I Wanna Get Next to You, the Loving Story of Miss Nonni & Courtney

By B.L Wilson

In the eleventh novel of the Forever Woman series, I Wanna Get Next To You: the loving story of Miss Nonni & Courtney, Miss Nonni meets Courtney aka Corky while babysitting Percy and MB’s new baby. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, but not everyone approves of this budding romance, least of all Maria, Miss Nonni’s granddaughter.

Corky is hesitant to become involved with Miss Nonni, not because of their age difference, but because Maria is so against her grandmother becoming involved with an obvious playgirl. This infuriates Miss Nonni, who has to point out that she is a grown woman!

Things come to a head between Maria and Corky, and, sadly, Miss Nonni is forced to take sides. Will Miss Nonni have to choose between family, and love and marriage, or can Corky smooth things over?

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.L Wilson
• Release date: Jun 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005533809

B.L Wilson

B.L. has always been in love with books and the words in them. She never thought she could create something with the words she knew. When she read ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird,’ she realized everyday experiences could be written about in a powerful, memorable way. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with that knowledge so she kept on reading.Walter Mosley’s short stories about Easy Rawlins and his friends encouraged BL to start writing in earnest. She felt she had a story to tell...maybe several of them. She’d always kept a diary of some sort, scraps of paper, pocketsize, notepads, blank backs of agency forms, or in the margins of books. It was her habit to make these little notes to herself. She thought someday she’d make them into a book.She wrote a workplace memoir based on the people she met during her 20 years as a property manager of city-owned buildings. Writing the memoir, led her to consider writing books that were not job-related. Once again, she did...producing romance novels with African American lesbians as main characters. She wrote the novels because she couldn’t find stories that matched who she wanted to read about ...over forty, African American and female.

Book preview

Prologue: Who is Courtney Osbourne?

Behind the tall, castle-like structure of beige and dark orange bricks with its tall stately and decorative black wrought-iron gates was a beautiful flower and vegetable garden. The gardens were tended by the nuns and the children who lived in the orphanage and those who attended the school behind Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church.

The orphanage was in a separate three-story beige and orange brick building. Next to orphanage was the nunnery. It looked identical to the orphanage, but it was only two stories instead of three. Behind the nunnery was the playground, which meant the children had to go through the church’s walkway and then the nunnery’s walkway before they reached the playground. All the walkways were made of large flat cobblestones where grass and weeds sometimes grew between the stones.

The nuns and priests lined up every afternoon to inspect the children. They removed the children who had marks against them for bad behavior and kept them inside the church to clean the bathrooms and other areas or they worked outside in the gardens. Or they were assigned the one chore everybody, including the nuns, hated. They had to remove the weeds and grass that grew between the cobblestones.

On the school’s playground, four or five thirteen-year-old boys were gathered together watching a twelve-year-old girl on the swings. She was a rarity. She was a mixture of Native American, Hispanic, Black, and Irish born into a mostly Irish neighborhood with a little bit of Poland mixed in. She stayed mostly to herself during school and after school. She wasn’t unfriendly; she just didn’t seem to talk much to girls or boys her own age.

The five boys had formed a mini gang, which the nuns and priests were monitoring. The boys did everything together. They ate together. They played together in the play areas. They were in the same classes. They hung together before school started and walked home together in the afternoon. They lived in a five-mile radius and visited each other’s houses as well.

This afternoon, the boys were angry at the girl with the basketball in her hands.

Who does the bitch think she is? Always taking the good balls when we want ‘em. One of the three blond-haired boys pointed to the bronze-skinned girl with the long black braids on the playground. He watched her making successful jump shot after jump shot. She pumped her legs and feet like crazy. Her legs left the ground and seemed to fly high in the sky as she made another successful basket.

We never get to use the good basketballs ‘cause the Black bitch always hogging the best one, a dark-haired boy with ivory skin and brown eyes whined.

A redheaded boy with freckles and green eyes watched her jump higher and higher until she almost looked like a bird flying high in the afternoon sky to make the last jumpshot. We should tell Sister Isabelle about her. She’ll make her share.

Joseph O’Reilly, another boy with ivory skin, blond hair, and gray eyes, quietly watched the girl named Courtney Osborne pump her legs and feet really hard. He remembered when he tried kissing her in the music room. He waited until the music teacher and everybody else had left before he approached her. He knew she liked to practice on the flute the school loaned her, which was why she stayed later. The flute was so much better than the cheap recorder she had packed away in her backpack.

