Once Broken (3 page)

By the time Tony was a toddler, Anna understood that although Louie loved her, Tony mattered most. All conversations focused on Tony. He accompanied his parents everywhere. Even when Tony demanded to sleep in his parents’ bed, Louie acquiesced.

“You’re creating a monster child,” Anna warned.

“There’s no such thing as too much love.”

Ah, but there is, Anna thought.

*

By age three, Tony was biting and hitting neighborhood children. Louie defended his son against Anna’s reprimands, declaring that Tony was protecting himself. Louie encouraged self-defense. Anna was rendered powerless and accepted that the relationship between father and son could not be rivaled.

*

Anna worried when Tony was caught cheating in junior high. Miss McShea sneaked up behind him in class and demanded both the exam sheet and the cheat notes. She informed Tony that his test would be marked zero. Tony cried to his father, relating his tall tale of injustice. Louie set off for a discussion to set that teacher straight.

“Miss McShea, I insist you give Tony an A on his exam and apologize for embarrassing him and tearing up his test in front of his classmates.”

Miss McShea was appalled by Louie’s demand. “Mr. Salvucci, I have the cheat notes right here in Tony’s handwriting. They are indisputable proof.”

The teacher handed Louie the notes. Louie flung them back on her desk without even glancing at them.

“I’m sorry Mr. Salvucci, your son cheated and the punishment for cheating is predictable and just.”

“You talk about just! My son told me how you’ve mistreated him from the beginning of the year. You’re constantly harassing him. He’s such a great kid; he was trying hard to keep you off his back. But instead of being reasonable, you set him up to look like a cheater. Then you humiliated him in front of the whole class!”

“That’s absurd, Mr. Salvucci. The fact is, your son thinks rules don’t apply to him. Your son was caught cheating and, as his teacher, I believe it’s important for him to know that the rules
do
apply to him.”

“I know my son, lady. He doesn’t lie and he doesn’t cheat. I don’t care what you think you saw. I suggest reconsidering your decision.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Salvucci, I won’t reconsider my decision. You’re doing your son a great disservice by allowing him to believe rules that apply to everyone else do not apply to him.”

Louie left Miss McShea’s room fuming. He told Tony about the exchange and apologized for not being able to rectify the situation, but he promised his son that Miss McShea would pay. Three months later, Miss McShea went into the school parking lot to find all four tires slashed and her brown Ford Pinto spray painted with black stripes.

*

In the tenth grade, Tony tried out for varsity football but didn’t make the team. Louie catapulted to the school demanding that his son play on the team.

“Mr. Salvucci, Tony doesn’t have the necessary skills to make the team this year. With some training though—” Coach Gallagher was cut off by Louie.

“That’s absurd! My son is a top-notch player. He played every season in Pop Warner. He was an All-Star for Chrissake.”

“Mr. Salvucci, he didn’t demonstrate that kind of talent in the tryouts.”

“Then give him another chance.”

“I can’t do that. The team’s been chosen and players have been notified. He can try again next year.”

“I’ll take this up with the principal. This is an outrage! You don’t like my son. He told me how you treat him in gym class. I won’t let you get away with discriminating against him because he refuses to kiss your ass.”

Louie stormed out of the coach’s office, slamming the door behind him. Louie’s next stop was the principal’s office, where he complained about the coach’s poor judgement to no avail.

Furious, Louie called a cop friend who provided Louie with the coach’s home address. After midnight, Tony and Louie crept up to his silver Chevy pickup and poured sugar in the gas tank.

*

Tony worked part-time at the A&P Supermarket. Louie’s anger, provoked by Tony’s complaints about his manager scolding him for trivial things, reached a frenzy when Tony was fired.

“No one fires my son! Louie’s scheming brown eyes danced. “We’ll take care of him, son. Don’t you worry.”

Louie paid a friend one hundred dollars to pretend to be an irate customer, confront the manager, and complain to a higher-level manager with the goal of getting the offending manager fired. It worked like a charm. When Louie and Tony heard the news that the manager was fired, they laughed about his never knowing what hit him.

1971

Tony was an attractive adult, but beneath his handsome exterior was a wanton little boy secure in the understanding that Daddy would always rescue him should the world become too threatening.

