The Sequel of Thank You Jesus

By Anne McNicholas

Anne McNicholas recounts in the "Sequel" to "Thank you Jesus" her characters lives and "Hi-Jinx" in this world of make believe. Sissi, that adorable Monkey and her dog friends Bozo and Brute are still giving Mario Burko from Chicago's "Back of the Yards" neighborhood a hard time. The Sequel is Hillarious, Inspirational and Educational. A Novel you will remember!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481710213

Anne McNicholas

Anne McNicholas, was born in a small town in southern Illinois in the year 1923, the daughter of Lydian Faith Kuse and Anton Kusavicius, a Russian immigrant and a subject of the Czar of Russia, whose parents were killed in the 1917 Russian Revolution. Anton was able to escape capture and flee to the United States, “Memoirs”, her first novel was so well received that she decided to carry on her love of writing and had her second novel “Thank you Jesus” published at the age of 89, it is a novel in which she introduces her characters in a humorous tale of whirlwind fantasy, characters are live people and others are fictictional, you’ll fall in love with her characters especially Sissi a monkey, who is constantly causing trouble for her owner Mario, who is from Chicago’s back of the yard neighborhood. She’s a thief but smart enough not to get caught, Bozo is a beagle hound and Sissi’s partner in crime. Sissi drives a Porsche, and cruises the streets with her friends. “Skippy, a friendly Camel has revolutionized the mode of travel in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. “The Sequel” is a continuation of hilarious happenings in Chicago, Illinois, and Acapulco, Mexico. “The Sequel is humorous, informative and educational.

Book preview

Chapter 1

MARIO WAS HAVING LUNCH WHEN HE SAW THE ENVELOPE TAPED TO THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR, HE OPENED THE FLAP AND THERE WAS A LETTER WRITTEN ON ROSA’S GOLD EMBOSSED STATIONERY.

Dear Mario: Take care of the kid’s I’m off to Italy with the BoDiddley Rock Group, you remember how I loved their records, well now I love him! I’ve taken the liberty of withdrawing money from our joint account; most of the money is mine anyway because of your shitty job with the city. Tell the kid’s their mother’s sorry she’s leaving them behind but BoDiddley can’t stand kids. I’m not sorry I’m leaving you Mario, you useless piece of crap, I don’t know why I ever married you. P.S. All of my BoDiddley records are in the family room play them and think of me, Rosa. Mario grabbed the table with both hands, he was shaking like a leaf… he called Picasso, Can ya cum over, I need ya. Mary I’ve got to go, Papa just called and something’s wrong, he sounds sick. Picasso walked in the house and found Mario on the kitchen floor, he called 911 and followed the ambulance to Holy Cross hospital, the nurse stopped Picasso from coming into the emergency room cubicle and told him, no visitors until the doctor sees him. When Picasso read the letter he cried, asking himself how his mom could leave his twin brothers, Sammie and Billy, they were only seven years old and needed their mother, he called Mary, his wife, Mary go over to St. Pat’s and pick up the twins from school, they’re going to be staying with us until Papa gets out of the hospital, I’ll explain everything to you when I get home. Mario was being wheeled from one examining room to another… it was several hours before the nurse called Picasso into the emergency room, the Cardiologist wanted to talk with him. Son can you tell me what happened to your father, it seems he’s had a terrible shock, right now his vitals are stable but that could change, we’d like to keep him here for a few days and watch him, I may order a Psychiatric test, he keeps mumbling something… maybe you can figure out what he’s saying.

Picasso leaned over the bed and listened… yes, he was saying, dat somnabitch, BoDiddley.

Chapter 2

MARIO WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TEN DAYS, THE ONLY THING THE DOCTORS COULD FIND WRONG WAS A NERVOUS TIC. One doctor said he could cure it with acupuncture but Mario told him to get lost, nobody was going to be sticking him with little needles.

