and police officers are available.\n\nTony gives Fernando a hard shove from behind, having to skip the line of those who were going to buy from the concession stand, almost making him about fall but Fernando catches himself from falling. Tony yells, “Here I am with my friends, Whatcha gonna do now?!!”\n\nFernando slowly turns to face Tony, about to face plant him to the floor.\n\nDante says loudly “Get him Tony!”\n\nTony steps closer to Fernando with his friends behind him before his father steps in. He gives Tony a slap to the face and then points behind him, “Back off son!”\n\n“But Pa! This Motherfucker made me look bad!” Tony lets out.\n\nThough being shorter than his son, grabs a fist full of shirt and pulls him down to his level, giving him a hard slap to the face. He then let's out “Do You Know Who This Man Is?!!”\n\n“He's just a stupid lifeguard...!-*” Tony started to say before getting slapped in the face again.\n\n“That Stupid Life Guard Is The One Who Saved My Life Last Week!” Tony's father shots at him, giving him another slap.\n\n“But Pa! It Was Dante That Saved You! Not Him! Dante Said So!” Tony lets out.\n\nTony's father signal to his men to gather Dante and bring him over. They do so roughly, literally having to push and shove him to them. Tony's father then slaps Dante in the face and yells at his son, “You see that?!! That Is Not The Face That I Woke Up After Being Brought Back To Life!” He then points to Fernando, “That Was The Face I Woke Up Too, And The Ambulance Crew Told Me That It Was He Who Saved My Life Or I Would Have Died! The Family Owes Him For Life!”\n\nTony tries to rebuttal, “But Dante showed me the medal that gave him for saving you!”\n\nTony's father turns to Dante, “You got a medal for saving me?!”\n\nDante gives a mug look, saying, “Damn right I did-*!!!” He gets slapped in the face hard enough to spin him around.\n\nTony's father then turn turns to his son, “Boy... do you know what `Stolen Valor' is?” He then turns to the pool supervisor and growls at him, “I better not hear that this Jerk Off got a reward for saving my life when it was this man who saved me. If he did you got one day to set it straight, and I want this Valor Stealing jerk off fired... Capeesh?”\n\nThe Supervisor nods nervously, saying in nervous agreement “Yes Sir, Mister Campisi, I'll Get Right On That Immediately!”\n\nTony's father then turns to his son and give him another slap to the face, “Why you messin' with this honorable person? What has done to you?!”\n\nTony was at a loss for words from having his father slap them out of his mouth. It takes him a while to gather an answer for himself to say while pointing to Maria “I wuz tryin' to get it going with that girl when he stepped in and messed up my rap.”\n\nTony's father slaps him in the face again before grabbing him from under the chin and scrunches his cheeks hard, directing his head back and forth between Maria and Fernando, “You See That Girl, And You See Him? Look At Them! They Look The Same Don't They?!! They Look The Same Because They Are Brother And Sister! No Guy Is To Mess With Another Man's Sister In His Presence! You Too Stupid To See That?!! You Blind To See Their Brother And Sister?!! How You'd Like It If Somebody Messed With Madelia In Front Of You?!! You Would Not Like It! You Would Do Your Best To Protect Her Honor Because That Is Your Job As Her Older Brother! Just Like It Is His Job To Protect His Little Sister! You Messed Up, And You Wanted Me and My Boys to Back You Up in Getting Somebody That You Did Wrong To And He Put You In Your Place? A Man Who One - Save My Life, And Two - Was Protecting His Little Sister! And Look At Her, What Is She, 12? You Chester Da Molester Or Something?!! I'm Gonna Take Care Of You When We Get Home!” He Then Points To Dante “As For You, I Better Not Ever See Around This Neighborhood Ever Again! You Lied! You Stole Another Man's Valor! You Made That Man Look Bad In The Eyes Of Others! People Like You Makes Me Sick. If I See You Ever Again, You Will Be Sleeping With The Fishes!” He then turns to the Pool Supervisor while pointing to Dante, “I Want This Idiot Fired! And I Want Him Gone From Working At Any Beach, Pool Or Park! I'll Be Back Tomorrow To Make Sure You Right These Wrongs.”\n\n“I'll get on it right away, Mister Campisi.” The Park Supervisor replies meekly.\n\nTony's father finally turns Fernando, “Forgive me for this terrible misunderstanding. You have been wrongfully been accused by members of my own family, I promise that it will never happen again.”\n\nFernando lets out a sigh before replying “I'll accept your apology and forgive you as you were misled to take action against me.” He then looks at Tony and Dante “But it is not you who should be apologizing...”