Pain Grows A Platinum Rose

By George Martorano

When Carmen Kelly's Grandmother dies, he is left alone. This is the harsh, brutal and very real story of a young man's battle to find himself--even save his own life--when growing up on the rough streets of South Philadelphia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: George Martorano
• Release date: Oct 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466118058

George Martorano

The United States of America's Longest Prison Sentence, Life Sentence for First Time Non Violent Offense without possibility of parole and America's Most prolific prison writer George Martorano Needs Your Help.You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. -Clarence Darrow

Book preview

Chapter One

Once there was a little old ram trying to butt a hole in a dam. Everyone knew that ram can't punch a hole in that dam. But he had high hopes, he had high hopes.....

Carmen! Stop that singing and go to the store.

Carmen sat on his bed, cleaning his old white bucks, in his tiny bedroom with a picture-postcard view of the skyline of Philly, glancing out his small and only window.

Carmen! Get down here!

Okay Gramps. Carmen jumped into his white bucks and leaned into his mirror, trying to get that cowlick to lie down. Damn, he said. It seemed that ever since he had hair, it always stuck up in the back. He took one more look at himself and winked. Even at the age of twelve, he always tried to be a looker-it helped in the neighborhood where he lived, making extra money when he could, one way or another. Out his bedroom door he went, down the stairs of his small, two story, two bedroom home, in a mixed neighborhood of poor Italians, who mostly lived up the side streets.

First go get bread. Then go by Bill the grocer and get some eggs.

Okay Gramps, he said, as he walked up to her to give her a kiss. They always hugged and kissed constantly, even through all their mild spats. Grandmom Pizza was mother and father to him. His father was Irish, giving him the last name of Kelly. His mother died while giving birth to him. The only time his grandmother saw the name Kelly was when she picked Carmen up at a small clinic on the other side of town. She hadn't seen her daughter Rosie for a year. Having no phone, she got a letter about the death and the child. Gramps just swallowed her grief and got on to the job of raising Carmen. He was already a month old, and her daughter, Rosie, had been buried in Potters Field. That's when she found out about Potters Field. They told her that all cities had one for people who had nobody else. At the clinic, she saw the name Kelly on his tiny wrist. When she brought little Carmen home, she asked the local ward leader about changing the name Kelly to Pizza. He told her it would cost two hundred and fifty dollars. So, that ended it right there for little Carmen having the name Pizza. Gramps used to smile at him when he slept, and would softly say to him a couple of times, Car-min Kel-Iee, Car-min KeHee. To her it had a nice ring to it.

Here. Here's a dollar for the bread and eggs, she said.

It's alright Gramps. I got it. he replied, as he made for the front door. Gramps was sitting in her beach chair; she always sat in it, either in her small living room, or out front, under the oak tree, with her elderly girlfriends.

Don't you give me that 'I got it' stuff, you little gink. Here.

Carmen just waved her off as he headed out the door onto Pemberton Street. It took him until he was almost six to say it-Pemberton. He didn't know who the hell Pemberton was named after. Nobody else did around Dog Patch either. The first people he passed were his grandmother's gang. There was Miss Eve, a huge woman Carmen had known all his life, who had the cleanest steps on the block. She scrubbed down those steps every day and he swore she'd scrub right through the stone someday. Also sitting under the tree was Big Ann, who took numbers on the block and always sprung for the water ice on these hot summer afternoons.

Hey Carmen, Miss Eve asked, Is your Gramps coming out soon?

I guess, Carmen answered as he strolled by. As Carmen ventured up the block, he started to make a sour face as he spotted Cork Ann Kass, sitting on step. As Carmen neared, he waited for that mouth of hers to open up, on a face he swore he'd seen in a pirate movie once.

Hey, you little fuckin' Mick, did ya get laid yet?

Screw you, Cork Arm! Carmen didn't know what Cork Arm Kass did. She showed up six years ago and moved in with her relatives who all worked. All she did was sit on that step all day-weather allowing-and go to the bingo games every night. Oh, and bother Carmen. He told his gramps about it once. She and Kass got into a screaming match that lasted until they both tired and went back cussing through their front doors. But, since the neighborhood doctor told his Gramps to lose weight and stop smoking, because of her heart, he'd stopped mentioning it. He blasted Cork Arm about it and after that she started easing up some, or at least smiled when she opened that mouth with two teeth in it.

