Page 185 of La Dolce Vita

"It is," Clyde replied. "Cutter typically comes through whenever he is in town. Larry’s is owned by a close friend of his."

The car parked. Giovanni stared at the sign on the front of the building. The apostrophe was the only symbol not lit. He glanced back to Lorenzo who arched a brow. It was the only communication the two of them needed.

“Let’s get that beer,” Giovanni said.

When he exited the vehicle, Lorenzo was out and walking straight for the door. His cousin had a thirst that once rivaled his own. Tonight he sought answers. He wanted the answers his wife and Clyde didn’t give. Cutter still had her in his sights after ten years. It was time Cutter understood how unlucky that made him.

It was the first time since he arrived in town he saw white men and black men socializing together. There were bikers, workers in uniforms from some company, and local men hanging around their cars drinking from paper bags. A few stopped talking and stared. Others said a friendly hello. Others went inside, curious about what the arrival of two strangers to their watering hole would bring.

The bar itself was much smaller than it appeared on the outside. So much cigarette smoke filled the air he had to squint to see clearly. Lorenzo went straight to the bar. Most tables and booths were filled. Others had empty bottles and needed to be cleaned. To the back of the bar were two pool tables and a pinball machine. Above the bar was a television seated on a shelf.

In a matter of seconds, Giovanni spotted Cutter. He sat to the back in a booth with his men. He was deep in the shadows, but his piercing stare could not be missed. This was Cutter’s place, and he didn't seem to please to have visitors.

Giovanni walked over to the bar, but two men got up from a wooden table after speaking with Clyde. Clyde gestured for him to take a seat there instead.

"Those are my nephews. Told them to give up the table for our guests," Clyde said. “Good boys. They both work at Mirabella’s factory as managers.” Clyde took off his sweaty baseball cap and dropped it on the table. Giovanni pulled out a chair and sat down. A waitress appeared. She was short but shapely. She was a light brown skinned woman with long hair in braids pushed back by a band so her pretty face could be seen.

"Hi, Clyde, and who this?" she asked with a wide grin.

"This is Mirabella's husband, Giovanni, and that there at the bar is his cousin Lorenzo who is married to her twin sister."

"No shit. Everybody been talking about the picnic. I wish I had come. Was the sister there too?”

Clyde nodded.

“Damn! I always miss stuff. What you like, sugar?"

"Beer," Giovanni said.

"Get us two Michelob’s, Pat," Clyde said.

Lorenzo came over with a mug of suds and sat down. Pat nodded that she would. As she passed, Lorenzo sipped his beer, but his head turned and he stared at her backside. Two other men dragged over chairs. One was around the age of Giovanni, and the other looked to be his son.

"Hey there, the name is Robert, and this is my son Bobby. I went to high school with Mia," he said and extended his hand. Giovanni shook it. The beers were brought over. "We heard you two come to town. That's pretty big news here. She the only celebrity we got."

"Nah, we got that local boy that went on to play for Michigan," Clyde said.

"He ain’t famous until he gets into the league. And ain’t no one rich like Mia," Robert said.

"True," Clyde chuckled and tossed back some beer.

"How long yawl here for?" Robert asked.

"They'll be visiting for the rest of the week," Clyde said. “Three more days.”

"Out there at the old farmhouse?" Robert asked.

Giovanni tuned the conversation out. It was happening without him. Cutter stared directly at him. And it was Cutter who had his interest.

"Bobby here is in love," Robert announced.

"That so?" Clyde asked. Lorenzo drank his beer and stared at the fuzzy televised broadcast above the bar.

"Pops, stop." Bobby blushed.

"Found him whimpering over a girl the other night. Brought him here to put some hair on his balls. Women like strength. Right? That's what I tell him. Stand upright. Open your mouth and speak. Don't start giggling like a punk the first time she looks your way. Right? That's what I tell him."

“The boy too young to be in this bar Robert.”

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