\n\nTaking on the visual clues, Tony's father says before shoving his son to the ground and pointing to his men to do the same with Dante and their friends, “You are right. You are more of a man than these two will ever be.” He then slaps the back of his son's neck and points to Fernando, “Apologize to him!”\n\n“But Father... It Was Not Him That Saved You! It Was Dante!” Tony lets out, only to have his father's fist go across his jaw.\n\n“La Cosa Nostra Do Not Like Liars!” Tony's father growls at him followed by another slap to his face. He continues with “That Faggot Dante did not save me, it was this man, he who I woke up and his face I saw is the one who saved me! That Faggot Dante Was Nowhere Near Me! But since you like to hang out with faggots, you have no home to go too! And you keep this shit up - son or no son, you will be floating down the river with him! La Cosa Nostra Are About Self Made Men! Yet You Dropped Out Of School Thinking That `Daddy' Will Support You, That Is A Faggot's Move! Daddy Ain't Supporting You No More! Now Apologize To A Real Man Or Else!”\n\nTony whimpered but refused to apologize. Fernando steps in, “Excuse me, sir. If he is not willing to apologize, take him home and go Church On Him. It is obvious that his religious instruction is lacking.”\n\nMr. Campisi, Tony's father, though scowling is not scowling to Fernando. He nods. He then reaches over to Tony and grabs him by his ear, twists it while making get up, standing in a hunched over position. He then nods to Fernando, “We'll be seeing you when I bring the family here.” He then turns to the Pool Supervisor, “On Pay Day, give Dante's check to him and I'll get the check cashing place to pay it out.”\n\nThe pool supervisor nods.\n\nMister Campisi and his men take the teenage boys who were bawling. Mr. Campisi is heard saying as they leave, “Anyone of them try to run, shoot'em in the head!” His men are heard agreeing as they walk out the pool's facility, escorting the teens with them.\n\nThe pool supervisor looks at Fernando, “Where are you going?”\n\n“I'm going home since its 20 after 5, and I punched out at 5o'clock before that mess started. I always punch out at 5o'clock to go home.” Fernando explains.\n\nThe pool supervisor nods though wanting to tell him that he's on until 6o'clock but since Fernando has already punched out, he can't order him to do anything. Thus the supervisor walks away saying that he will see Fernando the following day, which he won't other than for Fernando to collect his pay check and be gone as it is his day off. If he wanted Fernando to work the following day, it would incur over-time hour/pay which is not welcomed by some pool facilities as it cuts into their budgets.\n\nFernando gathers their things packed into a couple of bags before signaling to Maria to follow him to leave the facility. She steps up to him and holds onto his arm before they go. Together they walk out of the facility, but she stops him in one of many long hallways before the exit. She looks about seeing that hallway is empty.\n\nShe steps up to him to face him, “You know, Fernando, it is rare that we kiss and it is my fault that we don't.”\n\nFernando replies, not knowing he was interrupting her, “I know you do not like to kiss...”\n\nShe interrupts him, “I don't like to kiss because I don't want to get caught kissing you though it was at first I did not want to be caught kissing any guy that the girls on the block would try to take then, and since we started to - you know - I did not want the girls on the block to go after you.” She pauses for a second before saying “I no bull-dagger bitch either, but I had to learn from somewhere so I practiced kissing with Tonya. And it's rare that we do but...”\n\nShe inches herself up onto her tip toes and leans towards him, planting her lips against his for a moment and begins a tongue twirling intimate lip locking season lasting about half a minute. She then looks up at him with a half worried smile.\n\nShe lets out a sigh, “You're the best kisser I ever kissed.”\n\nFernando stands there in silence for the moment trying to take it all in and figure out what had happened.\n\nShe takes him by his arm and led him down the hall to leave the pool facility, “Let's go home.”\n\n- - - - - - - \n\nThough Tony was kicked out of his family’s home, he managed to go sleep at friends’ homes. His father takes his car that he gave him for his 16th birthday (before he dropped out of high school) – a used but still good looking Porsche 911 he got from a friend’s used car dealership. Tony managed to ‘steal’ his own car and hang out with his friends, and making money at the illegal drag races at Fountain Avenue (a desolate area in Brooklyn with a long 6 lane street almost a mile long). His father would find out about his son’s illegal racing activities and had one of his mechanic friends to booby trap the car. Tony, Dante and a few of their friends were killed while going through the Belt Parkway (A highway in Lower Brooklyn) at over 120 miles an hour. Whether it was the booby trap that caused the accident, Tony’s poor driving skills, or alcohol and drugs found in the car and in the blood stream of the driver and occupants, remained to be seen and to this day is unsolved but Tony was blamed for accident and deaths from driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol that caused this accident. This and two other teenage driving accidents caused the creation of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and years later from their protests led to the federal drinking age to 18 and years late again, 21.",
