Las Vegas Life: Cocktails and Casino Stories

By Phyllis Carver

After growing up in a rural area of Montana, I became an avid reader of 30 years plus! Retired in Las Vegas. Met Phyllis. Asked to read Book one of "Las Vegas Life" series. Read it in 3 days! Unlike any normal life read! Loved it! Entertaining, thrilling, informative, compelling, fun. A range of emotions! Great woman's book! Anxious for Book Two!

--Norma DeVries, Business Entrepreneur

I never knew of the exciting life of a Las Vegas cocktail waitress. Cece, who is "Las Vegas Life" Book One's main female character, is a strong and honest woman, who finds herself in the midst of many circumstances, including times of danger and corruption. She risks her life on a daily basis to help support her family, but always shares lessons of faith and honesty. The series of "Las Vegas Life" is exciting, fun, entertaining, and inspirational!

--LAURA H.

Casino life, the knowledge of Las Vegas, and the curiosity about the people living in Las Vegas have mesmerized worldwide tourists for many years. Gambling has been a part of Nevada's Wild West long before this "Silver State" joined the United States of America in 1864, yet gambling only became legal in Nevada in 1931.

Book One, in the trilogy of the "Las Vegas Life" books, portrays the beginning of an exceptional lifelong love story of two, young, and beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada teenagers, Cece and Ian. Book One starts in the mid-1960s and on through their many years together in Las Vegas. The twists and turns throughout the trilogy are completely unexpected as each story continues on to unfold into the many exciting, thrilling, and emotional experiences in the couple's lives together, while continuously introducing you to their ever growing personalities, their happy and evolving love story, their futures, their family, their true friends, as well as other interesting, kind, and/or deceitful acquaintances along their life journeys in their casino environments and in their casino experiences. So sit back, relax, hold on, and enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662470103

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Las Vegas Life

Cocktails and Casino Stories

Phyllis Carver

Copyright © 2022 Phyllis Carver

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-7008-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-7010-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Little Ian

Little Cece

Aunt Rebecca

Young Girl Gone

Up to My Ears

Across Country

The Dance

The Broomstick Killer

Young Love

Cece's New Life

Deadly Baccarat

Finally Busted

Total Love

Ian's New Job

Tony

The Setup

The Spy

Ian's Lesson

Last Ski Trip

The Finale

About the Author

Little Ian

1950

Grandma Martha knew what was going to happen that night. She was the one who told her son what was really going on at his wife's North Carolina home while he had been away at war. Grandmother Martha, was not going to let it continue in front of her two grandsons. The boys were going to be stolen away from a preacher's daughter, who could not remain loyal to her US Marine husband, Ian Senior, while he fought through the horrific battles at Guala Canal during World War II.

Little Ian was lying on his side of the big bed he shared with his mother and baby brother. He was trying not to think about monsters. Ian Junior tried to go to sleep but was frightened every night. Why did God make monsters? He was so tired all the time because the monsters kept waking him up. Why couldn't he just sleep through the attacks like his little baby brother could? There wasn't just one monster. There were many different kinds of monsters. Some made awful noises. Ian thought those monsters were really hurting his mother. Ian's dad said, while he was gone to war, little Ian was the head of the house and should take care of his mother and the new baby. Wasn't the war over yet?

He was only five years old and couldn't understand what was really happening. Why didn't Mommy just lock the door? Isn't that what other people did to keep monsters and bad things out of their homes at night? Closing the old screen door just wasn't enough!

His childhood thoughts were very confusing to him. It was long past his bedtime when he began to fall off to sleep. He was trying not to think of the monsters who continued to come into the room every night. Most children were scared of monsters in closets or monsters under their bed. His monsters walked into his tiny home through the back door. Why would Mommy leave it open? Then the monsters continued through the kitchen, into the hall, and entered the bedroom where Ian shared a bed with his mother at one end, Ian at the other end, and his two-year-old baby brother in the middle.

Ian prayed, Please, God, don't let a monster come tonight. I'm only five years old, and I don't know if I'm brave enough yet to carry out my plan, but I will try.