During his years at Bentley College, Tony sold Chevrolets at a dealership across the street from Patty’s Donut Shop. Although the shop lacked organization, the coffee and food were excellent. Tony’s typical breakfast was on the run, so he ordered a large coffee regular and two muffins—one corn and one coffee cake. One morning, Tony walked in and took his place at the back of the line, then noticed a girl at the display case waving him up to the front. “You’re all set,” she said. “That’ll be $2.79.”

Looking around to make sure she was motioning to him, Tony moved to the front of the line. “Hey thanks,” he said, feeling his customary entitlement. As he took the bag, he noted the girl’s name tag—Jackie.

Back at the showroom, he boasted about the special treatment from “this Jackie girl.” His fellow salesmen were jealous not only for the special treatment but because the general consensus was that this girl was hot.

Each weekend following, Tony sat at the counter with a smile and a pleasant word for the girl named Jackie.

He knew she had a crush on him. It was obvious. But he was dating someone at the time. Jackie was attractive, amusing, intelligent, honest, and too available. Tony liked a challenge. So he categorized her as a nice girl, but not his type.

1972

Just as Tony was beginning to look forward to seeing Jackie, he drove into Patty’s empty parking lot.
What? They should be packed with cars.
Then he noticed the large orange sign on the door. “Closed. Thanks for your patronage.” He returned to the showroom without coffee or muffins.

“Guys, did you know Patty’s was closing?”

“Nope, no warning,” said Sal, the sales manager. “Yesterday, same thing happened to me. Drove in and read the sign.”

Ted, the business manager, sauntered into the salesroom. “Good morning guys!” Glimpsing Tony, he stopped. “Jesus, you look like you lost your best friend.”

“Huh
.
Oh, couldn’t get my coffee this morning. Patty’s closed.”

“Ah, coffee shmoffee. You’re sad because you won’t be seeing your young hottie on the side anymore.”

Ted snickered, slapping Tony’s back. “Yeah Tony, you’ve got that bombshell girlfriend and then you had that little hottie at the donut shop drooling all over you. You’re gonna miss that.”

“You guys are crazy. It’s the coffee. I hate the crap we have here.” But Tony realized there’d be no more breakfasts at Patty’s.
No more Jackie. I don’t even know her last name. It’s no big deal.

1974

F
ollowing high school graduation, Jackie entered Boston University with great excitement and a boatload of financial aid. She was delighted to leave high school and all its immaturity and naïveté. Liberal arts classes allowed her to explore sociology and psychology, which excited her. She was finding herself, her own voice.

A part-time waitress job at The Stockyard, a popular steak and seafood restaurant, allowed her to support herself through college. The Massachusetts drinking age had recently been reduced to eighteen, allowing her to enjoy a lot of partying with her new work friends.

Lucille’s siblings had gotten her into the treatment she needed to stop drinking. She too was finding a new normal. The Martin household was becoming peaceful. Jackie’s joy was stirring.

*

Two years had passed since she had last seen Tony. After working an early shift at The Stockyard, a group of waitresses decided to go carousing. One of the waitresses, Ellen Andrews, suggested Molly’s as the place of debauchery for this particular evening, because her boyfriend and his friends were going there. Molly’s was a nightclub in Kenmore Square that featured heavy metal rock and roll bands and attracted a rowdy crowd. Jackie wasn’t thrilled since she detested heavy metal, but she went along with the group.

In addition to being a waitress, Ellen was an uninhibited aspiring actress who practiced her artistry whenever and wherever she felt the urge. Her tall lean body and kinky red hair suited her zany nature. In any conversational lull, Ellen was likely to spew some well-rehearsed Broadway monologue to deliberately attract attention and shock bystanders she considered her audience. The expressions on the faces of the spectators sent Jackie into fits of laughter. One particular night, as they sat at a bar, Ellen lit a cigarette in a long cigarette holder. Holding it between her fore and middle fingers, she sprang into a monologue from
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
. Looking at Jackie as if it were mid-conversation, she threw her voice into the character of Charlotte Korman. Jackie was expected to play along. But the expressions on the bar patrons’ faces made her laugh so hard she cried. With Ellen’s spontaneity, even Molly’s could be tolerable, she decided.

Mid-evening, as Jackie left the ladies’ room, she heard someone call her name.

“Hey Jackie!”

She spotted a tall guy waving to her. Focusing, she was stunned to realize it was Tony.