"writing_bbcode_parsed": "The odd thing about Jefferson Park and Astoria Park is that though being on two different boroughs from though being within sight of each other, they were both part of an Italian Neighborhood. East Harlem has been an Italian Community since the 1920s, but there has been a Puerto Rican influx during the late 1950s to mid 1970s. Many Italians who lived in East Harlem moved to Astoria at this time but Italian Influence of the neighborhood was still strong from the FDR Drive to First Avenue, from 110th street to the South to 123rd street to the North, which included Jefferson Park.
Astoria in the 1920s was a thriving Greek Community before the Italians started to move in during the 1950s, and they were welcomed by the Greeks who were there. Astoria was more suburban in its nature than was East Harlem with smaller 3 story brown stones which many were 3-family houses, compared to the 6 story brownstone tenement buildings in East Harlem. Astoria, like its park and pool, was much larger than East Harlem, about 4X as large but with the same amount of people spread out in a much larger area. Thus about 50% of the patrons at Astoria Pool were Italians from the community with about 30% being Greeks from the community and 20% anyone and everyone coming from outside the community. Of that 20%, some wanted to diving platform at the Diving Pool. Much to their surprise, the tall diving tower was closed though the two shorter ones were open when the diving pool was open.
Like East Harlem, Astoria has its Mob Bosses and Mafioso Members known as “Self Made Men.” Though they did not care too much about what happens at the Astoria Pool, they did have some influence over it. When some gang members from outside Astoria would come in to start trouble, they would be there within seconds to enforce the “Community Peace.” If a life guard rescues a mafia family member, they would honor that lifeguard with rewards and celebration. The Pool staff knowing this would try to put Fernando in a position where he would be useless in a rescue, but emergencies do not care of persons or locations.
Fernando's first rescue at Astoria Pool was during his first week there, a “Dry Rescue” - giving CPR to a relatively young man in his mid 30's named Dominic, having his first heart attack at the far end of the pool's deck. (A Dry-Rescue is when one is given medical attention though they never been in the water.) His wife, younger children and friends were there to witness what had happened. An ambulance was called and the man's life was saved though he had to stay in the hospital for a few days. Trying to give credit to another lifeguard, the pool staff was caught lying and to his dislike or dismay, the mob waited for Fernando to leave the pool at the end of the day and `persuaded' him to go with them; though Maria was with him and they tried to send her on her way. Fernando had to explain that Maria was his cousin and she could not go home alone; that he was watching her while he worked like he had at Jefferson Pool where he originally worked. Though Fernando and Maria knew themselves to be related as cousins, many in the Astoria Community thought them to be brother and sister as their resemblance to each other was uncanny. No matter how many times they explained that they were cousins, they were not believed. They leave trying not to offend anyone.
The only good thing of this was that words spread out that Maria was to be left alone when they were at Astoria Pool, though there were some idiots who went to the pool to show off that they were “men” by bullying those they thought were weaker and trying to “take girls” away from their dates, friends and families. This made Maria as a “wanted” trophy and any guy who was with her to be dealt with by Tony. Tony was a large brute at 16 years old, over 240 pounds standing at 6ft in height and Meat Clubs for hands. Fernando was 5ft8in at 150 pounds, though he has keep going to East Harlem Karate Academy for the past several years and was going to earn his black belt. But he knows that people fight dirty, and thus he has to fight dirty before they can.
