The Bootleggers

By J.A. Jernay

It’s Prohibition-era Detroit. With a family to feed, Edmund Grabowski is short on money and even shorter on patience—until a shady pharmacist makes him a dangerous offer. Will he survive his first descent into criminality—or will it destroy his life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.A. Jernay
• Release date: Sep 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536580273

J.A. Jernay

After leaving the foreign desk of the Washington Post, J.A. Jernay travelled across North and South America for nearly twelve months in search of adventure. A finalist in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Centennial Short Story Contest, Jernay has a keen eye for detail and a deep interest in foreign languages, local traditions, and, of course, gemstones.

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It’s Prohibition-era Detroit. With a family to feed, Edmund Grabowski is short on money and even shorter on patience—until a shady pharmacist makes him a dangerous offer. Will he survive his first descent into criminality—or will it destroy his life?

The Bootleggers

J.A. Jernay

DETROIT, 1932

When Edmund Grabowski learned that his wife was pregnant for a fifth time, he grew very, very quiet.

Say something, said Millie.

No.

Then sit down for dinner.

I’m angry.

Just have dinner. We’ll talk about it.

He sat down at the bare table. His four other daughters were already arranged around the table. Each had a bowl and a spoon. Outside the window, a light snow was falling. The radiator hissed and clanked.

Millie carried a heavy iron pot from the kitchen and placed it in the middle of the table. Edmund looked inside.

Cabbage soup, he said.

I can’t buy the city chicken until it goes on sale.

When does it go on sale?

Wednesday.

I don’t have money until Friday.

She said nothing to that. Edmund looked at the faces of his four daughters as his wife served the cabbage soup. They were slurping, the faces staring down into their bowls.

My bowl is cracked, one whispered to