When Ian was almost asleep, the rickety, old disabled screen door squeaked open and broke the night's silence. Ian could hear the creaking noise as he woke up thinking, "Oh, no, not tonight!" Was he brave enough to carry out his plan? He knew exactly what he was going to do to the monster before it would probably kill him! He was going to protect his mother this time when the monster jumped on her.

Ian was awake again when the monster appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. He was huge! Most of the monsters were smaller than this one. Oh, little Ian was so afraid, but he stayed still and only peeked out of one eye to watch the monster. Ian had to be brave! His dad was brave, and he had left Ian in charge to protect his mommy and baby brother. Ian began to put his gutsy little redheaded boy plan into action. The monster began shedding his clothes. When the monster pulled his shirt up over its head, Ian saw his chance to go unnoticed. Little Ian quietly slid off his end of the bed. He low-crawled down his side of the bed towards the dresser. He made it! The monster didn't even notice him. Ian waited at the end of the bed. He needed to get between the wall and the end of the dresser in the far corner of the room. He had placed a four-inch-long hatpin in the bowl on top of the dresser near that corner. He scooted across the aisle to the dresser and waited to see if the monster noticed. Ian reached up into the bowl. His little hand searched carefully for his weapon. He had to stab the monster before he got killed. His hand silently nudged the bowl. He felt for the long hatpin. His small hand wrapped around it. He slid back down to the floor and began low crawling toward his mother's side of the bed. This monster must really be hurting his mother. They were both making lots of noises and tossing around. The monster's hands were all tangled in his mother's long hair. The monster was on top of his mommy with its bare backside to Ian. Ian was surprised the monster did not know Ian was there right next to him. Ian began to stand up slowly. Ian did not want to lose his footing. He already had his two little boy fists wrapped around the long hatpin. Ian began to raise the hatpin up over his head. Ian felt frozen in time. He had to do it now! He held the hatpin tightly and lunged it straight down and deep into the middle of the monster's naked right buttock! The monster wailed out loud in a horrible bloody scream. He turned to face his assailant. As the monster's contorted face looked down upon little Ian, he screamed, I'm gonna kill you, kid!

The man could have probably hurt the five-year-old child if he could catch him, but Ian knew the woods behind the tiny home, and he was very fast. Little Ian ran out of the house by pushing through the old screen door and headed toward the woods to get to his tree house where he could hide, watch, and hear everything.

Meanwhile, the man was screaming obscenities, tugging his pants up with one hand, pulling the hatpin out of his buttock with his other hand, and trying to get his loafer shoes onto his feet, all at the same time. He was steaming mad. The woman was screaming not to hurt her boy. The fearful boy could hear everything while he tried not to cry. He had to be brave and silent so the monster couldn't find him and kill him. His little brother and mother needed him because he was the head of the family while his dad was gone.

The monster man heard the screen door slam shut as the hinges creaked. It was the first clue to where he would begin to look for the boy.

He ran through the house yelling, I'm coming to get you, kid! Suddenly, Ian saw a huge, dark shadow appear next to the screen door.

As the monster ran into the rusty screen door, knocking it off its next to the last hinge, a huge fist slammed up from under his chin. Blood shot out of his dumbfounded mouth. The monster man wondered who had hit him. It wasn't a five-year-old kid! Another fist came crashing into the disorientated man's face as the boy watched the fight from his tree house! Blood shot everywhere.

Could the shadow be him? His dad did tell him once very long ago that he'd be back someday. The monster was bloody and knocked out after the third punch landed square on his chin causing blood to secrete out of every orifice in the man's head.

The boy heard his hero yelling out to him that it was safe and he could come out of hiding now because his dad was home. The boy quickly clambered down the tree.

He ran up to Ian Senior's open arms, yelling out to his hero, Dad, is it you? I knew you'd come back to get us! You knocked the monster out!

Ian Senior looked down at his oldest boy and said, Ian, you'll never be afraid again because you will be able to fight any monster or man! I'll make sure of it. Now let's go get your little baby brother!