Where you gain' now, Carmen Kelly? she called out. Going to summer school, since you never went when you were supposed to?

Carmen gave her one more screw you, as he continued onto Seventh Street, heading for Bill's Grocery Store.

Bill's Grocery Store had been in his neighborhood forever. Bill the store from his father, and his father from his father. As Carmen entered the store, Bill was waiting on a couple of customers. Carmen cruised over to get a dozen eggs, then went over to a box near the back of the storeroom,

and sat down. Bill finished up with the customers and walked over to Carmen. Carmen gave the last customer a once-over, checking out his shoes. Shoes told a lot, especially if the heels were worn. He then looked at Bill and in a second figured out just how he was going to work this. Hey Bill he said. I talked to Josie yesterday and told her you wanted her to come and clean your apartment... Bill's mind went right on the twelve-year old boy who was going on twenty, and his eyes grew larger. Bill liked his women.

You did? What she say?

Carmen settled back against the wall, now that he'd got the hook in Bill and said, She said she could fit you in maybe. Maybe. Bill made a face as he heard the maybe and Carmen got up off the box and helped himself to a soda. Bill didn't even notice-he had Josie on his mind. Josie and her big tits. "Yah, but I got to help her, because she said she already got too many houses to

clean," Carmen said. Bill's mouth was watering now.

And what you tell her? Bill asked. Carmen smiled after taking his last gulp of soda and said, I told her no problem. After hearing this, Bill relaxed. And don't worry Bill, Carmen said, When we're cleaning, you go in, I'll get lost. He gave Bill a wink. He started for the door with

his goods and Bill followed, sorta like a puppy.

When? When? Bill asked. Carmen, hitting the sidewalk, looked back and said, 'I’ll talk to her tomorrow and get right back to you. Bill was standing on the store steps, stretching his neck and voice. Today! Today!"

Carmen, looking into the bag of eggs now, his twelve-year-old smile and mind already on other things, yelled back at Bill without even looking, Yeah, yeah, today.

Bill yelled out one more time before going back inside. Come back later, but Carmen didn't answer.

He cut up another little street, heading for Vacco's Bakery, figuring he had better get all his errands done before he found something more interesting to do, like making money. Carmen approached Vacca's Bakery and the smell of the fresh bread hit his nose first. He always went by the front of the store first so he could have a look-see around. Cautiously, he went around to the back of the bakery to the small loading dock, and peeked in first to see how busy the workers were. Then he looked along the walls, just past the overhanging door, checking for the orders of fresh bread going out to the nearby businesses. There were orders waiting to be delivered. Carmen dashed in fast, grabbed a bag of rolls and jumped off the loading dock. If someone yelled out after him he'd take off running, but most likely they'd never chase after him. Even if they did, he'd run up alley ways, losing them. Nobody shouted.

All accomplished, Carmen headed for home. He turned a corner, chewing on one of the still hot rolls and heard, Hey Irish, where ya going? Sitting on a step, drinking homemade wine, were four boys-local kids in the neighborhood. Italians. Carmen knew them and knew what was coming. The larger one spoke out again. I said, Mick Irish, what ya got in the bag?

He didn't answer, but cut across the street, away from them. Another one of the boys jumped off the steps and blocked off Carmen.

Don't you talk when you're spoken to? Carmen Kelly! What a fuckin' name!

I'm half-Italian, Carmen yelled back.

Just up the street a ways were three men-Pappy Fusco and two of his sons. They were watching what was going on. They saw the four boys that were all around Carmen and saw that one took his bag of rolls, and another went for the bag of eggs.

Hey! Give back my stuff, shouted Carmen. He reached for one of the bags and one of the boys grabbed his arms and twisted it behind his back.

The larger boy laughed and said, That's right Frankie, hold him.

Should I stop it, Pappy?

Pappy, a short barrel-chested man, bald, and average looking, watched for a moment. No. Watch the Irish kid, he said. The two sons looked like each other. Both were much taller than Pappy, built strongly though. In fact, all of Pappy's sons, nine in all, were taller than he was. The Fuscos were the muscle in Dog Patch-They be runnin' things. They lived on a back street, all of them, along with their families, kinda like a village. Pappy's house was the last one on the block, which was a dead end. Most of the sons were married and most of the wives didn't talk to each other. Their children played together in their own little playground, which was like a small farm right in the city, complete with chickens, goats, and a couple of ponies.