It has been a week since Fernando's Dry-Rescue and unknown to everyone; it was Tony's father that Fernando rescued. Tony was with his friends when both the rescue was done and when the local mob members were trying to reward Fernando. Furthermore, jealousy would rear its ugly head, with the lifeguard named Dante was supposed to be credited with Fernando's rescue began spreading rumors of how he was the one who did the dry rescue but credit was given to the new guy (Fernando). Tony being good friends with Dante only added the group's animosity towards the newcomer.
Fernando had stepped away to get some lunch at an in-pool concession stand for both him and his female cousin while she remained camped out near the Life guard station-house. Tony and three of his friends step out of the Men's Locker Room, looking about as if they own the place. Fernando returns to Maria to hand hr their lunch while he goes into the life guard station to get a couple of things from his locker. But no sooner had he stepped into the station house, Maria calls for him in a loud panic. He steps out to see Tony and his friends standing around Maria and bothering her. He quickly steps in front of her.
Fernando tells them sternly, “I do not care who you are, leave my cousin alone!”
The four of them turn their attention from Maria to Fernando. Tony steps up to him.
“You must be new here. So let me tell you, I'm the boss around here, mess with us and I can get you fired.” Tony taunts him before giving him a shove. His friends laughed.
At the same time as other lifeguards, Dante and the pool supervisor step to them and witness the events as it happens. Fernando tells him, “I do not know who the fuck you are, but you are not my boss and you cannot fire me. But I can get you thrown out of the pool.”
Tony steps up to him, giving him a shove, “Fuck you!”
Fernando quickly recovers and stands where he was pushed too, “Touch me again, and I'm going to fuck you up!”
Tony just lets out a roar, charging to Fernando and sending a long arcing punch to Fernando's face. Fernando blocks his punch with his left arm and sends an uppercut to Tony's groin. Tony's eyes open wide as his face distorts in pain as he doubles over in pain. Fernando grabs Tony by his hair, turns him around and then grabs him by the back of his pants by the belt, taking a couple of running steps to the pool before throwing him into the pool. He walks back to Maria, looking at Tony's friends. A couple of life guards jump into the pool to fish Tony out of the water.
“You assholes want a piece of me?!” Fernando yells at them.
A couple of police officers that are already there as several were in the pool and more in the park doing their patrols. They arrive as the supervisor begins to yell at Fernando, “YOU! In The Locker Room - NOW!”
Dante's smug smile did not go unnoticed by Fernando or some others.
Once in the locker room the supervisor tries to rip Fernando a new asshole, but Fernando was ready to tear into him just as badly.
“Who Do You Think You Are In Attacking A Patron!” The supervisor starts off.
“Who Do You Think You Are Protecting Some Asshole Who Is Dressed In His Full Clothing And Causing Problems To Other Patrons And Threatening and Attacking The Staff?!!” Fernando shouts at him back. He throws in “Say That I'm fired, and I'll be heading to Park Central and report your ass and the shit that is going on in this pool! If it gets you fired - good! If it gets the pool shut down - Even Better! Now What Is It You Have To Say To Me?!!”
The supervisor looks at him while trying to get something to say. He eventually throws in “You Do Not Mess With The Patrons, Especially When They Are Mafia Members!”
“I Do Not Care If His Mother Is The Queen Of France! The Rules Are To Respect Each Other And Not To Cause Problems That We The Staff Have To Deal With! He Messed With My Cousin, And He Shoved Me Twice Before He Tried To Punch Me In The Face! I Defended Myself From His Assault And I Will Be Pressing Charges!” Fernando tells him. He turns to the door and throws in “You are either to back me up or get out of my way! Try To stop me and I'll have your job.”
“You're just A Damn Lifeguard. I can have you replaced by tomorrow.” The supervisor says.
“Why don't you ask about who I am as a Lifeguard. Being Number #2 in the Lifeguard Games back in May, it seems that everyone wants me but I get to choose where I go. I was send here because my Home Pool has filter issues that are being repaired and instead of staying home and collect a paycheck, I rather would work for it. But never have I have been disrespected at a pool like this, NEVER! And you think you got Mafia Problems? We got Mafia Problem, Gang Problems, Drug Dealing Problems, and every morning somebody get pulled out of our diving pool - dead! I seen the reports of this pool and you guys do not have those problems we have! So go ahead - replace me! Replace me and the crap load I will report to Park Central will shut down this pool and some other pool will pick me up while you go collect unemployment!” Fernando tells him. He warns him before he leaves the room, “Do it, and let's see what happens.”