Ian jumped up into his dad's arms and knew monsters would never hurt them again! They turned to walk into the back of the house as Ian Senior pulled the old screen door off its last hinge and let it fall to the ground. He knew that Ian Junior was one gutsy kid. He was going to be just like his Dad! Ian Senior thundered into the bedroom while switching Little Ian onto his back with the boy putting his little arms around his dad's neck. Ian Senior didn't even look at the naked woman.

Instead, he picked up the sleeping two-year-old and said, Now you can have all the visitors you want! You will never see us again.

The three of them turned and walked out of the woman's life forever.

Ian Senior and his sons stayed at Grandma Martha's house for a few years. During that time, Ian Senior met a lady, Mattie, who was single with a little boy of her own. They fell in love, married, and had a ready-made family. They packed up and moved away to a place of opportunity. California was to be their new home. They sang songs and played games all the way to California. The most fun happened when they hit the West. Ian Senior bought his three sons holsters with play guns that used caps. They each got a cowboy hat, and the boys shot at every cactus they saw until they arrived in California.

Little Cece

They were all at the hospital waiting. Her parents had recently arrived from New York to Florida to make a new life. Her Uncle Benny was the first to move to southern Florida, and the rest of the family followed. Sammie was the new dad, and Carmella was to be the new mom. They already had a four-year-old daughter, who was conceived before Sammie went to fight in World War II. She was named after Sammie's mama. This one would be a son to be named after Sammie's papa, Phillip. This happy Sicilian American family would learn this baby had a mind of her own. Everything went along fine, but instead of a son, Sammie had another daughter. She was born all shriveled up, wet, and ugly! Sammie couldn't believe his new little girl was so ugly! Sammie wondered how such a terrible thing could happen to Carmella and him.

His first daughter was beautiful. She was strong and full looking. She had big, brown eyes and ringlets of long curls that bounced and adorned her cherub face. She looked like a perfect angel. Sammie didn't know all babies looked like Cece after fighting their way into the world. Carmella was too tired the day of the birth to explain it to Sammie. Carmella didn't realize how much his second-born's appearance was affecting him until the next day.

As Carmella fell asleep, she said, Wait until tomorrow!

Sure enough, the next day came. Sammie walked by the hospital's baby nursery and couldn't find his new ugly baby girl. Someone had made a mistake and put someone else's pretty, little, pink, blond baby girl into the bassinet marked with their last name, Riccobuono. Now Sammie was really confused.

Sammie questioned, What kind of hospital is this place? On top of everything else that has happened to us, now they lose our baby girl!

Just then Carmella walked up behind Sammie and asked, What are you asking? What do you think of your new baby daughter today?

Sammie was afraid to say anything yet to Carmella about the hospital losing their baby, but he asked, Where is she? Someone put the wrong baby in our bassinet!

Carmella laughed and said, No, Sammie. That's our baby girl, Cece!

Sammie looked at his wife as he grabbed her shoulders and asked, Do you mean to tell me our ugly baby girl now looks like a beautiful angel? How could that possibly be? And she's blond!

Carmella smiled and said, "That's what happens, Sammie! They change quickly within one day after they are born. Yes, she's your cara mia!"

Cara mia means my darling or my face in Italian. She did look like her father. There was no mistaking it. She had Sammie's fine features and was fair. Cara mia became Sammie's nickname for Cece. She may not be a boy, but he would make her his tomboy. As time went on, Cece became a novelty in the family. Her cousins would take her to meet friends and show them their blond cousin. Cece learned to live with it, but she was embarrassed and confused when one of the friend's fathers asked if the milkman brought her. Cece was only seven years old when she ran home crying to her mother to ask what the man meant.

Carmella said, Cece, you look just like your dad. Don't ever worry about the ignorant things said by people! You know the real truth. You must judge people for yourself. If someone says something mean or cruel to you or about you, you know it is not true, so act like it is not true. Hold your head up, be proud, be kind, remain good-hearted, and other people will soon realize the liar's statement is false. Once people realize the statements are lies, they will also realize who the liar really is and that the liar is not a kind, trustworthy person. Gossiping liars will eventually ruin their own reputations. Any simple-minded or trusting friends whom they happened to have picked up on their way through life will not remain their friends because they will also be scared the liar will end up being cruel and hurtful to them. It happens to big people too. Even worse, whoever believes or spreads lies will end up without any true friends. Remember what I've always told you. Not everyone is nice and kind to others. You must remember there are very bad people who are not nice to little children. There are terrible people who hurt little children. You must always try to protect yourself and not put yourself into any danger. Be careful!