Ritchie Daley had come to visit Mario in the hospital and broke the news that he was being laid off temporarily but when the City Council passes the increase in taxes, he was sure Mario would be called back. When Mario told his friends at the social club that he was laid off because of the economy they commiserated with him, Louie the bartender said, Hey don’t worry you can always come to work for me as a Bouncer," we usually have a couple of good fights a night. That didn’t go over too well with Mario, and then Gussie the Numbers" guy piped up and said, Yeah and he could do some running work for me.

Mario just gave Gussie a dirty look and after playing a few hands of poker and losing he decided to call it a night. On the way home he bought a Tribune so he could check out the Help Wanted Ads.

Sissi was smart, she knew something was going on because Mario was home all the time and he wasn’t smoking those expensive Cuban cigars. This afternoon Sissi and Bozo had a run-in with the meter reader guy from the gas company, he kicked at Bozo because he was barking, so Bozo grabbed him by the pant legs and wouldn’t let go… when the man finally pulled away he lost his balance and fell down the basement stairs, cussing a blue streak. When Mario got home he sat down on the sofa and rifled through the paper until he found the Help Wanted Ads. He was about to give up when he found an ad that sounded interesting. WANTED: Man to work with animals, call 1-800-675-8989. Hmm, dat sounds like sumting I cud handle… he dialed the number.

Hello, Brookfield Zoo, how may I direct your call, this is Miss Calico speaking. "Yeah, dis is Mario Burko, I’m anserin your ad in da Trib, I’m interested in settin up a Preview for da job! Okay Miss, whatever you call it, dat’s wat I want."

Chapter 3

MISS CALICO YELLED TO HER SUPERVISOR, HEY BOSS, I THINK WE GOT A LIVE ONE, WHEN CAN YOU SEE HIM? Tell him to come right away, my arms are killing me and I just started, I’ve got that appointment with the Vet at two o’clock so I’ll be able to spend some time with the guy before we feed the lions. Hello Mr. Burko, can you be here by noon, asked Miss Calico? Mario called Picasso, Lissen kid, yure old man mite hav a job… wear… da Brookfield Zoo, I gotta be dere by noon… dat’s twelve o’clock isn’t it? Yes Papa, good luck, you better get going, don’t be late and don’t worry about Billy and Sam, I’ll pick them up from school, replied Picasso.

Mario decided to use the green and white Cadillac; he didn’t want them to think he needed the job, his daddy always told him to act like a big shot. (Mario didn’t know that if he couldn’t hear thunder and see lightning they’d still hire him.)

When Miss Calico heard him coming she laughed and called Mr. Whipple, I think our pigeon is here, his car needs a new muffler and it looks like someone did a lousy paint job on it… its green and white.

Mario walked into the office looking like a king, he was wearing one of his Calvin Klein suits and a pure silk Hermes tie and Italian loafer shoes. Miss Calico was all smiles, she fluffed up her hair and took off her glasses… oh my God she thought, what a hunk, this was a Man, not like Mr. Whipple with his beer belly and bad breath. But Mario was all business and women were the least of his worries. Mr. Whipple came running and when he looked at Mario he thought this guy definitely has the muscles to scoop the poop from the cages, but what’s with the suit, did he think he was going to a party? Miss Calico should have told him to wear work clothes and heavy shoes, but what the hell; the guy that just quit might have left something in the locker.

Mr. Whipple shook Mario’s hand and welcomed him aboard, he told him the job paid $25.00 an hour and all the peanuts and popcorn he could eat, and then he took him to the locker room where he found some rubber boots and overalls. Follow me; I’ll take you to the Lion’s den, Mr. Burko.