Fernando walks out of the Life Guard Station. There are several police officers there holding Tony and his friends at bay as Fernando steps out. Fernando looks at the officers while pointing to Tony and his friends, “Charge them with trespassing harassing pool patrons and charge that one with assault of a Park Worker and Pool Safety Officer.”
“We will need to talk to your supervisor.” One of the police officer says.
“He won't press charges because they are friends of the family, but as the one who was assaulted, you need to listen to me and only me.” Fernando tells him. The police officer stares at him for the moment, prompting Fernando to say, “No towels, no bathing suits, they need to get out. They were told to leave and refuse to get out, so here you are to make sure that they do.”
Dante steps in, “They were not told to leave! In fact the supervisor told him to leave.”
Fernando turns to face Dante, “You just fucked up you fucking liar. Don't let me catch you after work.”
The supervisor steps out of the locker room having hearing what was said by Dante and Fernando. He points to Dante, “Get your things and leave. You're suspended for the day without pay.”
Dante stands there with his jaw dropped opened.
Fernando throws in, “You got five minutes before I ask these fine gentlemen and ladies in dragging you out of the facility in your bathing suit.”
Dante stomps angrily into the locker room to change.
The supervisor then tells the cops “Get those assholes out my pool. And you two wait for that other one to come out and drag him out as well.”
The cops do as requested, taking Tony and his friends out of the pool facility, with a couple of other officers waiting for Dante to come out and remove him from the pool facility as well.
The supervisor leans over to Fernando and says silently to him, “We back each other up to an extent. You are on the line of that extent. But watch yourself around here, you might find yourself standing alone.”
“I prefer to stand alone. This way I know who will stand with me, who will stand to just and who will stand against me.” Fernando tells him. He pauses for a second, “Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to have lunch with my cousin.”
“Though lunch is supposed to be an hour, the sooner you finish, the faster you get back to work. Somebody got to make up for Dante's absence.” The supervisor tells him.
“Yeah, whatever. Talk to the union rep about that.” Fernando tells him before going to Maria just a few feet away. He sits down next to her. As he sits down he asks her, “Why have you not started on lunch?”
Maria replies “I waited to see if we were going to stay or not.”
“OK.” Fernando replies, adding, “Give me the RC Cola and two hot dogs. You eat what you want from what is left.”
“What about some ice cream?” She asks.
“I'll get you an ice cream before I go on patrol.” He answers.
“Thanks.” She replies.
For the short time they had for lunch they tried to keep it quiet. Half way done with their lunch Maria asks a question “Fernando, do you love me?”
Fernando pauses in his bite and turns to face her to answer “Besides the fact that we are cousins and before that as friends and that we have been `doing it' when we can?”
“Well yeah. I want to know if you love me with your heart or just want to - you know - fuck me?” She asks.
“I could almost ask you the same thing, because all this time we been together, neither you nor Tonya every said that I was your boyfriend though we do boyfriend and girlfriend things - besides fucking. I mean, I've taken the both of you out on dates, hang out down town, taken you both out to the movies and the museums, and hang out in downtown Central Park. I'm not complaining about that or that I had to pay every time we went downtown. It that you and her never told me what we were to each other and when the other girls ask you what we are you both always deny to them that we are special friends, and deny that we do anything even though they know about the few times we did it because they told you and Tonya to do it as a dare.” He explains.
“If Alex was not abusing and raping me, I would have been a virgin when we did it on a dare, but dare or not, I wanted to give you that part of me because I really-really liked you and wanted you as a boyfriend but I could not let the others know that you are my boyfriend or they would have went after you, and I did not wanted you to fuck any of those other girls other than Tonya because those girls are sick. I mean it - they are sick with some disease and I did not want you to get sick from sticking your dick in them.” Maria explains.
“I know my Sex Ed about such diseases. But Maria - I do not like those other girls because of their attitudes and actions. They all swear they are better than everyone and they bad mouth everyone - even you and Tonya. You and Tonya are not like that.” Fernando explains.
“Well, cousin or not, I do not want you to get sick from them hoes.” Maria begins.