Cece may have been only seven years old, but she learned valuable lessons constantly from her religious parents. Carmella reached down and kissed her daughter's cheek. She knew how to cheer Cece up.

Carmella asked, Why don't you go out in our garden and play cowboys with the other kids? All your friends are out there having fun.

Carmella noticed how Cece had toughened up a lot since she was old enough to go to the Saturday cowboy matinee movies with the older children in the neighborhood. Cece's eyes brightened up, and she ran to get her guns, her holster, and her cowboy hat. Cece loved to play cowboys!

As Carmella watched Cece running to join the other children, she called out to her precious little girl, Be careful!

Cece stopped, turned around with a great big little girl smile, and yelled back, Okay, I will, Mommy! I love you!

All the kids were there. They laughed and ululated while they played. Cece followed along happily. Carmella went back to her laundry room.

Suddenly, eleven-year-old Tommy from down the street, yelled, Hey, you guys, look at this! Tommy was down at the corner of their street where it met a larger four-lane highway. He was looking down into a ditch which had been dug out on the corner for a gas station, but financing fell through, and development stopped. The contractor had stopped digging the huge hole for the gas tanks, which left the surrounding giant salt pine roots exposed approximately halfway down into the deep, huge hole.

None of the kids liked the place because it was full of bugs and biting insects. However, since big Tommy called, every one of the children ran to the corner to see why Tommy was yelling. Cece was the youngest child. She was scared to death as she looked down upon the first intoxicated person she had ever seen. The man was yelling at the children to go away and leave him alone. He was staggering around in the bottom of the big ditch. Judging by his filthy appearance, he apparently had fallen into the ditch by accident, but he didn't physically hurt himself. He was slurring his words so much the children couldn't understand him. They thought the man needed help because he kept falling whenever he tried to stand.

Suddenly the drunk spied Cece and sweetly said, Climb down here, pretty little girl. You can help me. You can make me feel a lot better!

The bigger boys yelled out, He wants Cece to help him! Cece felt so sad.

Cece called out, Oh, poor man! Does he need help? I could go get my mommy. Mommy always knows what to do.

With that thought, Cece turned to leave with the intention of running home to get her mom. All of a sudden, the wet mud under Cece's little feet gave away! Cece's left foot slipped over the top edge of the pit below her. Daddy's little cara mia was sliding down into the huge earthen cavity. All the children screamed except Cece.

Cece grabbed at whatever she could. Roots whipped and slashed at the bloody little girl as she slid down deeper into the ditch. Cece got lucky and grabbed at an exposed root, which both of her little hands could fit around. She did it! She held on while feeling for a foothold. Her tiny right foot found a root stub. She was almost halfway down into the ditch. Cece's left foot still dangled in midair. The filthy drunk scrambled below Cece trying to grab her left foot. He said terrible words to her. Cece heard some of the big boys say bad things when they thought no one was around to hear. Cece screamed to her friends to help her. They were all too stunned, and they were afraid because they didn't want the drunk man to grab them, too.

Cece began to cry tears of terror as she yelled to her friends, Come on, you guys, go get help!

All the children just stood there as if they were petrified with fear.

Cece thought, This is what Mommy meant by bad people who would hurt little children. The drunk got his hand around Cece's left ankle. His hand was too wet and muddy. His hand slid off of his captured prey. Insects kept biting him as he fell to the ground! The drunk tried fighting them off. Once again, he climbed higher up the ditch's side and managed to get a hold higher up on her left leg. This time his hand wasn't sliding off!

Suddenly, Cece thought to herself, If this mean man was a bad guy in a cowboy movie, what would the good cowboy do?