“Hey, do you remember me?”

Her mind flooded with memories. “Sure, yeah. How’ve you been?” Her heart thumped.

“Good, better now. It’s great to see you. Excuse the cliché, but do you come here often?”

“No, thank God. In fact, I hope this is the last time. Heavy metal isn’t my thing.”

“Well, I’m glad you did. Actually, I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. Wondering whatever became of you. Want a drink?”

“Sure, a vodka gimlet please.” Tony flagged a waitress and ordered drinks as Jackie settled against the wall and took a cigarette from her purse. He leaned over with a lighter. “Thanks.”

“I didn’t know you smoked.” He lit one for himself.

“Yup. Started a few years ago. They’re my friends.”

Tony chuckled. “I know the feeling.”

Shouting over the music, they caught up on each other’s lives. Luke Jackson, Tony’s closest friend, nudged his arm, gesturing his approval. Tony acknowledged Luke’s gesture with a nod and a smile, as the waitress delivered their drinks. “Luke this is
—
”

“Victoria Principal. Has anyone ever told you that you look like her? You’re prettier though, if that’s possible.”

“Geez, thanks. You guys are full of compliments.” Jackie sipped her drink and put out her cigarette. “You still selling cars?”

“Actually no. I left the dealership right after Patty’s closed. I landed sales job with Dennison Manufacturing Company in Framingham. It’s going great and the money’s terrific.”

“Good. You still driving that Camaro?”

“Oh no. In fact, just got a new 1974 Mustang. I’ll have to take you for a ride sometime,” he said with a wink. “What’ve you been up to?”

“What he wants to know,” Luke said, “is if you’re seeing anyone.”

“Ah.” Jackie nodded in understanding. “Thanks for the interpretation, Luke, but a big-time salesman like Tony should be able to speak for himself.”

“Well, are you?” Tony asked.

“Maybe.”

“What kind of answer is maybe? You make me ask a direct question and I get maybe?”

“A cagey one,” Luke said with a sparkle in his eye. Jackie smiled.

“Okay then, I’ll rephrase. Can I give you a call? We’ll take a ride in the Mustang and go to dinner.” He leaned closer to Jackie. “I’ve missed seeing you.”

“Well, I have an affinity for Mustangs. I have one myself—it’s a 1966.”
My rust-covered beaten-up Mustang with gears that slip hardly compares to his
. She chuckled to herself as she jotted down her phone number on a cocktail napkin. “Here you go.” She hoped she appeared aloof; inside she was screaming with joy.

Tony and Jackie met Ellen and her boyfriend Joe as Molly’s was closing, and walked out to the parking lot together. Ellen and Joe waited in the car while Jackie and Tony lagged behind, flirting. At Ellen’s car, conversation halted. Anticipation rolled in. Leaning against the car, bodies pressed to each other, his kiss was passionate but brief. “I’ll give you a call sometime this week,” he promised as he opened the car door for her.

Heading for home, her heart still pounding, she shared her Tony Salvucci story with Ellen and Joe.

“Holy shit, Jackie! Kinda weird, don’t you think?”

“Weird, how?”

“Well, you had such a crush on him, and might I add, obviously still do judging by the glow on your face. Maybe this is something that’s meant to be,” Ellen said.

“Hmm, maybe. After Patty’s closed, I assumed I’d never see him again. Yet more than a year later, he still makes me quiver. And boy, can that guy kiss! Ooh!” Jackie squealed with excitement. “Oh my God, he’s gonna call me,
finally
!”

*

A week passed. Two weeks. No phone call from Tony. Jackie was confused and annoyed. She vented in a conversation with Tara. “Why wouldn’t he call? He seemed to like me.” Sprawled across her bed that was littered with textbooks, she swept her dark hair away from her face while reviewing her encounters with Tony. “When we met at Patty’s I wanted him to ask me out, but he never did. I think maybe he had a girlfriend. Anyway, he was so easy to talk to and we laughed so easily. Now he says he’ll call and nothing! I wonder if he got home okay. Maybe there’s something wrong with him?”

“Jackie I hate to say this, but I doubt anything happened to him. Who knows why he didn’t call. I know you like him, but he’s no good for you. He plays head games, and that stuff makes you crazy.”

“Yeah, but Tara, he affects me like no other guy I’ve ever met.”