Chapter 4

MARIO OVER HERE SAID MR. WHIPPLE, TAKE THE WHEELBARROW AND SHOVEL AND THEN HOP IN THE CAGE, no you don’t have to be afraid, watch what I do. At that point Mr. Whipple put out his hand and wiped the foam from Old Glory’s mouth. (she had no teeth.) Take the shovel and scoop up the poop, put it in the wheelbarrow and haul it down to the dumpster, said Mr. Whipple. Okay boss but I don’t tink I’m brave enuff to do wat you just did wit dat Lion, how far is da dumpster frum here? "Only tree blocks, dat’s not too far but why doncha move it closer to da cage . . . wudun dat be easier and we’d get dun faster, asked Mario?" Mr. Whipple was aggravated that Mario was giving him back-talk and making suggestions his first hour on the job but he’d zip up his mouth because the last guy who asked that question quit.

Meanwhile back at the ranch in Oak Forest John Herman was also checking the Help Wanted Ads, his city hall job had also been terminated. Carlotta was determined to live in Old Town near her brother Julius and she told John there was an apartment for rent in his neighborhood right across the street from White Castles, maybe John could put in an application and if they hired him he could walk to work and save on gas money. John wasn’t too anxious to go back to work; he had a little money stashed away in the Cayman Islands that Carlotta didn’t know about.

Picasso was "Mister Mom" and didn’t have to work so he decided to ride out to the Zoo to check on Papa, he also picked up Sissi and Bozo, they loved to ride in his car which was a big Hummer. Brookfield Zoo was big; the entrance sign said there were four hundred and fifty animal dens. Picasso stopped at the main office where Miss Calico sat tending to business, she looked the group over for a while and said, Oh my goodness are all these kids yours? Yes all except the monkey and the dog, answered Picasso.

Miss Calico giggled and suggested they use one of the larger carts to haul themselves around. When Picasso told her he was looking for Mario her demeanor changed and she said, I know exactly where he is, come with me I’ll take you there, he’s working in the Lion’s dens."

Chapter 5

MR. WHIPPLE DIDN’T TAKE MARIO’S ADVICE TO MOVE THE DUMPSTER CLOSER TO THE DEN, his ego was as big as his head and he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer but "he was the boss thanks to his father’s big donations."

Mario was drained, maybe he could talk to Miss Calico and tell her he couldn’t haul crap all day, maybe there was an easier job like feeding banana’s to the chimps or tossing fish to the dolphins or peanuts to the ducks otherwise he was quitting… maybe he should stay home and collect unemployment, he wondered if he could list Sissi and Bozo as dependents.

He looked at his Rolex watch, it was four o’clock almost quitting time, he slumped down on a bench near the dumpster and wondered why Picasso hadn’t come out to see how he was doing, he wanted to show Sissi the monkeys, maybe she’d find a boyfriend, wouldn’t that be something.

He dozed a bit and then heard kids voices, he looked up and there was the whole gang, Papa, Papa yelled Sammie and Billy, take us to see the tigers, Grandpa, we want to see the zebra’s shouted Picasso’s brood.

Mario was surprised to see Miss Calico but there she was blinking her eyes and showing off her pearly white teeth, she jumped off the cart and sat on the bench next to Mario.

Picasso yelled, Mario turn off da motor on da cart, ya no ya can’t trust err not to take off… derr she goes, my boss is gonna have a shit fit. Oh to be sure answered Miss Calico, we better catch them before they get to the lake, the polar bear is in heat and is mean as a wet hen.

But it was too late, Sissi was used to cruising the streets and she kept going, then she bounced over the guard rail and into the water, Picasso jumped in the frigid water and grabbed Sissi who was screeching like a banshee… Bozo was fine he could swim, the trailer sank to the bottom of the lake… Mario knew this would be his last day of work at the Brookfield Zoo!