With that thought, Cece tried to lift her right foot as high off its root stub as possible while she held tightly onto a branch with both her little hands. He began to slide backward as he grabbed her left foot with both of his hands. He had a wicked laugh, and she could smell his foul, pungent breath as he began to pull her down to him. Cece knew she had to do it soon even though she was crying with terror at the thought of hurting someone. Daddy said it was okay to fight back if someone was trying to hurt her. She knew she had to do it now! Cece raised her right leg up into the air as high as possible. Her bloody, painful little hands were slipping down the tree root. Cece was still holding on in desperate fear. She thrust her free right foot down as forcefully and as fast as a little girl could, right onto the bridge of the pervert's nose!

Blood sputtered everywhere. The drunk let go of Cece's left leg and grabbed at his nose with both of his hands. When he realized he was free-falling backward down into the ditch, he began flailing his arms around into the air to try to grab at exposed roots to help break his fall, but there weren't any roots in the lower half of the ditch. As he hit onto the ditch bottom, the children could hear the bones in his right arm snapping.

The drunk bellowed, I'm gonna kill you, little girl, and all these other brats! All the children gasped simultaneously. Cece was still bobbing up and down while she held onto the tree root that was keeping her body from falling into the bottom of the ditch. Cece's legs couldn't seem to find another foothold. Cece kept looking for support. She was braver because the drunk could not hurt her anymore. He was helpless.

The drunk screamed in terrible pain, which forced Tommy to come out of his stupor. Tommy finally went running and screaming down the middle of the neighborhood's street for help. Cece was still hanging onto the tree root by her two dirty and bloody little hands. Cece had the courage to still feel for footholds as her hands continued to slide down the branch. Cece finally found a larger foothold. Cece got both her feet up onto a tree root safely. Cece waited there for her hands to stop hurting, but her dirty, painful hands seemed to bleed even more.

Another mother, who lived at a house closer to the ditch, came running out of her house when she heard Tommy and the drunk's empathically loud screams from his pain due to his mangled arm. Carmella had been making a pie when she heard the drunk's screams. Now she heard Cece's friends screaming that Cece needed help. Carmella took off running and searching for Cece while she was holding onto her rolling pin. She would protect her little girl with everything a mother had. All the mothers ran up together to the edge of the ditch where they saw all the children. Carmella saw the dirty drunk at the bottom of the ditch holding his bloody nose with one hand. The mothers saw his badly broken right arm was twisted under his back. He was crying about the nasty little blond girl. Carmella rescued Cece from the exposed roots, and another mother returned with a washrag to clean Cece's hands and tears from her face.

Carmella was yelling to the drunk, You were lucky to only have to deal with my little girl because if you give anyone else any more trouble, I am coming down there to beat you with this rolling pin.

The drunk began crying, Look at me, lady! I've had it! I have a busted arm. I'm full of bugbites and I'm itchy all over. Just keep your nasty little girl and yourself away from me! Please, I beg you! Please call the police!

Cece thought Carmella would be mad at her for being bloody and dirty when Carmella smiled at her and said, I am proud of you for fighting back.

As other mothers gathered around, Carmella dropped her rolling pin and laughed out loud as she grabbed her little girl. Carmella wondered who would protect the drunks of the world from her little girl. Little did Carmella know how prevalent that thought would be someday. Carmella thought to thank God for the angel who protected her daughter. Carmella realized how strong Cece's Italian eye and insight must be. Carmella lifted her Cece girl into her arms and held the crucifix around her little neck. She thanked God for protecting Cece and making her such a spunky child. Other mothers joined Carmella. By that time the ambulance and the police arrived, the mothers were all laughing, fussing over Cece, and washing Cece's little bloody hands and scratches. Other moms were standing by with medicine and bandages waiting for their turn to help Cece. The press showed up right behind the police. They were followed by Harry, the ice cream man. TV crews arrived right behind the press as both set up to film and take photos.

Harry loved little Cece. He ran up to Cece and knelt down to check on her. He was so happy she was all right. Harry began to hand out free ice cream to everyone there. Reporters gathered information. They filmed Harry hugging Cece and putting a popsicle carefully into one of Cece's little bandaged hands. Cameras for the TV nightly news filmed all of it. They showed the drunk still in the ditch yelling at the cameras while he was being handcuffed to the ambulance's medical stretcher by the wrist of his normal arm.