“That is not going to happen. I'm not saying that as long as you are giving me some pussy, why should I go to somebody else? It is not like that at all. I don't know how to say it, but what we have is more than just you and me fucking when we can even if we can fuck everyday and do. You are my cousin and you are my friend. We hang out, talk, play, go out and do things, or stay at home and watch TV - you know do those things that boyfriends and girlfriends do. But you never told me that we were boyfriend and girlfriend, just acted like we did with each other when in private. You never said `I love you' though I know you do in some way by your actions. Because of that I do not want to hurt you in anyway.” He explains.
Maria sits there looking at herself and her food in her hands before letting out a sigh. She then carefully chooses her words, “I do Love you. That is why I want you to fuck me, and why I won't say you're my boyfriends because the other girls would go after you if they knew.” She pauses for a second, hoping that he would say something to interject before she could. He sat there thinking, making her add to her statement “I'm rather confused about what to do from my feelings for you. I know I love you. I wanted to give you what I got to show you that I love you, and I want you to be there for as long as we live, but I know that will not happen because how things are in life. So until we no longer can be together, I want you there for me as long as you can be there.”
“Like you used to say when we first found out we were cousins, `being cousins is better than being boyfriend and girlfriend, because boyfriend and girlfriend can break up, cousins are for life!' All you have to do is make sure where I live and go there when you need to. I will always be there for you when you call.” He says to her.
“Yeah.” she says with a half hearted smile.
He quickly follows with before she can add to her statement “Look, Maria. As hard as it is for m to say, I Love you too. I love Tonya too, and it is not because I get to fuck you both. It is because the way you two treat and respect me compared to all the other girls in the neighborhood. And though I may have other girlfriends, I have not seen them in a long time and who knows if I will see them again. So it is just you and Tonya that I have and for whatever reasons neither of you both would admit to me that I am your boyfriend, but that is fine because we tend to do things than say them. If I didn't love you, you would not be here with me.” He then lets out a sigh.
Maria nods for the moment.
In a few more minutes they finish their lunch though there was plenty of time for them to rest and digest their food but Fernando did not want to stir the pot. After getting her an ice cream from the concession stand, he cleaned up their area and surveyed the scene before returning to work.
He only had to patrol small area at the end of the pool by the diving pool which is currently closed, otherwise he would be manning one of the lifeguard towers for the diving pool. It is about 70 yards from where Maria was camped out at in the shade of the Lifeguard station.
Much of the day was uneventful. Though Fernando returned to Maria's side on a few occasions to check on her, there was nothing much for him to deal with other than getting her some refreshments from the concession stand.
Though they were kicked out earlier in the day, Tony and Dante return with more of their friends and Tony's father with a few of his men return at about 4:30PM to with deal with some asshole who `assaulted his son.'
Fernando had Maria in the lifeguard locker room while he writes his daily log quickly. Since she was dry from going into the pool to cool off and then lying in the sun which essentially dried her off, she did not had to change out of her bathing suit. But she decides to change with Fernando, and went to the desk where he was writing his logs. Being mostly an uneventful day, with the exception of Tony and Dante's actions to get them thrown out earlier in the day, there was little to write down in the logs. He then takes Maria to the concession stand for one last snack.
As they wait on the line with some of the staff and the supervisor who all had the same idea of having some refreshments before the ending hour of the day (the pool closes at 6PM though Fernando leaves at 5PM). Dante is heard as he spoke loudly and points to Fernando's direction at the concession stand, “There He Is!”
“Yeah, let's go get him!” Tony is heard as they start walking towards Fernando and Maria.
They catch up to him as Fernando was handing Maria their end of day snack, surrounding him. This catches the concession stand's staff, which a couple of them went to get the pool supervisor and what life guards and police officers are available.
Tony gives Fernando a hard shove from behind, having to skip the line of those who were going to buy from the concession stand, almost making him about fall but Fernando catches himself from falling. Tony yells, “Here I am with my friends, Whatcha gonna do now?!!”
Fernando slowly turns to face Tony, about to face plant him to the floor.
Dante says loudly “Get him Tony!”
Tony steps closer to Fernando with his friends behind him before his father steps in. He gives Tony a slap to the face and then points behind him, “Back off son!”
“But Pa! This Motherfucker made me look bad!” Tony lets out.