Chapter 6

THE NEXT DAY THE SKY WAS CLOUDY, IT HAD RAINED ABOUT FIVE IN THE MORNING WHEN BOZO WOKE MARIO TO GO OUT. Weather wise it was a typical Chicago day and it matched Mario’s mood, now Mario was not a dyed in the wool Catholic but he thought it was about time to ask God for a favor. St. Pat’s was only two blocks from his home and when he walked into church, the six o’clock Mass was just ending he looked around and saw his friend Gussie crossing himself twice. Mario thought Gussie was asking for something too but then he remembered Gussie was usually there waiting for the priests to come and pick their numbers and bring them their winnings . . . if any. Mario headed for the confessionals, he saw Father Balnis go into booth number one, the aging lanky legged Father had just come over from Lithuania and Mario knew he had trouble hearing and understanding English so that’s why the number one booth appealed to Mario. Father Balnis slid open the screen and said, "Yes . . . have you sinned my child? Bless me father for I have sinned said Mario. Speak louder my son, what did you say, asked the priest? I can’t remember wat I said but I stole a pack a chewin gum frum da Jewel store yesterday, confessed Mario, den one Sunday I spent da monee my momma gave me for da collection Bisket. Did you say you got your fist cut asked Father Balnis? No but I gotta black eye and a busted knee cap in a fight one time. "You say you got a cracked eye on a flight . . . what Airline, my son, asked the good father?" Mario was aggravated so he walked out of Booth number one while Father Balnis was still talking… now only to himself. Mario walked over to St. Pat’s Rectory next door; maybe Father Gambellini could use some good help. Mario what brings you out so early, asked the priest? Then Mario told him the whole sad story about Rosa leaving, his lay off and his experience in booth number one. Father Gambellini decided he’d give Mario a job installing a loud speaker in the number one booth. Start early tomorrow morning, he told Mario and he gave him the key to get in. Mario showed up at the church at 4:00 a.m. with a hammer, a saw, a screw driver and a Micro-Chip, he had just started to work when he heard a man’s voice, Bless me father for I have sinned. Mario put down his saw and sat down and said, Yes my son, go on. Father I just robbed the Universal Bank, this is the third one this week, I hid the money in a bus storage locker, I need absolution, Father.

Chapter 7

MARIO KNEW THAT IF HE DIDN’T GIVE THE GUY AN ANSWER HE’D PROBABLY LEAVE THINKING THE PRIEST WAS A LITTLE HARD OF HEARING. Mario was also wondering how in the hell he was going to get out of the booth without letting the guy hear him. He looked around and saw that the security door was open, it was a room where the priests and altar boys changed their clothes and made preparations for the Mass. Mario stood up and quietly tip-toed out of the booth, now he was safe, he was in the sacristy, he grabbed Father Grabellini’s quart bottle of vodka and drained the few drops of liquor remaining in the bottle.

The man kneeling outside the confessional saw that the green light was on and thought the priest was still in the booth, probably deciding how much penance to give him. Parishioners were starting to come in for the seven o’clock mass and there were a couple of old ladies standing behind him, he thought that maybe he should just leave, so after five minutes of waiting he made the sign of the cross and left, walking out of the church and into the rainfall… he surmised that it was not going to be a good day for Jimmy the Ripper.

Mario was also leaving St. Pat’s but he was going out the back way and as he hurried down the fourteen rear steps he tripped over his shoestring and fell head first down the stairs and out on the sidewalk . . . he saw stars… when he opened his eyes he was looking into a face he’d seen before, but where he’d seen him he couldn’t remember!

Are you all right, the man asked, you took quite a tumble, you must be in a hurry to get somewhere? Yeah replied Mario, I gotta meet da gas man at da house before he shuts off da heat, I just finished doin sum work for da priests, dey pay ya off in Hail Mary’s so I hope I gotta nuff to pay em. When Mario tried to stand up and walk… he couldn’t.

I musta sprained my ankle, it’s a good ting I got my cell phone so I can call my son ta cum and get me. Look said the man, why don’t you let me drive you home, I can’t let you lay here on the sidewalk in this rain, believe me it would be no trouble?

Mario, let the man give you a ride, if you walk on that leg you’re going to end up in the hospital… it was Gussie the numbers man paying another visit to Father Gambellini. So Mario got a ride home in the back seat of a Lexus Escalade.

When they got to the house Sissi and Bozo were looking out the picture window, Jimmie the Ripper helped Mario get out of the car and with a little maneuvering he was able to get up the stairs, Mario invited him to come in and have a beer.

