Johnny Paradise

By Robert Bernardo

Little Johnny had been painted at birthhis portrait hung to dry on the wall of a perfect stranger. It would be thirteen years later that Johnny, by virtue of his poor choices and deceitful ways, would be united with the man who would be a stranger no more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 28, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449082413

Robert Bernardo

Visit www.robertbernardobooks.com for information about the author.

Book preview

Johnny Paradise

Robert Bernardo

missing image file

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 Robert Bernardo. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 1/25/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4490-8241-3 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4490-8239-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4490-8240-6 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010912809

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter One: The Big Splash

Chapter Two: The Teacher’s Pet

Chapter Three: The Tangled Web

Chapter Four: The Moment of Truth

Chapter Five: When Worlds Collide

Chapter Six: The Life of a Mom

Chapter Seven: The Interrogation

Chapter Eight: Day in Court

Chapter Nine: The Lost Weekend

Chapter Ten: Catch Me if You Can

Chapter Eleven: Soup’s On

Chapter Twelve: Play Ball

Chapter Thirteen: Paoli

Chapter Fourteen: Back to the Future

Chapter Fifteen: The Face of Evil

Chapter Sixteen: A Cold Day in Hell

Chapter Seventeen: Return from the Light

Chapter Eighteen: Journey’s End

Chapter Nineteen: Moving into the Future

Chapter Twenty: The Pardon

Epilogue

Questions and Topics for Discussion

Excerpt from: Wisdom of the Ages

CHAPTER ONE: Schools Out

Author’s note about Attention Deficit Disorder

ADD or ADHD affects millions of people, both young and old. Like the main character in this story, I have it, and I have even passed it on to my children—a legacy that they can surely do without. I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, although I have fifty-five years of experience dealing with the affliction. In short, it hinders the ability to focus and stay on task. Case in point, it took me five years to write this book when it should have taken five months. So, ADD can be a hindrance, but not a showstopper. You can still accomplish anything you want to in life. You just have to be willing to persevere, (even when it feels like you’re stuck in mud) until you have achieved your goal. For me, this book is living proof that it can be done. Just follow your dreams and let no excuse stand in your way.

Control your fate or somebody else will.

—Heinrich von Pierer

Chapter One: The Big Splash

As fate would have it, Johnny Bishop’s life was forever changed on May 18, 1969. He was just thirteen at the time. A troublemaker living on the edge, until a seemingly harmless act tipped the scales against him for the very last time. Destiny called when Tom Ramsey, the new kid on the block, decided to take his bike out for a spin. The chunky little twelve-year old was looking forward to making new friends while enjoying what was left of the late afternoon sun.

Meanwhile, Johnny—a mere nine houses away—had just made it home with his buddy, Rudy, after taking part in a killer street fight. Water balloons and water pistols were the weapons of choice with as many as fifteen battle-tested warriors coming in from blocks away to join the fight. It had left many of them soaked down to their Fruit of the Looms.

Tired, damp, and hungry, they were ready to call it quits for the day when Rudy looked out of Johnny’s second-story bedroom window and spotted Tom peddling slowly along the tree-lined sidewalk—his beefy frame perched high atop his shiny purple machine. Oh, sweet, Rudy said. Here comes that new kid riding this way. Rudy sounded like he had just caught his second wind.

Oh really, Johnny replied, noticing that there were still two large water balloons in a metal pail on the floor—leftovers from the surprise attacks they had launched earlier. Before he knew it, Johnny had balloon in hand and was waiting patiently by the window for the new kid to come into range—thinking that it was good to have Rudy back in the fold again, if only for the day. Two years his senior, his longtime friend had a girlfriend now, which unfortunately meant less time for fun and games. The tall, silent type, Rudy Stoval had a couple of inches on his younger neighbor, standing six feet tall with sandy blond hair, brown eyes, and a seemingly permanent tan. Johnny—on the other hand—had long black hair, hazel eyes, and a fair-skinned mug that tended to burn in the summer months.

Get ready, said Rudy. It’s almost time to welcome this guy into the neighborhood.