He noticed how she was really into playing her flute. He decided this was a good time to try for a kiss. He snuck up behind her and tried to kiss her neck. Surprised, she shoved him away. When he tried kiss her mouth, she socked his belly. When he tried a third time, she kneed him in the balls then left quickly. She must not have told anybody because nobody came after him. She avoided him from that day on. She still played the recorder and the flute, but she never stayed late in the music room again.

Nah, we don’t say nothing. We slice the net and stab all the balls so she can’t use ‘em no more. Maybe the basketball net and basketballs just wore out like old shoes do.

Joseph wanted to try kissing her again. His big brother teased him about her, saying he should try for more than kiss this time. His brother said since the girl didn’t tell anybody, she must like what he did. His brother said do more whenever she gave him another opportunity. He kept thinking about what he wanted to do to her if he got another chance.

An opportunity came knocking when the music teacher invited his best five students to practice for a solo performance. Joseph played the trumpet, another boy played the drums, two girls played the violin, Courtney played flute and recorder. Everybody showed up for the practice sessions but one. The music teacher asked Joseph to tell everybody he was running late. He made sure to tell everybody but Courtney the bad news.

Courtney found the music room’s door unlocked and the lights on. She could hear the trumpet solo when she stepped inside. While she didn’t see the other members of the team, she wasn’t worried or suspicious. They were often a few minutes late, as was their teacher. She walked over to a desk and set her backpack down. She dug out her flute case and rested it on the desk so she could unpack her flute.

Where is everybody? Courtney asked.

Joseph O’Reilly kept playing his trumpet as if he didn’t hear her. He eased over to the door to look out. He quietly flipped the lock on the door, making sure he played his trumpet while he did it. Did you say something, Corky?

Courtney nodded. Where is everybody? she asked again, continuing to unpack her flute. Then she screwed the three pieces of the flute together. She attached the head joint into the middle joint and the middle joint into the foot joint. She twisted each piece until she couldn’t twist it any further. She held up her silver flute to inspect it.

I’m sure Mr. Meyers will be here soon. You know how they’re always late.

Then she placed the flute against her lips to test it. She began to play a tune her grandmother taught her long ago. Her grandmother was the only family she had left. Her Irish father disappeared three years after she was born. Her Native American and Hispanic mother died soon after her birth. That left her grandmother to raise her, except she’d died four years ago. Corky had been in the church’s orphanage ever since. The music soothed her and reminded her of the family her grandmother spoke so much about. She went into a trance imagining living amongst her own people. She didn’t hear the sound of Joseph’s quiet feet or the sound of his zipper moving down. She was still playing her favorite tune when he tried to put his penis where it didn’t belong.

What are you doing? Corky screamed, then she fought him.

You fucking bitch. I know you want this! Joseph yelled, wagging his penis at her.

He tried grab her, but she got away.

He ran after her, trying to tackle her.

She ran faster.

He caught up with her at the door as she tried to open it.

She tugged and tugged on the doorknob, but it wouldn’t open.

He tried to pull her away from the door to finish what he started. He never got another chance. She whacked him on the head with her borrowed flute, denting it severely. She hurriedly flipped the lock back, flung open the door, and ran like a jackrabbit down the nearly empty hallway. She ran directly into the music teacher’s arms.

Joseph chased after her. He was so concerned with catching Courtney before she told on him that he forgot to stuff his dick in his underwear and zip up his fly.

It’s okay, Courtney Girl. Over Courtney’s shoulder, Mr. Meyers spotted one of his best music students. His penis dangled outside his drawers while he chased after another one of his best students. Did Joey tried to touch you?

Yes, Sir. He tried to. He tried… wanted to… Courtney couldn’t finish. I hit him with my flute. She held up the broken instrument. See, I busted it. Mother Superior won’t like a busted flute. She burst into tears and continued to weep against his shoulder. I’m scared to go back there.

Joseph marched over to Mr. Meyers. I didn’t do nothing. Whatever the freaky bitch says, I didn’t do nothing, Mr. Meyers.

The rest of the small group walked down the hallway to join Mr. Meyers. They started laughing and giggling. They all could clearly see Joey’s penis.