Chapter 8

AFTER WIPING OFF TABLES AND SWEEPING FLOORS IN RECORD TIME JOHN HERMAN’S BOSS WAS PLEASED, MAYBE SHE FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE WHO DIDN’T THINK WORK WAS A DIRTY WORD. She told him to go in the back room and to sit down and work on the bags. Remember, no more than three napkins per bag, said Mamie his supervisor, then she smiled and asked him if the Missus had made a breakfast for him? John then told her the whole story about the City layoffs, his house in Oak Forest and about his brother-in-law Julius making him sleep in the basement. Mamie really didn’t want to hear his tale of woe, but he was a talker and went on and on, she knew this happened to new employees, the company called them Frying Pan Blues" caused by too many gas fumes in the air.

After work John decided to drive out to the Back of the Yards neighborhood and visit his old friend Mario . . . as he parked his Jeep in front of 12720 Taylor Street he saw a man wearing a business suit coming out the front door, Sissi was sitting on his shoulder playing with his hair.

Hey Johnny boy, cum on in, wat a surprise, didja no I got hurt, yeah I gess Picasso tolja, I fell down da steps at St. Pat’s, I was putting in a device in booth one so Fadder Balnis cud hear da constituants better, said Mario. Yeah said John, the last time I was there I told him I slapped my daughter hard, he asked me why I was cooking with lard because it’s bad for the cholesterol, then he went into the list of pills he was taking, you know he talks so loud that everyone in line could hear him and they all got into a discussion about my health telling me to use peanut or olive oil, I got so damned confused that I just walked out. Incidentally who was the guy I saw leaving here with Sissi, he looked kind of familiar. "Nah, ya don’t know him, he’s da guy dat drove me home from St. Pat’s, he’s frum New York, he’s gonna be stayin for a cuppla days, he’s doin sum business wit da banks, I tink he’s one of dose Examiners.

It was a Friday night and the "Affinity Bank" was open late, Jimmy the Ripper pulled up to the front door and walked in through the revolving doors with Sissi right behind him, what happened next is another story, let me fill you in.

Chapter 9

SISSI LOVED REVOLVING DOORS, SO SHE SWUNG AROUND A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN FOLLOWED HER NEW FRIEND, Jimmy the Ripper to the bank tellers window, he handed her a note… suddenly everything was up for grabs, whistles were blowing, bells were ringing and the hefty security guard slumped to the floor, Sissi turned around and ran like hell out of the bank and back into the Lexus Escalade, the car door had been left ajar and the motor was idling so she jumped into the driver’s seat and stepped on the gas. Sissi sensed that she had to get the heck out of there, a Squad was parked alongside the Escalade that was blocking the exit, so she decided she would ram the side of the Squad and squeeze through. Barroom, Barroom, she rammed the Squad and went spinning down the street on two wheels, past the police car. one of the cops in the car yelled, Holy shit Joe, did you see who was driving that car? Yeah but the Captain aint gonna believe us, he’ll think we were tipping the bottle again replied Joe, let’s get this pile of tin moving. Sissi weaved in and out of traffic and decided to take the back streets, she felt sorry that she couldn’t wait for Jimmy, but what else could she do? Back home Jimmy the Ripper was sitting in the kitchen eating pork and beans while John and Mario were in the living room watching television. Hey little lady said Jimmy, who taught you to drive, I looked for you and couldn’t find you so I hailed a cab . . . here sit down and have some pork and beans. No, no don’t feed da monkey any beans cause wen she eats um she lets um fly like steam engines puffin up a hill. John Herman went ballistic with laughter. Mario turned up the volume on the TV, his favorite program Most Wanted was coming on. You guy’s be quiet out dare, Bozo you kin wate to go out, it aint gonna hurt you to hold it. That’s okay Mario, I’ll take him out, I need a little fresh air anyway, said Jimmy. Yeah thought Jimmy, I need more than fresh air, I’d better get my money and get out of Dodge because sure as hell my frigging picture is going to be plastered all over that damn television screen. When Jimmy got to the Greyhound Bus Station he sauntered in like he owned the place, he looked for his wallet, he had it this morning but where in the hell was it now? Jimmy ran out of the bus station and was driving home at record speed. "Oh crap he said to himself, just what I need is another flat foot following me but sure enough when the officer blew the siren, Jimmy pulled over.