I’m ready when you are, Johnny responded.

Often, it’s the anticipation that gets you the most. The gunslingers were about to come out of their damp jeans waiting for this poor little unsuspecting soul to make his way down the block, fearful that he might turn off at the last second. But no, Tom did not disappoint; he rode slowly and steadily in front of Johnny’s house, looking like a bumblebee with his yellow and black striped shirt. All that was missing was a target on his back.

FIRE! Rudy said.

They watched through the open window as Tom turned his head at the very last second. He made brief eye contact with them before locking in on the two water balloons wobbling his way. It seemed to be happening in slow motion as Tom ducked to miss one of the balloons, only to be hit squarely in the side of the head by the other.

The explosion of water sent Tom reeling out of control, still holding on to the handle bar with one shaky hand, the other flailing up in the air—reminiscent of a bull rider holding on for dear life. But Tom didn’t hold on; instead, he somersaulted over the back of his purple machine and landed face down on the lawn between the sidewalk and the curb.

I think I nailed him! Rudy boasted.

No way! I got him! Johnny countered.

The two argued back and forth for a moment, both wanting to take credit for the best shot of the day. Then they turned their attention back toward Tom.

He doesn’t seem to be moving yet, Rudy observed.

I hope he’s not planning on dying out there, Johnny laughed, fully expecting Tom to snap out of it and be on his way. But minutes later, Tom still hadn’t moved.

Now what? Rudy snapped, with a disgusted look on his face.

I don’t know, but we can’t leave him like that, Johnny replied, looking up and down what was normally a busy block with kids playing in the street and people working in their yards. But all was quiet; it was the dinner hour.

Maybe you should go down and check on him, Rudy suggested.

Yeah, maybe you should come with me. At the very least you can help me move him away from the front of my house. Johnny tried to make light of the situation.

As they deliberated a course of action, Tom finally began to show signs of life. Relieved, they headed for the cool comfort of Johnny’s basement. Taking down a bag of chips and two cold sodas, the boys parked themselves in front of the television set where they began to immerse themselves in The Adventures of Superman. They were snug as two bugs on the basement couch, convinced that Tom had recovered nicely from his wounds, when they heard the pitter-patter of little feet racing down the stairs at break-neck speed.

Slow down! Johnny said, as his siblings, Emily and David came running over with Stormy, the family German shepherd, following close behind. The twins were seven-year-old miniatures of their parents—Emily with fair skin, blue eyes, and wavy blonde hair like their mother, and David with a dark complexion like their father.

Johnny, Johnny, there’s people in front of our house! David said.

Yeah, someone got hurt bad, Emily announced with controlled excitement, as if anchoring the breaking news of the day.

Rudy gasped, turning to meet Johnny’s wide-eyed stare.

Who got hurt? Johnny asked, thinking that Tom should have been long gone by now.

I don’t know, but there’s a bunch of people out there, Emily replied.

Yeah, maybe fifty or a hundred of ’em! David said.

No way, Rudy snapped.

Did you see Tom riding around? You know, that new kid from up the block? Johnny asked.

I don’t know, but I heard the police was comin’, Emily replied.

Yeah, an ambulance too! David added.

Jumping up to his feet and stretching with fingers clasped high in the air, offering up a fake yawn for good measure, Rudy said, I think it’s time to go home now.

Johnny jumped up, too. No way, Rudy! You’re not bailing on me now!

I can’t wait to tell mom! Emily said, bright eyed and beaming.

Yeah, we need to go tell her, David agreed.

Hold on you two, Johnny said. "Let me check this out first. Here, take these chips, and watch a little Superman."

But, but, Johnny… I wanna go tell mom! Emily pouted.

Bouncing up and down, David said, Me too! Me too!

Just take a seat here on the couch. Listen, I’m your older brother and I know what’s best. So wait here until I get back.

But, but, but… Emily begged.

Pointing to the couch, Johnny snapped, But nothing. Plop your butts down here now.

Bully! Emily responded.