There’s no practice session today, folks. Instead, I want everybody to follow me to the office. The group followed Mr. Meyers, who kept a supportive arm around Courtney.

Mother Superior was in her principal’s office when they all arrived. She looked at the group, noticing how quiet Courtney Osbourne was crying. The girl who never said much more than two words in class was sobbing. She also noticed how Joseph O’Reilly was in her office with his ding-a-ling hanging out of his uniform. Hmm, she could guess what happened between them. She’d bet he’d try to lie his way out of this scrape too. Mr. Meyers did the right thing bringing the small group of his best music students to her office immediately after it happened.

Mr. Meyers, if you would be so kind to take your students into the conference room. Courtney, go to the assistant principal’s office and wait for me there. Joseph O’Reilly, you stay right here. I want to speak with you alone.

Joseph sucked his teeth at her. I didn’t do nothing, Mother Superior.

You never do, Joseph O’Reilly! This time, you went too far. Put your organ back in your breeches, boy. Nobody wants to see that crap unless it’s in the bedroom with your wife. She watched him turn around to tuck it in his soiled underwear, then pull up his uniform’s pants. She could hear his zipper being pulled up. Then he turned around with a smirk. Better wipe that asinine smile off your face, boy. I’m calling your father and his new wife.

They working. Joseph folded his arms across his chest. They ain’t coming.

Mother Superior studied her student. His father and his older brother had been students here too. She didn’t like either of them. They liked the whiskey too much. Then they beat their women too much when they were drunk. The two uncles, the father’s brothers; one became a cop and the other brother was a priest in another parish. She continued to give him her infamous deadeye stare until he dropped his smirk and looked at the ground.

I’m calling your uncles. When they find out what you tried to do to Courtney Osbourne today, we’ll see what they have to say.

No! They’ll kill me. Uncle Cop and Uncle Priest, both them dudes will beat the living shit out of me for what I done today.

Mother Superior put her hands together until they formed a church steeple. You admit you tried to have sex with her?

Joseph nodded. Yes, Ma’am. My brother said when I tried to kiss Corky and she didn’t say nothing to nobody, she liked me. He said I should try to do more than kiss her next time. He paused to think. I didn’t tell her Mr. Meyers an’ the rest of the band would be late for practice today. I waited till she was practicing her flute. She gets lost in the music. Most times, she don’t hear nothing. I locked the door. I tried to you-know-what.

What else happened, Joseph?

Joseph pointed to the bump on top of his head. The bitch conked me on the head with her flute and ran away.

I don’t think you realize the damage you’ve done to your classmate. She’ll probably never want to go into the music room again. I’m sure she won’t want to come to class for a while either. We’ll be lucky if she doesn’t hire a lawyer to go after you personally and this school. You wait in here. At the door, Mother Superior turned around to shake a fist at her young charge. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING IN HERE!

She didn’t mention she had hidden spy cameras in her office to record incidents just like this one. She’d need to call the church lawyers. She could kick the O’Reilly clan out of this parish for all time. It would be easier to rid the church of the O’Reilly family than get rid of Courtney Osbourne, who was a ward of the church. She found Mr. Meyers sitting with Courtney, offering a shoulder to lean on and some legal advice.

Mother Superior, I have a friend who’s a lawyer. I called her. She’s willing to take on this case, if she has to. She says Courtney shouldn’t speak with you without a lawyer present. She’s on her way over in about ten or fifteen minutes.

Mother Superior nodded and played with the simple all-silver cross around her neck. She exhaled deeply. It’s to be expected, I guess. She squeezed Courtney’s shoulder in sympathy. I’m so very sorry this happened to you tonight. I wish you had told me how he tried to kiss you before. I would have removed him from the group and had Mr. Meyers replace him with somebody else.

Courtney shrugged then wiped her damp eyes. Yes, Ma’am.

Mother Superior, when my legal friend arrives, would you mind if she speaks with Courtney first?

No, Mr. Meyers, I don’t mind. I trust you. I will have to notify the church board and our lawyers to apprise them of what happened.

I wouldn’t expect any less.

Twenty minutes later, Courtney politely rose from her chair to shake hands with Attorney Audra Mason. She noticed the woman was tall like she was but more filled out. She had kind eyes. When she shook her hand, she sandwiched it between both of her own hands for a moment. The lawyer sat across from her and began to ask questions in a soft, sympathetic tone. She noticed the lawyer took notes once she began to tell what happened in the music room.