The lot Pappy made the small farm from once belonged to someone else, who had bought it. He came by once and was chased off, with a busted head. When the owner took the matter to court, Pappy just dished out some money and had the legal papers buried. Finally, the owner just gave up and stopped paying taxes on it, and Pappy got it for peanuts. This little village, located in a

working-class city neighborhood, was called Dog Patch, giving the whole area the name Dog Patch.

The boys were eating Carmen's bread, when one took an egg and mashed it on Carmen's head. You motherfucker! Carmen yelled out, and a rage overcame him. He didn't care if he got his arm broken as he twisted out of the arm lock. He started fighting all four of the boys. He felt the hits to his face and body, but he kept punching and kicking back, like some animal. Everything

around him was a blur. The four boys already knew about his fits of rage, but today it was different. Two of the boys ran off, but the largest one had his arm caught in Carmen's mouth and was screaming to be released. The other remaining boy was punching him on the back and head.

Carmen took one last hard bite, tearing flesh, and turned on the other boy. He ran into him low, grabbing his lower legs and knocking him down. The arm-bitten boy backed off, and Carmen was on top of the other one, trying to drive his head into the street. I'll kill ya! Carmen screamed. I'll kill ya!

Carmen was pulled up into the air, still kicking, arms swinging.

One of Pappy's sons had him and yelled out, It's over, it's over! Calm down!

Pappy went over to the boy on the ground and pulled him to his feet. Go home! Get the fuck out of here! he told the boy. The boy walked off wobbling. Now, both of Pappy's sons were holding Carmen's arms. Kelly, you okay? Pappy said, and Carmen calmed down some.

They're always fuckin' with me! he shouted.

Not anymore, Kid. Not anymore, smiled Pappy, who then went into his pocket and came out with a bill.

Here, go buy your goods and stay out of trouble. Carmen stood there for a second, and then took the money. Thanks, Mr. Fusco.

Pappy! Call me Pappy, Kid, Pappy continued, with a smile. Carmen started to walk off and turned to look at Pappy and his two sons, and the five spot in his hand.

Told you to watch that kid, Pappy said to his sons.

Did you see that kid fight? one of Pappy's sons, Al, said.

Like a fuckin' lion, said Jack, the other son, grinning,

In a couple of years, we could use that kid, Pappy said, still smiling. They all strolled off, laughing, as Carmen, walking along the street, passed a large bay window and saw his reflection. Holy shit! he said, mostly to himself, as he saw what a mess he was and realized he had to get cleaned up. He thought to himself, Josie's.

Carmen made his way to Josie's. Josie and his mother had been friends all their lives. Josie was the only one who ever talked to him about his mother. With Gramps, when the conversation got around to his mother, there were always tears, then she would end up making the sign of the cross. Carmen yelled up to Josie's third floor apartment, never thinking to ring the bell. The building lay on the corner of two streets in Dog Patch. Josie! Hey Josie! You home? As he yelled this, he noticed his white bucks. Maronna, he said, looking down. They're covered with blood and dirt.

What ya want, Squirt? A cute, fair Florentine yelled down.

Carmen looked up from his shoes to see Josie hanging out from her third floor window, and the first thing he noticed was her boobs. He called back up to her, Hey Josie, can I come up? Josie now saw that the kid was a wreck.

What... what the Christ happened to you?

Fighting, Carmen answered, making a sour face.

Josie had already left the window and quickly returned to throw the front door key down.

Here, she yelled. The key landed right on top of Carmen's head.

Ouch.

Josie's hand went to her mouth, trying not to show a laugh as she yelled down, Sorry! Come on up.

He picked the key up, opened the front door, and started to go up the dark hallway leading to the stairs. He didn't realize how much of a beating he'd taken until he got half-way up the stairs and the sharp pains started hitting him. Geez, he said aloud, as the pains were everywhere.

When he got to Josie's front door, she was already there, waiting for him and greeted him with, Who was it this time?

Carmen walked past her, answering, Pappy Fusco said they ain't gonna bother me no more.

He did, did he? replied Josie, her hands on her hips.

Carmen dug into his pockets real fast and pulled the money out. He gave me this.

Josie didn't answer. She just went over to the sink and ran water, looking for this and that to clean him with. Take your clothes off, I'll wash 'em. Don't want your grandmother getting sick, do you? Hearing this, Carmen quickly started to undress down to his under pants. Leave them on, Josie said quietly. Carmen smiled and handed her his clothes.