Heading for the stairs with Rudy right behind him, Johnny stopped and glared back at the twins in a threatening manner, trying to spark a little fear in them. He waved his fist around like he might really use it on them. You two better be here when I get back, or else! he said.

Okay, now what smart guy? Rudy asked.

Hey, don’t cop an attitude with me. It was your idea to blast the kid.

Yeah, whatever, Rudy replied.

Johnny could feel Rudy’s hot breath against the back of his neck as they quietly made their way out the side screen door. Dusk had set in, turning the hazy blue sky a silvery gray. Staying close to the hedges on the garage side of the house, they inched their way toward the chain-link fence to sneak a peek out front.

Peering out, Johnny’s heart began to race as he saw Tom sitting up next to his bike, surrounded by a handful of adults and a dozen or so kids milling about. There was a bloodstained white towel hanging from Tom’s nose as his mother crouched down next to him. To make matters worse, Johnny saw his own mother race out the front door and toward the crowd, closely followed by a skipping Emily and a bouncing David.

I swear I’m going to kill those two, Johnny muttered—as if that really mattered at this point.

Now what? Rudy asked.

Before Johnny could answer, he heard a siren off in the distance, no doubt winding its way toward his house. Then a lawn mower suddenly kicked in around back. Johnny’s father was at it again, trying to work his magic on the yard. It would be just a matter of time before he came around the corner and caught them red-handed, hiding by the side of the house.

Now what? Rudy asked again, sounding anxious.

Johnny’s mind was spinning; face the mower and deal with his hot-tempered father, who could also be a cuddly teddy bear at times, or take a chance out front with that ever-growing crowd.

Let’s go mingle, he replied.

I’m not so sure about this. Rudy’s voice cracked.

Just act innocent. We were in the basement the whole time, Johnny whispered, drawing upon his vast experience at covering his tracks in a pinch.

The crowd around Tom had grown to about ten or so adults and a couple of blocks worth of kids, many circling around on their bikes like vultures waiting for the victim to take his last breath. And then the ambulance pulled up. Undeterred, the boys were about to worm their way into the mix when a police cruiser came around the corner, causing them to stop dead in their tracks.

A monotone female voice belted out some address over the loudspeaker of the police radio. Ten-four. Came an equally monotone male response. Before long it seemed like the entire town had made its way to the scene, as red and blue lights flashed and reflected off everyone and everything in the fading light. There they stood—amazed at the circus that was unfolding before their eyes—definitely a disaster in the making.

Holy crap, Rudy muttered, to which Johnny nodded in agreement. Now what? he added.

I don’t know, Rudy. Just act normal I guess.

What’s all this? Came a deep rumbling voice from behind.

Dad! Johnny shrieked.

What’s going on here? his father asked.

I don’t know… Rudy and I just came up from the basement.

Looks like that new kid got hurt, Mr. Bishop. Rudy managed to say.

Without saying another word, Brad Bishop moved toward the group of adults that surrounded Tom.

That was easy enough, Rudy said.

Yeah, no problem, Johnny replied, thanking his lucky stars.

Okay, I’m ready to start mingling now, Rudy said, sounding more confident.

Taking a deep breath, Johnny replied, Yeah, okay.

Just then, Tom was lifted onto a stretcher, waving to the crowd with a free hand as everyone cheered him on. Relieved to see him alive and well, Johnny wondered if this was the new kid’s fifteen minutes of fame—meeting the entire neighborhood in one fell swoop—courtesy of Rudy and himself. Rudy, by the way, seemed to be hitting his stride, feverishly working the crowd like a seasoned politician running for office.

Johnny watched as Tom’s mother, Betty Ramsey, thanked the gathering before disappearing into the ambulance with her son. Meanwhile, Mr. Ramsey began to walk Tom’s dirty, mangled purple machine up the block. So much for the cool bike, Johnny thought, feeling guilty as he continued to mingle about, wondering if his alibi would hold up.