Are you writing everything I say?

Attorney Audra Mason smiled at her. No, young lady. I’m writing down the important parts of what you say.

How can you tell what’s important?

That’s a very smart question, Ms. Osbourne, Attorney Audra Mason remarked, smiling kindly at her. I try to use the who, what, where, and why style of note-taking.

Why do you call me Ms. Osbourne, when I’m just a kid?

You are my client. I treat all my clients with respect.

Oh.

Attorney Audra Mason smiled and asked her more questions. After an hour or so of questioning, she ordered food. While they waited for the food, the attorney excused herself and went to speak with Mother Superior.

Ninety minutes later, the attorney returned with an offer. She’d met with the Mother Superior and the church attorney. They were offering to pay for a four-year college degree or a trade school training of her choice and her legal fees. All she had to do was sign a confidentiality agreement not to tell a soul what Joseph O’Reilly tried to do to her tonight. If she told anybody, the deal was null and void. As the attorney said, everything got thrown out the window if she told anybody what happened tonight.

She lived up to her end of the agreement. She never told a soul what happened that night. And she never saw Joseph O’Reilly after that night either. The church lived up to that end of the agreement as well. When Courtney turned nineteen, she decided a four-year college wasn’t for her. She selected a trade school that taught her how to drive and repair trucks and other vehicles. Since the trade school was cheaper than a four-year college, her lawyer convinced the church take the money they set aside for the settlement to invest in her tow truck business after she graduated and had worked in the business for six years.

1st: The beginning of good things to come.

Two days after Corky first met Nonni, they bumped into each other again at the hospital. MB developed a minor infection and so her doctor wanted to keep her and the baby extra days. Nonni asked her granddaughter Maria to drop her at the hospital. She was stepping out of the white Ferrelli’s Restaurant van while Corky was striding from the parking lot. She recognized the shapely ivory legs with sturdy heels hanging out of the van and hustled over.

Hello again. Nonni, would you need some help getting out? Corky asked, grinning at Nonni as she offered an elbow.

Thank you.

Maria leaned around her grandmother to see who the hoarse, husky voice belonged to. She looked into eyes nearly as dark as hers were. The woman was tall with solidness, even though she was lean. The coppery glow of good health radiating from her skin said she could be Spanish or Native American. She definitely wasn’t Italian. She also isn’t my grandmother’s contemporary. She looks younger, closer to my age. Why is she disrespecting my grandmother by not calling her with a title of Miss?

"Hey? Her name is Miss Nonni. Call her Miss Nonni."

Corky bent down to look inside the van and caught Maria studying her with an annoyed expression. And you are who?

You don’t need to know who I am! You need to call her Miss Nonni. She’s more than earned that right.

Nonni swung her body back into the car. She patted her granddaughter’s hand as it rested on the steering wheel. Ria, behave. She new friend. She nice. Very nice. We take taxi. She ride me home safe.

Maria studied her grandmother’s face. Her eyes sparkled more than usual this afternoon. Tell her your name is Miss Nonni. Only relatives like me can call you Nonni or Nonnina.

Nonni smiled at her granddaughter. Behave, Ria. I still spank bad women. She nice new friend. Turning to Corky, she said, I call Azalea. Everybody call Nonni. I like Nonni. Call me Nonni too.

What’s her name? Maria asked her grandmother.

"Her name is Courtney Osbourne. Everybody calls me Corky." Corky leaned into the van to offer a hand to shake, which Maria ignored.

I was speaking to my grandmother, Maria coldly remarked, giving the stranger an icy glare.

Corky nodded at Maria as she backed out of the van’s passenger seat. I’m very sorry for interfering. Miss Nonni, I might see you inside if you’re going to see MB, Percy, and their baby. She inhaled, staring into dancing dark eyes as she moved backward. Lord, the woman smells sweet as sugar cane today. I bet she tastes like it too. It was nice to meet you, Ria.

There you go again with the familiar nicknames. You better not ever call me Ria. You don’t have the right. It’s Maria Ferrelli to you.

Corky nodded. Ah, like the name on the side of the van. Ferrelli? Ferrelli, I know that name. Oh shit. I mean … oh snap, Ferrelli’s Restaurant. I heard it’s a wonderful place for Italian food and seafood too.