Chapter 10

SARGENT PATRICK O’MALLEY GOT OUT OF THE SQUAD AND WALKED UP TO THE ESCALADE, HE WANTED TO GET THIS OVER WITH, he had a hot dinner date and wanted to get home. Jimmy the Ripper was shaking in his boots wondering what was going to happen when this cop found out he doesn’t have a license. "Looks like you have a heavy foot, growled O’Malley, okay let’s see your license, I see you’re from New York, I hate New York, my ex-wife lives there. Yeah answered Jimmy, that’s why I’m moving to Chicago. O’Malley’s ears perked up, he has a house for sale in Wrigleyville and it’s been on the market for six months with no lookers, maybe this guy will be the answer to his prayers. Where have you been looking, asked the cop.? I haven’t answered Jimmy, I just got here, I don’t know anything about Chicago. Well I think this is your lucky day, it just happens that I have a place to dump. Jimmy laughed and thought to himself maybe I can get out of this mess after all. Do you think I could see it now, asked Jimmy, I don’t have much time. Officer O’Malley threw his ticket book back in the squad and said, Follow Me. Wow, that was a close one chuckled Jimmy as he followed O’Malley to a stucco house with a For Sale sign on the front lawn. Come on in, I’ll show you around, said O’Malley. Jimmy followed him, Gee this is nice and everything is so clean, they went through the house and then he asked How much are you asking… two hundred, you got a deal, it’ll be a cash sale, meet me at the Unity Bank tomorrow, I’ll give you a cashier’s check, listen I got to run. Sargent O’Malley shook Jimmy’s hand and said, Oh yeah, I forgot about the ticket but that’s okay, just be careful and I’ll see you at Unity at noon. After he left O’Malley kept thinking to himself, I’ve seen that guy before. John Herman and Mario Burko were scared to death, the last segment of Most Wanted was on and it dealt with the recent bank robberies in Chicago, the guy that they were looking for was staying at Mario’s house. Mario called Picasso and Sargent O’Malley suddenly remembered where he’d seen the Ripper he called his Captain. Mario answered a knock at the back door and in walked six of Chicago’s Finest, it was a Swat team and they were shouting orders, Get in the bedroom, lock the door, then get under the bed, if this guy has a gun you damn well know he’ll be using it."

Chapter 11

IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT FOR MARIO AND JOHN HERMAN BUT THEY DID WHAT THE POLICE TOLD THEM, it wasn’t easy for Mario, his ankle was killing him and he had trouble getting under the bed but with a couple of pushes by John… he made it.

Sissi knew something was wrong, she opened the door and peeked out… when she saw the cops she freaked out, she grabbed Jimmy’s wallet and put it in the pocket of her little dress and then climbed under the bed… the cats were already there and so was Bozo. The house was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, the Swat team was waiting for Jimmy, but Jimmy was too smart, he was headed back home to safer territory… New York. Jim figured that he’d come back in a few days and search Mario’s house for his wallet, he thought he probably left it somewhere in his room, but he’d find it.

After an hour the Chief of Police yelled for them to come out, We’re leaving, that Ripper guy must have smelled a rat, he knew you guys would call the police, so if he comes back don’t open the door for God’s sake because he’ll shoot you. Don’t worry Chief we no better den dat.

John turned the television back on just in time to hear a News Flash by Walter Jacobson: Ladies and Gentlemen a call just came into the Station that the Chicago bank robber Jimmy the Ripper" has been apprehended by police. He was shot by a Swat team at the home of Mario Burko located at 12720 South Taylor Street, tune in on