Tina covered her ears as Ramnstein blared into her ears. She couldn't stand heavy metal but evidently Vinny was enjoying himself and singing along to every word. “You,you hate me to say, you hate me to say and I will not obey!" They were cruising along in Vinny's red jeep along Rt.10 heading towards her father's mansion. She couldn't believe he had the balls to go anywhere near her home but he claimed he had to drop something off.
Her stomach churned and grumbled and she felt like she was starving. Vinny promised they would go out to eat after they delivered " The package" to her home. The inside of the jeep was immaculate and a sweet pine aroma filled the air. Tina could feel beads of sweat trickle down her back. She was wearing the turtle neck and the baggy black pair of Levis that made her look stupid. She pulled down the visor and put on the black lip stick Vinny said she had to wear.
Unlike his mother, Vinny revved up his motor to 7,000 RPMs before he shifted into the next gear. Tina was just finishing putting on the final touches when Vinny down shifted from 2nd to 1st. Her head jolted forward and black lip stick made a Nike swoosh alongside her face receding from her lips. Vinny looked over at her and chuckled.
"Hey you must be a rat!" He said looking her over with his one good eye.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked dropping the lip stick to the floor.
"In prison they used to mark the rats. Inmates would melt a razor blade inside a toothbrush and use it to slash the side of another inmates left side of his mouth. It usually left a Nike swoosh looking scar receding from the side of their lips. Then everyone knew they were a rat."
Vincent reached in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and passed it to her." Here use this to wipe off the excess lipstick. We won't have any rats in my car."
When Tina wiped the lipstick off her face she looked in the mirror and saw a police car following them. Vinny also spotted the cruiser and let off the gas.
"Should I stick my head down?" Asked Tina.
"No. It will look too suspicious. He's already seen you, just play it cool."
Vinny made a point of not looking too much in the rear view mirror because that might cause the cop to be alarmed. Tina's heart beat faster and faster as she secretly prayed in the lull of the moment. She surreptitiously crossed her fingers and prayed that the cop would pull them over. She snuck a glance at Vinny's hands which were at the ten and two O'clock position on the steering wheel. His hands shook incessantly while he kept his gaze straight ahead on the road. When they drove past a WAWA the cruiser veered off to the side of the road and entered the parking lot.
"He was probably just going to fetch some doughnuts for his royal nibs." Said Vinny letting one shaky hand off the steering wheel. Tina felt somberness permeate throughout her body. It was like sitting next to the phone waiting on a call from Steve and having it be some stupid sales person. All hope was lost. When they finally entered Tina's neighborhood Vinny reached in the glove box and pulled out a pair of black leather gloves. He used his knee to steer while he slipped the gloves on his hands.
Vinny looked around to make sure nobody was watching him when he pulled up to the judge's mail-box. As quickly as he could Vinny put the manila envelope containing the DVD into the mailbox and took off. Tina wanted to jump out and run inside but she still was unsure about the bomb around her neck. When they got towards the end of the street and elderly couple was sitting on the porch staring at them. Tina recognized the couple from her daily jogs and always used to wave to them. This time Vinny smiled and waved to the couple nuzzling on the porch. Tina hoped and prayed they could recognize her but she highly doubted it. She had a new look and they were old and senile and probably couldn't see too good.
When they left her neighborhood Vinny turned up the heavy metal on the radio and became in a europhoric state of mind.
" Now we can go get something to eat." Said Vinny taking the gloves off.
They made a left on Oak street and a garbage truck in front of them was letting off nauseous fumes making Tina dizzy. Vinny looked like the fumes were bothering him too. He passed the garbage truck on a double yellow line and nearly collided with an oncoming motorcycle. The motorcyclist flipped them an obscene gesture that Vinny knew all too well. He thought about turning around and going after him but his stomach was telling him it was time to eat. He whipped into an Ihops parking lot and parked the jeep leaving it in first gear.
The restaurant appeared to be extremely busy but Vinny liked it that way because they would appear less conspicuous and he didn't want anyone remembering their faces. When they ambled into the Ihops Vinny felt a pang of uneasiness run through his body. It seemed like everywhere he looked there was a mirror. Seeing himself in the mirror usually causes him to go into fits of hysteria.
A 16 year old girl with long braided golden brown hair and freckles greeted them at the door. Vinny took Tina's hand to signify they were a couple. Tina looked like a worried mother visiting her son in the hospital. The 16 year old girl smiled pompously with a fake grin that said " You guys look funny together" while holding onto a stack of menus.
" Hi, I'm Ashley. I'll be your waitress today. Smoking or non?"
Vinny gripped Tina's hand a little harder and his whole body began to shake and tremble." Heh-heh-heh-heh." He began to laugh nervously. He stared at the floor tiles trying to hide his upcoming fit of hysteria.