Hey, Osbourne. Watch your damned mouth around my grandmother!

Corky put her hands together as if she was praying and bowed slightly as she faced the woman that she found so appealing. Forgive me for cussing like that, Miss Nonni. I’d better go. She quickly left the van to stride into the hospital’s entrance and disappear. She prayed the granddaughter wasn’t coming inside to visit MB and her baby. She decided to sit in the lobby near the admissions desk. That way, she could see when Nonni went to the desk for the maternity ward and nursery pass. She picked up a newspaper to hide her face just in case the granddaughter came looking for her.

A few minutes, later somebody bumped her arm and then bumped it again. When Corky folded the paper, she looked up into Nonni’s glowing dark eyes. Ready to go upstairs? She watched Nonni nod. That was when she noticed a white box tied with string, the kind that contained a cake or cookies in her hands, and a handbag on her shoulder that matched her heels. New mothers need sweets as much as the next woman, maybe even more, she mused. She rose to search around the large lobby area. Where’s your granddaughter?

She go back to work.

How will you get home?

I take train or bus or taxi.

Corky cleared her throat. If you don’t mind riding on a motorcycle, I could take you home. She watched Nonni clap like an excited child. She raised an eyebrow and then asked, Are you all right?

Love cycles. I drive, okay?

No, you can’t. You need special training to ride a motorcycle. It’s not like a car or regular bike. Corky noticed the disappointment in her eyes. She was sorry for causing it. Maybe I could give you driving lessons sometime. Nonni giggled then stepped over to kiss her on the cheek. Had they been alone, the kiss might have gone further. They weren’t alone, so a kiss was just a kiss no matter how sweet it tasted or how soft it felt or how it aroused her. She watched Nonni walk over to speak with the admissions clerk about passes. She returned with two passes.

We see baby first. Mama sick with fever. Not have visitor yet.

Corky nodded. Let’s go see the kid.

Baby boy name Joshua.

How do you know all this?

Percy tell me. She worry. She make Mary Bethune sick. She stay. Doctor say only Percy and Joshua.

Who’s Mary Bethune?

Nonni looked at Corky and chuckled. You say MB. I say Mary Bethune nice name.

Ah, I get it. MB is Mary Bethune, right?

Yes.

Corky stepped aside then held the elevator door open for Nonni to step aboard. She did the same thing when they reached the sixth floor. Soon as they stepped off, they read the nursery sign with yellow arrows pointing left and headed left. Then they followed the arrows down the hallway to the end through double doors. They could smell the baby lotion and heard the squalling sounds of tiny infants before they saw them.

They stood in front of a large glassed-in cubicle, filled with row after row of bassinettes. Some of the tiny beds were empty. The babies had gone to see their mommies. Others were filled with babies swaddled in pink and baby-blue blankets and wearing matching knit caps.

Nonni waved at the babies then smiled as if they could sit up, see her, and wave back.

Corky eyed Nonni as she stared at the babies and smiled. She cooed at them too. What is it about babies that makes a person do silly things to get their attention? Suddenly, she felt a sharp pinch on her bicep and pretended it hurt more than it did. She covered her sore arm. Ouch! Woman, that hurt a lot. I probably won’t be able to move my arm again.

That not hurt. Nonni giggled then pulled off Corky’s jacket. She pushed up Corky’s thermal shirt sleeve to inspect the damage. All she saw was an undamaged, muscular arm. See? Nothing there. It not hurt nowhere.

How do you know? You haven’t looked everywhere on me, Corky remarked, studying Nonni, who was doing the same to her.

Nonni flushed as her gaze lingered on Corky’s chest and then moved down below her waist. Can’t look everywhere here. Too many eyes. Too many ears.

Lordy, the woman had a way of making her feel so heated. She was on a front burner sizzling right now. The woman hadn’t even touched her yet, Corky mused. She’d better change the subject before things became embarrassing. Which one is he? Corky asked, pretending an interest in the babies, when the only human being she wanted was the one standing inches away.

He have mommy eyes. Baby have Mary Bethune eyes.

Corky ran a hand through her hair, messing up her new haircut again. She moved closer to study the glassed-in nursery, nearly pressing her face against the glass. I can’t tell. They’re all sleeping.