My shoes, Josie! My white bucks! Josie looked at them, then went over to a closet and took out some white shoe polish.

Here. Carmen took it.

Thanks, Josie, he said, as he went over to sit down at her kitchen table and take off his shoes.

Don't you put them on my table, she quickly warned him, before he did.

I won't.

Josie filled a bucket up with hot, soapy water and started washing his clothes out. Carmen, drawing long white strokes with a little too much liquid, started out, Josie, why did my mother run away?

She stopped washing, turned to Carmen, and paused before saying, Your mother never ran away.

Carmen, holding one shoe, his other hand holding the stick, and polish running down his arm, yawned. My Gramps don't talk, but I hear things.

Josie came and sat next to him at the table, and held his face in her hands. Squirt, your mother was my best friend. She went off to Atlantic City for a summer and met someone. Well, you know, she got in trouble.

Trouble? Carmen said, looking confused.

Pregnant with you.

Oh. Carmen’s mind now understood.

"She left because she didn't want people to talk.

God! In this neighborhood, that’s all they do. She didn't want your grandmother hurt, that's all! She didn't run away! Josie got up and went into another small room. She returned with three letters. Here, you can read, can't ya?"

Carmen, taking the letters and getting polish on them, snapped back, You know I can read, Josie! Don't I read the racing forms for Big Ann on Saturdays? Looking at the letters, he said, What's these?

Josie, back at the sink, wringing out his clothes, answered, They're letters from your mother to me. I never showed you before cause you was too young.

Letters from my mom? Carmen mumbled as he stared at them, his eyes growing large. All he ever saw was a couple of pictures his Gramps had of her and a few of her clothes hanging in one of the closets in the living room. Josie went over and hung his clothes on the line outside her window. Her clothesline didn't connect with another wall, but rather, ran back and forth to a pulley she had installed. She always hung her underthings in the bathroom though. All she needed was panties up against her outside wall.

Look, what was you supposed to bring home? I'll go get it, she said.

Bread and eggs, answered Carmen, not taking his eyes off the letters in his hand, still somewhat in shock at holding something of his mother's.

Josie smiled. went over to him and stroked his head. While I'm gone, you read those, okay? She left, and Carmen just then realized the polish was getting on the letters and wiped the remaining polish from his hands onto his bare chest. He slowly opened one of the letters, as if rushing into it wouldn't be nice. Once he got the two pages out, he turned to the second page. He was looking for his mother's name at the end. Rosie. Carmen said his mother's name, and then started reading.

Dear Josie,

I hope this letter finds you in a good way today and with a little bit of a hangover from too much dancing on South Street. Ha! Ha! I didn't want to let you know because I know you would have tried to stop me. No one knows this but you now, and Richie Santore's uncle from the Saloon Restaurant. He helped me. He gave me some money and found out about the home. It's for young pregnant women, and Josie, it's not bad. I share my room with another girl. During the day, we work at a state-run nursing home and the work's not too hard. Josie, I need you to keep this quiet. Please understand. It's for the best. Also, don't tell my mother about this letter. She'll only try to find me and bring me back to that neighborhood and I couldn't take that right now.

Oh! Josie, I can feel him growing inside me, and I know it's going to be a boy! Yes, a boy, Josie! My, I can't wait to hold him in my arms! I even started back to school. I want to be a good mother for him. I guess we will grow up together. When the time is right you can come and see us. Won't that be great when you come see my little son.

I even got his name picked out. Carmen, my little Carmen. So, please don't forget this is all just between us for now. Care always, and forever.

Your friend,

Love ya, Rosie

Finishing the letter, Carmen noticed the tears running down his face, onto his chest and upon the letter's pages; and for the first time he felt really close to his mother. The letter was proof that his mother truly loved him. Carmen returned to the first page and read the part about the Saloon Restaurant and the man named Richie Santore. He never heard his Gramps mention those names. With that thought came the exhaustion from the letters and the fight. He put his head on the table just to rest, and fell fast asleep.

Hey! Hey! Get up' Josie said, and Carmen jumped out of his sleep. Josie was standing there smiling. Come on, let's see if they're dry yet. She went over to the window and started pulling the clothes in. With some frustration she remarked, Well, they're just a little damp. Once they hit that summer heat, they'll dry. Here, wipe yourself and get dressed.