Cameras still rolled as the drunk yelled, Keep that nasty little blond girl and her mean mother away from me!

Everyone began to laugh. Four policemen carried the drunk out of the deep ditch on the stretcher. They posed for the camera shots while they all smiled. The filthy drunk babbled incoherently and stared idiotically at the cameras.

Cece was being interviewed by reporters who asked her if she was afraid.

Cece said, I wasn't afraid too much. I was mostly mad because that weird guy wouldn't leave me alone. He's so dirty, and he really stinks.

The reporters loved it as they continued to laugh out loud.

One of the reporters asked Cece how she thought of what to do.

Cece answered, My daddy said it was all right to fight back if anyone ever tried to hurt me, so I just asked myself, ‘What would the good cowboy do?'

The reporters went wild as they roared, That's a wrap!

That night Cece made the local news in Miami and became the most popular kid on the block where her childhood home stood on East Twenty-Eighth Street!

After watching the Miami news, Sammie was seething and wanted to beat the drunk who tried to hurt his Cece. Then Sammie laughed and thought to himself he probably could not have done a better job of it than Cece did! He felt a great relief as he thanked God for watching over his little girl.

The whole family called one by one after they watched the news. Grandma Angie swore Cece was never in any danger because Cece had the Sicilian-Italian gift of The Eye. Cece's family didn't settle down until very late that evening because the large family kept calling and talking about the news. The phone just wouldn't stop ringing.

Sammie was so proud of his tomboy as he tried to sleep. What would the good cowboy do? Guess I have a real tomboy on my hands. She better be with her looks. Who is going to protect drunks from Cece?

Sammie finally closed his eyes and fell asleep smiling while imagining his little tomboy saying, Watch out, world!

Aunt Rebecca

Even as a young girl, Cece admired pretty ladies. Cece realized many ladies didn't stay pretty for very long. She was young and couldn't figure out why. The women in her family, who were once nice looking, seemed to lose their looks for some unknown reasons. When Cece saw pretty ladies, Cece would ask Carmella what Cece would have to do to stay pretty. According to Carmella, staying pretty didn't come naturally because women had to work at it. Carmella explained it was a lot of hard work, exercise, food moderation, having a good spirit, and determination.

Cece asked, I have a good spirit, but should I start eating less food?

Carmella laughed. Absolutely not! You're a little girl and you eat like a bird already!

A puzzled Cece looked at her mom and tried to picture herself as a Cece bird. Cece asked, What does that mean?

Carmella answered, It just means you don't eat very much at all. You have a long time to go before you have to begin to think about a woman's weight. As long as a woman is healthy and exercises, weight is not a problem.

Cece would try on her Mom's old high heels and her old bras even though Cece never quite got them on correctly. At the early age of ten years, Cece could not picture herself as beautiful. Cece knew she was a tomboy because everyone told her. Cece already was determined to become a pretty woman someday. Cece saw Carmella exercising while she had the TV set on an exercising show where a man wore a jumpsuit. Cece would ask her mother what exercises she could do to become pretty.

Carmella would laugh loudly and say, If you keep running around like you do now, you'll always be in shape, and you are already pretty!

Cece realized how smart Carmella was because Cece already liked to exercise.

Cece was eleven years old when her youngest uncle, Eddie, decided to bring his new bride, Rebecca, to visit his family in Miami, Florida. They were from some small desert town in Nevada. Their city was called Las Vegas. Cece had never heard of it, but the older folks in her family acted like it was a shameful place. Cece heard whispers about gangsters, gambling, drinking, and showgirls.

Cece loved all of her family dearly. All were Sicilian-American Catholics. Cece noticed for some unknown reason the older relatives were not acting kind to Eddie's new bride, Rebecca. No one would hardly speak to her. When they said bride, they meant new bride to Eddie. Rebecca had been married and divorced six times before she married Eddie. Rebecca was a stunningly beautiful, blond, blue-eyed showgirl. Her former husbands ranged from every caliber of life with two things in common. They were all filthy rich, and they were all extremely jealous. Eddie was not rich, and he was not jealous of Rebecca. He considered himself Rebecca's best friend and loving husband. She was a kind woman, and Eddie was determined to make his first marriage last. They were in love. Eddie sadly noticed how his family was reacting to Rebecca. He wanted them to really know her and to love her as much as he did.