Though being shorter than his son, grabs a fist full of shirt and pulls him down to his level, giving him a hard slap to the face. He then let's out “Do You Know Who This Man Is?!!”
“He's just a stupid lifeguard...!-*” Tony started to say before getting slapped in the face again.
“That Stupid Life Guard Is The One Who Saved My Life Last Week!” Tony's father shots at him, giving him another slap.
“But Pa! It Was Dante That Saved You! Not Him! Dante Said So!” Tony lets out.
Tony's father signal to his men to gather Dante and bring him over. They do so roughly, literally having to push and shove him to them. Tony's father then slaps Dante in the face and yells at his son, “You see that?!! That Is Not The Face That I Woke Up After Being Brought Back To Life!” He then points to Fernando, “That Was The Face I Woke Up Too, And The Ambulance Crew Told Me That It Was He Who Saved My Life Or I Would Have Died! The Family Owes Him For Life!”
Tony tries to rebuttal, “But Dante showed me the medal that gave him for saving you!”
Tony's father turns to Dante, “You got a medal for saving me?!”
Dante gives a mug look, saying, “Damn right I did-*!!!” He gets slapped in the face hard enough to spin him around.
Tony's father then turn turns to his son, “Boy... do you know what `Stolen Valor' is?” He then turns to the pool supervisor and growls at him, “I better not hear that this Jerk Off got a reward for saving my life when it was this man who saved me. If he did you got one day to set it straight, and I want this Valor Stealing jerk off fired... Capeesh?”
The Supervisor nods nervously, saying in nervous agreement “Yes Sir, Mister Campisi, I'll Get Right On That Immediately!”
Tony's father then turns to his son and give him another slap to the face, “Why you messin' with this honorable person? What has done to you?!”
Tony was at a loss for words from having his father slap them out of his mouth. It takes him a while to gather an answer for himself to say while pointing to Maria “I wuz tryin' to get it going with that girl when he stepped in and messed up my rap.”
Tony's father slaps him in the face again before grabbing him from under the chin and scrunches his cheeks hard, directing his head back and forth between Maria and Fernando, “You See That Girl, And You See Him? Look At Them! They Look The Same Don't They?!! They Look The Same Because They Are Brother And Sister! No Guy Is To Mess With Another Man's Sister In His Presence! You Too Stupid To See That?!! You Blind To See Their Brother And Sister?!! How You'd Like It If Somebody Messed With Madelia In Front Of You?!! You Would Not Like It! You Would Do Your Best To Protect Her Honor Because That Is Your Job As Her Older Brother! Just Like It Is His Job To Protect His Little Sister! You Messed Up, And You Wanted Me and My Boys to Back You Up in Getting Somebody That You Did Wrong To And He Put You In Your Place? A Man Who One - Save My Life, And Two - Was Protecting His Little Sister! And Look At Her, What Is She, 12? You Chester Da Molester Or Something?!! I'm Gonna Take Care Of You When We Get Home!” He Then Points To Dante “As For You, I Better Not Ever See Around This Neighborhood Ever Again! You Lied! You Stole Another Man's Valor! You Made That Man Look Bad In The Eyes Of Others! People Like You Makes Me Sick. If I See You Ever Again, You Will Be Sleeping With The Fishes!” He then turns to the Pool Supervisor while pointing to Dante, “I Want This Idiot Fired! And I Want Him Gone From Working At Any Beach, Pool Or Park! I'll Be Back Tomorrow To Make Sure You Right These Wrongs.”
“I'll get on it right away, Mister Campisi.” The Park Supervisor replies meekly.
Tony's father finally turns Fernando, “Forgive me for this terrible misunderstanding. You have been wrongfully been accused by members of my own family, I promise that it will never happen again.”
Fernando lets out a sigh before replying “I'll accept your apology and forgive you as you were misled to take action against me.” He then looks at Tony and Dante “But it is not you who should be apologizing...”
Taking on the visual clues, Tony's father says before shoving his son to the ground and pointing to his men to do the same with Dante and their friends, “You are right. You are more of a man than these two will ever be.” He then slaps the back of his son's neck and points to Fernando, “Apologize to him!”
“But Father... It Was Not Him That Saved You! It Was Dante!” Tony lets out, only to have his father's fist go across his jaw.