Ashley took a step back but smiled pleasantly like maybe she's seen strange people before and this was okay. Vinny's body continued to quiver while he snorted out laughter while staring at the floor with his face flush red. Ashley patiently waited for a response thinking maybe a camera man would step out and tell her she was on Candid Camera. Tina finally piped up.
"We'll take the smoking section." She said reassuringly. She was hungry and not in the mood for any more of Vinny's shenanigans.
"Okay, right this way." Said Ashley trying to keep from laughing herself.
Tina pulled on Vinny's arm and they followed the waitress to a booth and sat down. Vinny was still shaking vigorously like he was having some kind of seizure." The mirrors." He said," The mirrors are making me nervous." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a fresh unopened pack of Newports.
Tina watched him without a care in the world. She was beginning to feel sorry for him and wondered what happened in his life that turned him into a monster. Vinny lit a Newport and inhaled deeply. The cigarette seemed to be calming his nerves. People stopped looking at him and returned to their meals. Ashley came back feeling all giddy. She was holding a pen and a tiny note pad and was ready to take their order.
"Are you guys ready to order?" She said in a barbie girl voice.
"We just sat down!" Shouted Vinny looking furious and showing his razor sharp teeth.
The site of his shark teeth frightened Ashley causing her to jump back and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Just excuse him. He's not feeling well." Said Tina putting her hand on his arm trying to settle him down.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll come back later." Said Ashley while cursing at him inside of her mind.
Vinny carefully looked over the menu trying his best not to look at the mirrors. Tina went to pick up her menu but Vinny put his fist on top of it. " Don't bother. I'll be doing all the ordering." He said giving her a death stare.
Tina carefully observed the hideous scars scattered all over his face and ran down his neck. She reminded herself that each scar probably told a story. Vinny played with his eye patch while he studied the menu. Customers chattered on their cellphones while waitresses scurried about trying not to trip on each other. Tina noticed a little blond haired boy wearing a green corduroy jumper sitting at another table. He was pointing his action figure at her and making shooting noises. Tina felt like she was in a trance while she stared at the Gi-Joe action figure that appeared to have a weapon in it's hands that was pointed right at her.
The mother saw what was going on and took the Gi-Joe and put it in her purse. The little boy started to cry and the mother told him he could have it after they left. Vincent seemed to be completely oblivious to what was going on around him and took his time scrutinizing the menu. A different waitress with short red curly hair and five freckles on each cheek came to their table with a serious look. Vinny looked up and saw her chomping on a piece of gum like it was a piece of leather.
"Yo, ya'll ready to order or what?" She said popping her gum.
Vincent tilted his head to look around her and saw the manager standing aloof just waiting for an oncoming discrepancy. He shifted his gaze to the waitress that had a don't give me any crap look and cleared his throat.
"Yes, we'll both have the waffle special with extra strawberries and a large chocolate milk." He said adamantly.
The red head winked at Tina and then stuck her pen in her mouth." Would you like coffee with that?"
Tina looked at him dumbfounded and Vinny raised his index finger."Just coffee for me thank you." He said adamantly once more. He averted his one good eye every time he felt the waitress stare at him. After the red head finished jotting down the order she harshly dotted an "i" nearly stabbing the pen into the pad of paper, then she finally walked off.
By the time Vincent finished his second cigarette their food had arrived. For the first time that day Vinny saw Tina smile when she saw the food. They both had a stack of blueberry waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Also there was two side dishes of bacon and sausage links. Tina grabbed her fork and was ready to dig in when Vinny grabbed her hand to stop her.
"We have to say the blessing first." He said with a serious look on his face.
Tina's jaw nearly dropped to the floor as she sat there dumbfounded. Vinny bowed his head and closed his eye and began praying. Reluctantly she did the same only she secretly peeked through her eye lids. He looked devoted and sincere. He even folded his hands on top of the table.
"Dear heavenly father, thank you for this day and for this food. Thank you that we can have Tina with us today heavenly father. Also I pray that I can find each and every one of those little brats that destroyed my life. Bless this food once again heavenly father. In your name. Amen."
Without even looking at each other they both began to dig into their waffles. By the time Tina went for her second waffle Vinny was already finished eating and chugging down his chocolate milk. He took a napkin and wiped the grease around his lips from the sausage." You know I've got two vehicles I have to destroy." He said licking his lips.
Tina put down her fork." Do you mean the vehicles belonging to the guys you killed?"
"Yeah. But maybe I'll just take the vehicles to a chop shop in Philly."
Tina tried to pretend that she was listening but really she was thinking about Steve. She missed him so much that it hurt inside.
"Do you like to fish?" Vinny blurted out.
"I don't know. I never tried it." She said placing her straw in her chocolate milk.
"Well, I hope you like it. Tomorrow we leave for Chicago for a fishing trip." Vinny lit a Newport and patiently waited for Tina to finish her meal.