Every time Rebecca went into the kitchen to ask the women if she could help with dinner, the women would tell her, No, we've got everything under control. Just relax in the family room, and we'll be done shortly.

The entire family, women and men alike, were whispering and gossiping about Rebecca. Carmella was taking it all in stride. She set the example for the younger women of the family, but Carmella noticed her two older sisters and even Grandma Angie seemed unfriendly to Rebecca. Carmella realized they were just worried about Eddie's happiness.

Cece knew everything that was happening. Cece could move around her grandma's large house among her big family, totally unnoticed by everyone, except her parents. However, a lonely Rebecca did notice Cece, too! Cece listened to every conversation while she acted with nonchalance as she constantly moved from room to room. When Cece seemed to float into the family room where Rebecca sat graciously alone, Cece could feel Rebecca's eyes following her. Rebecca could tell the child liked her, too, but Cece was shy. Rebecca waited patiently. Cece felt sorry for Rebecca because the women in the family seemed mean and abrupt to her. Cece wondered if they feared her because she was beautiful. Cece liked the way her new Aunt Rebecca looked. She was so pretty. Cece could hear the men talking, too, while they barbecued. They were afraid to talk to Rebecca because she was beautiful. The men were, also, afraid of what their wives would have to say to them later if they chanced talking to Rebecca. Cece wanted so much to talk to her new, very pretty aunt. Cece was sure of one thing. If Cece could figure out how rude her relatives were behaving, so could this pretty, grown lady. Cece moved in slowly circling Rebecca. Cece had no idea what to say, so she just stopped in front of Rebecca, and their eyes locked. Cece was shaking, and she wanted to run away, but instead, she told herself to be brave. She had learned to be strong since she was a little cowgirl. She could do it!

With that thought, Cece blurted out, Hi, I'm Cece!

Cece was delighted when Rebecca replied smiling, Hi back to you! I'm your new aunt, Rebecca.

The next two things that happened were like a miracle to Cece. First, the bride was so happy someone was actually talking to her. Secondly, Cece was so happy she could stop holding her breath in anticipation. They just watched each other as they laughed and giggled like two little girls. No one knew Rebecca couldn't have children. She wanted to grab Cece and hug her and play with her. Rebecca didn't want to chase the girl off with an overt display of affection, so she moved slowly.

Cece blurted out, You are so pretty.

Rebecca smiled and said, Thank you. You are a very pretty girl, too.

Cece replied, My parents say I'm a tomboy, and I always get dirty playing football with the boys, but I am better at football than most of the boys.

Rebecca liked that and said, Cece, all those things are going to change in your life soon. You are at an age now when you'll be growing much faster than the boys. You are soon to become a young lady. Boys take a little longer to grow into young men, and because of that, those same boys will be mean to you and tease you terribly. What you have to remember is, those boys are teasing you because they like you and they think you are pretty. When I look at you, I realize you are going to become a gorgeous woman. Look at your long eyelashes. You must have the longest, most muscular legs that I've ever seen on such a young girl.

Cece laughed and said, That's why I am so good at football. I can outrun all the boys.

Rebecca said, Someday soon, you will be changing. You may like to watch football, but you won't want to play football with the boys anymore. You are going to like lady things like these earrings I have on my ears. Here, let's try these earrings on your ears.

Cece big eyes opened wide. She watched Rebecca taking her earrings off her ears. None of the women in the family would ever let Cece try on their earrings, and none of the nuns would like it either. They sent her home from school one day for wearing a pant-set to the Christmas play rehearsal when she was only eight years old! Carmella had made Cece's outfit for the rehearsal. Then the nuns called her mommy on the phone and told her to come and get Cece because Cece was not properly dressed. Cece felt totally embarrassed and dejected because