“La Cosa Nostra Do Not Like Liars!” Tony's father growls at him followed by another slap to his face. He continues with “That Faggot Dante did not save me, it was this man, he who I woke up and his face I saw is the one who saved me! That Faggot Dante Was Nowhere Near Me! But since you like to hang out with faggots, you have no home to go too! And you keep this shit up - son or no son, you will be floating down the river with him! La Cosa Nostra Are About Self Made Men! Yet You Dropped Out Of School Thinking That `Daddy' Will Support You, That Is A Faggot's Move! Daddy Ain't Supporting You No More! Now Apologize To A Real Man Or Else!”
Tony whimpered but refused to apologize. Fernando steps in, “Excuse me, sir. If he is not willing to apologize, take him home and go Church On Him. It is obvious that his religious instruction is lacking.”
Mr. Campisi, Tony's father, though scowling is not scowling to Fernando. He nods. He then reaches over to Tony and grabs him by his ear, twists it while making get up, standing in a hunched over position. He then nods to Fernando, “We'll be seeing you when I bring the family here.” He then turns to the Pool Supervisor, “On Pay Day, give Dante's check to him and I'll get the check cashing place to pay it out.”
The pool supervisor nods.
Mister Campisi and his men take the teenage boys who were bawling. Mr. Campisi is heard saying as they leave, “Anyone of them try to run, shoot'em in the head!” His men are heard agreeing as they walk out the pool's facility, escorting the teens with them.
The pool supervisor looks at Fernando, “Where are you going?”
“I'm going home since its 20 after 5, and I punched out at 5o'clock before that mess started. I always punch out at 5o'clock to go home.” Fernando explains.
The pool supervisor nods though wanting to tell him that he's on until 6o'clock but since Fernando has already punched out, he can't order him to do anything. Thus the supervisor walks away saying that he will see Fernando the following day, which he won't other than for Fernando to collect his pay check and be gone as it is his day off. If he wanted Fernando to work the following day, it would incur over-time hour/pay which is not welcomed by some pool facilities as it cuts into their budgets.
Fernando gathers their things packed into a couple of bags before signaling to Maria to follow him to leave the facility. She steps up to him and holds onto his arm before they go. Together they walk out of the facility, but she stops him in one of many long hallways before the exit. She looks about seeing that hallway is empty.
She steps up to him to face him, “You know, Fernando, it is rare that we kiss and it is my fault that we don't.”
Fernando replies, not knowing he was interrupting her, “I know you do not like to kiss...”
She interrupts him, “I don't like to kiss because I don't want to get caught kissing you though it was at first I did not want to be caught kissing any guy that the girls on the block would try to take then, and since we started to - you know - I did not want the girls on the block to go after you.” She pauses for a second before saying “I no bull-dagger bitch either, but I had to learn from somewhere so I practiced kissing with Tonya. And it's rare that we do but...”
She inches herself up onto her tip toes and leans towards him, planting her lips against his for a moment and begins a tongue twirling intimate lip locking season lasting about half a minute. She then looks up at him with a half worried smile.
She lets out a sigh, “You're the best kisser I ever kissed.”
Fernando stands there in silence for the moment trying to take it all in and figure out what had happened.
She takes him by his arm and led him down the hall to leave the pool facility, “Let's go home.”
- - - - - - -
Though Tony was kicked out of his family’s home, he managed to go sleep at friends’ homes. His father takes his car that he gave him for his 16th birthday (before he dropped out of high school) – a used but still good looking Porsche 911 he got from a friend’s used car dealership. Tony managed to ‘steal’ his own car and hang out with his friends, and making money at the illegal drag races at Fountain Avenue (a desolate area in Brooklyn with a long 6 lane street almost a mile long). His father would find out about his son’s illegal racing activities and had one of his mechanic friends to booby trap the car. Tony, Dante and a few of their friends were killed while going through the Belt Parkway (A highway in Lower Brooklyn) at over 120 miles an hour. Whether it was the booby trap that caused the accident, Tony’s poor driving skills, or alcohol and drugs found in the car and in the blood stream of the driver and occupants, remained to be seen and to this day is unsolved but Tony was blamed for accident and deaths from driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol that caused this accident. This and two other teenage driving accidents caused the creation of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and years later from their protests led to the federal drinking age to 18 and years late again, 21.",
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