With the victim now safely out of the way, Officer Rose was ready to complete his accident report before returning to the station. His shift was coming to an end, and he didn’t see any reason to make this any more complicated than necessary: Just a kid who was going too fast and lost control of his bike… happens all the time. In his twenty-plus years on the force, Officer Rose had answered more bicycle-related calls than he cared to remember. Just part of the job, he would often tell the rookies who were anxious to see some real action, which was sometimes hard to come by in the family-oriented township of Saddle Brook, New Jersey.

Did anyone see what happened here? the officer asked. His shiny bald head and long, yet rounded body reminded Johnny of Humpty-Dumpty on stilts—towering above the adults that remained at the scene.

The gunslingers were relieved to see everyone look at each other with puzzled faces, shrugging and shaking their heads in unison, as if to say: No officer, we didn’t see a thing. After an exchange of some small talk, Officer Rose was ready to call it a day. Thank you all for coming out, he said, before turning toward his police car.

Rudy looked at Johnny and smiled. Looks like we dodged a bullet, he said.

Yeah, I knew things would work out, Johnny replied. His fingers crossed behind his back.

Then they spotted Mitch Freeman and Billy Kolecka—two dark-haired neighborhood buds, tossing a football around up the street. The gunslingers thought it best to go join them and put a little distance between them, and the people still hanging around in front of Johnny’s house.

What’s up? Mitch shouted in their direction, after lofting a deep wobbly pass toward a running Billy. The ball landed just out of reach—bouncing off the asphalt a couple of times—almost hitting the police car, which was still parked at the scene of the crime.

Nice throw, Johnny said, thinking that Mitch should have had a little more arc on the ball.

Hey, looks like that new kid crashed and burned, Mitch said.

Yeah, too bad about that, Johnny responded matter-of-factly.

Funny how it happened in front of your house, Mitch grinned.

Yeah, funny, huh, Johnny agreed, wanting to keep his classmate in the dark, while Rudy stood by and said nothing—he was the tall, silent type.

Pointing at Johnny’s bedroom window, Mitch said, Seems like he was positioned perfectly to take a hit from that hornet’s nest you had up there.

Putting on an act—Johnny gestured back to what was left of the block party in his front yard, You think we’re the cause of all this? he replied, incredulously.

Well, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me? Mitch and Johnny stood toe to toe, looking deep into each other’s eyes, neither one flinching a muscle. Johnny was fighting to keep a straight face, trying to hold out to be the last one standing.

All right, we nailed him already, Rudy blurted.

I knew it! I knew it! You still had balloons left, Mitch laughed.

Yeah, we took him out with our last two big ones, Johnny responded proudly, getting caught up in the moment. But still, he was worried about Tom.

So… so… so… I see you guys are t-t-t-taking credit for that h-h-hit! Billy stuttered, returning to the makeshift huddle with the football, after missing that last pass. Billy was not the greatest communicator in the world, but he could sure play football and had made the high-school varsity team in his freshman year.

Yeah, Johnny got him good, Rudy said.

No way, Rudy. You’re the one who nailed him.

Okay, w-w-whatever… let’s p-p-play before it gets t-t-too dark to see the ball, Billy said, ready to go deep once again.

Meanwhile, there was a knock on the window of the police car. Officer Rose, who had been putting the final touches on his police report looked over and saw the tops of two little busybody heads. Smiling, he rolled down the window and leaned out…

Having the better arm, Johnny took over as quarterback. Rolling to his right, he looked to hit Mitch with a short pass—when out of the corner of his eye—he saw the police cruiser start to move up the block, slowly heading toward him. This caused an immediate stoppage in play. The four boys were all smiles when the police car pulled over alongside them.

Sticking his head out the window of the car, Officer Rose asked, You gentlemen didn’t see what happened to that young man, now did you?

The four boys looked at each other with exaggerated puzzled looks on their faces until, after an awkward delay, Mitch broke the silence. I heard the kid fell off his bike. That’s all I know, Officer. And with that the floodgates opened, and they all began to chime in, feeding off Mitch’s lead.

Officer Rose nodded, looking satisfied with their responses. Well, I guess that about raps it up then, he said—to which they happily agreed.

Then, dangling a