One of the nurses tapped on the window and then whispered, Which one is yours? What’s the name?

Either Burnette or Collins.

Corky knew that much because Percy asked her and Jenna to be godmothers. She’d heard MB was asking her work partner Detective Hayes to be the baby’s godfather. She watched the nurse nod then walk over to a blue blanket and pick up a big baby boy who was fast asleep. She cradled the baby boy as she walked to the glass walls and held him so the two women could see him.

He big boy, Nonni remarked when the baby yawned then opened his eyes to stare at her.

Corky chuckled. Would you look at that? He’s giving you the side eye.

He like nap. I woke. Nonni studied the baby quietly. Eyes and heart like mama. Make things like other mama.

Corky turned around to glance at Nonni. You could see all that?

Yes. Same way I know you good. Devilish with women. Good just same.

Corky groaned. I like being a bad ass. Being good is no fun.

Nonni sighed. You never had good. She watched the nurse take the baby boy and settle him in a bassinette.

Corky’s eyes widened and she folded her arms across her chest. Who have you been talking to? I’m doing fine. I own my own tow company. My partner and I do very well.

You have partner?

Corky studied Nonni before she answered. She nodded then touched her hair with both hands, which loosened her ponytail again. She grinned when Nonni drew closer to make her ponytail neater. Nonni handed her the white box while she fixed her hair. I like it when you touch my hair. I liked it when you kissed me too.

No kissing woman with partner!

Corky groaned. Not like that. She’s not my partner like that. She’s a business partner. She felt Nonni’s stare burning into her core. Her penetrating look said don’t lie. Okay. Okay. Once upon a time, we were lovers. We discovered we worked better as business partners. That was long ago … ten years or more. I don’t have anybody special right now. What about you? Do you have a special person?

Nonni quickly dropped her eyes. All my family special: Ria, Leah, the twins, and Ferrelli family.

Having family is nice, right? Corky drew closer to lift Nonni’s chin. She used a finger to stroke Nonni’s chin then used the finger to trace the superb shape of her lower lip. Once she realized what she was doing, she backed away. I promised myself that I wouldn’t do this today.

Nonni’s chest was heaving with excitement. What you not do today?

I think you know. Corky handed her the white box and then shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. Where do you want to go?

Nonni shrugged. I here to see MB and Percy. Since she too sick, I go home now.

No, don’t do that! Corky cleared her throat. She hadn’t meant to just blurt it out like that. She’d better think of something fast. She wanted to spend more time with this woman. I mean that I, uh. She glanced at her watch. Then she studied it, buying time while she thought. We could have an early dinner or a late, late lunch. What do you say? She studied Nonni’s twinkling eyes and smooth face. She gave her a playful shove. Come on, I can see your eyes say yes. Tell your mind what your eyes already know. I’m harmless. Having a meal with me is safe. I promise.

Nonni studied Corky. She did like her company. Having dinner away from the restaurant and the family disputes would be a nice change. And she could ride a motorbike. She chuckled at the thought of the ride. We take motorbike. Si?

Corky issued an exaggerated poked out, pouty lower lip. Here I thought it was my company you wanted. It’s my motorcycle you really want.

Si. Nonni nodded then tickled Corky under her chin and tugged on her elbow. Show me motorbike. We ride to dinner.

Corky laughed and then placed an arm around Nonni’s shoulders and squeezed. We’ll ride my motorbike to dinner. What do you like to eat? She expected Nonni to mention dinner at an exclusive seven-course restaurant along the lines of Ferrelli’s. Was she ever wrong!

Like frankfurter from Nathan’s with everything, Nonni remarked, licking her lips and looking dreamy-eyed from a distant memory. Hmm, yummy, tasty. Mustard. Onions and chili on toasted frank buns. Like big juicy burgers with sweet potato fries an’ chocolate milkshake. Like homemade pizza too. Ria no like. Leah, we tell nobody. We eat like piggy.

Corky laughed long and hard, then she kissed Nonni’s forehead. You are so unexpected. I think I like you a lot. She tapped on her lower lip in thought. Let’s see. I know a great frank place on Broadway around 72nd Street, I think. I don’t know if it’s still there. We could check and see. It’s called Gray’s Papaya.

Nonni nodded vigorously and smiled broadly. "We eat dogs and juice. Delicious. We