As he started to put on his clothes, he asked, Did you get the groceries?

Josie went over by the table and picked up the white shoe polish. On the chair.

Can I have the letters, Josie?

Josie smiled warmly and told him, They're yours. Carmen's face lit up like sunshine. But don't let your grandmother know I gave them to you.

He was holding the letters in his hands, looking at his pockets, afraid of getting the letters damp and hesitated.

Josie caught on and walked over to a cabinet and came out with a little paper bag. Here, she said, And you better get home now.

Carmen picked the other bag up from the chair and started for the door, but stopped just as he got to it. He dropped his head as he spoke, Hey Josie, you know Bill, the grocer?

Yeah, answered.

Well, you know how he is and all, Carmen said with a smile, still looking down.

What did you do now? she said, putting her hands on her hips.

Well, see, when I needed some things. I talked to him about you...

Josie started to laugh. No wonder when he counted out the eggs he dropped one!

He did? Carmen laughed.

Josie walked over to him, gently pulled his ears and said. Well, if you're sweet-talking him about me, get some goods too, con man.

Okay Josie! and he headed down the first flight of stairs.

Hey Squirt, you helping me clean Saturday?

Carmen stopped just before he jumped another two steps. Oh, Josie! You know I only like cleaning in winter. Summer's my busy time.

Just like your mother, always busy, Josie laughed. Well, come by, okay?

Carmen started off again and yelled back to her. ''I'll always come back for my Josie. He bounded down the remaining stairs and Josie just stood there, her emotions getting to her after hearing the words my Josie. She slowly went back into her apartment, whispering...Rosie and Josie."

Carmen had a tough time explaining the bruises to Gramps. At first, she yelled, but they ended up kissing and hugging. Gramps rocked him in her arms, softly singing, Car-min Kel-lee, Car-min Kel-lee.

Chapter Two

Carmen strolled along with his shoe shine box slung over his shoulder and headed for the fancy neighborhood where the Saloon Restaurant was located. Since he had read the first letter, he wanted to see this fellow, Richie Santore, or his uncle. He had mentioned his intentions to Josie a

couple days after she had given him the letters. She said that Richie Santore was a little older than her and his mother, since Josie and Rosie were the same age. She also said that Richie's uncle had passed away not too long after his mother left. Carmen felt bad, but he still wanted to see the Saloon. Josie had said that Richie was handsome, and then laughed.

Carmen walked on till he saw the place, which sat on a corner and was three stories high. The front was beautiful, red brick and gold. The gold being brass or copper-neither of which Carmen knew anything about. As he got closer, he noticed that there were several men standing out front. Carmen stood and watched what they were up to and saw that they parked the cars as they pulled up. Then he moved himself right across the street and stood there, studying some more. He now could see through the large bay windows. The windows had large letters, in gold, With the name Saloon on them. Carmen had never seen a place like this before. The building was bigger and more expensive looking than the ones in his neighborhood.

Carmen didn't realize it, but he walked across the street right up to a huge, shiny wooden door, with a large gold knob. The parking attendants were too busy to notice a little kid standing there. Carmen pushed open the large door and started to enter. The first thing he sensed was the soft music, and then the smells-smells he'd never smelled before. All of a sudden he was getting hungry! The large door closed behind him and he backed up against the wall behind the door and froze, hoping the door wouldn't bang open mashing him like a grape. As he stood there, he looked around the place. Rich people were all around, some sitting at the bar. Carmen saw nice clothes and lots of jewelry on the customers, and bartenders mixing drinks. He slowly started to walk away from the wall, and stepped up to the bar and a man in a dark blue suit sporting a big

gold watch.

Hey mister, want a shine? At first, the man just kept talking to the woman in a red dress he was sitting with. Hey mister, how's about a shine'? Carmen tried again, with a little more force.

The man in the dark blue suit slowly turned and looked down at Carmen. For a moment, he just stared, but finally he smiled, revealing big white teeth. No son. Not today, he said, But here. Carmen didn't know what to do, but finally brought his hand up and placed it around what he couldn't believe he was seeing-a five! A five dollar bill!

Thanks! Carmen said and smiled widely. The man just turned and continued talking. Carmen floated to the next man he saw. A bald man this time, in a brown suit, standing next to two other fellows who were seated. Hey mister, need a shine?

The man turned to him and burst out