TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE FIREOctober 1936

"Hey George, why aren't you at work today?" calledMichel to his neighbor.

George climbed out of his old Ford and answered"Aw Mikey they had a big lay off at the mill. I think it has to dowith all the union talk that's been goin' on lately. Any of us guysthat showed up at the meeting, strangely enough, got laid offtoday."

"Hey, I told you George. Don't associate with that tough bunchof guys. Unions will come, but you got to do it right. What're yougonna do now?"

"Well I'm not gonna work on WPA like you are. I'm gettin'too old and they work your ass off out there. There's other ways tomake money."

"Be careful George. Don't do anything you'd be sorry for."

"Don't worry I can handle myself."

George left Michel and went to his side of the duplex where helived with his wife and children, two teen age girls and one eightyear old boy. He had to break the news to his wife about the layoffnotice. His last pay check was in his pocket.

Michel went into his side of the duplex, where he lived withhis wife Stefania and two small children, Dante, five years oldand Maria, three years. To help pay his rent, he rented out thethird floor to his cousin Alfonso and his wife Gina for ten bucksa month. Every bit helped in this day and age. Stefania had justannounced that a third child would be coming in about 7 months.

Michel rolled his eyes when she told him but he knew it wasbound to happen sooner or later. They had married quite young,both were strong healthy adults and they were also Catholic. Shewas happy being a doting mother and Michel loved her very muchin that role. They had a good marriage. If only the job marketwould loosen up. He was learning carpenter work on the WPA.The pay wasn't good but the experience would be very helpful whenthings turned around.

"Hi Steffy. What's for supper?"

"Beans and potatoes, lover boy, but I was able to get a ham hockto cook with them so it should be good. Also mom gave us a freshloaf of bread that she baked today."

"Sounds good, I'm starving. Some day, I'll buy you a steak baby."

"Yeah, promises, promises that's all I get" she said smiling andgiving him a big hug and kiss.

He laughed and kissed her back.

"Hey did I see you talking to George? He's not usually homefrom the mill this early" she asked.

"Yeah, it's not good news. He got laid off today."

"Oh damn. What's he going to do?"

"I don't know. I hope he doesn't do anything foolish" he answered.

"And what did the busy little housewife do today? Anyexcitement?" he queried.

"Well I had coffee at Aunt Rose's with mom and Gina. Whilewe were having our coffee that sleaze bag Guido stopped to seeif we wanted to play the numbers. Aunt Rose played her housenumber, 509, for a dime and mom boxed 511 for a nickel. I toldhim I was broke. Gina gave him an earful when he gave her theeye. Ol' Gina doesn't take any guff from anyone. She doesn't care ifhe is in the mob."

Michel laughed "Guido's just a gofer for the mob. He thinkshe's a big bad guy but he shakes in his boots when some of the realmob guys are around."

"Yeah, but that kind of idiot is dangerous, when he thinks he'sgot the upper hand. Always trying to prove himself to the big boys"she said as she shuddered "I don't trust him and he gives me thecreeps"

"Don't worry honey, he knows better than to bother you."

The cool fall days passed quickly. Michel's old high schoolteam, Sharon South, was playing for the city championship. Hisbrothers, cousins and he were all going to the game tonight andcheer them on. Michel was a big star for the team back in his highschool days.

The four of them hopped in Michel's Model A and took off forthe game.

Stefania yelled out as they were leaving "Don't get into anytrouble you guys. I know how wild you get at those games."

"Don't worry honey. South is going to murder them tonight."

It was a good game and South did win but not by much. Theboys were all in a good mood as they were leaving the stadium.

"Hey Mikey" came a call from the crowd.

Michel turned around and saw it was his neighbor George.George was smiling and seemed very happy. He was with somevery tough looking men.

"Good news Mikey. I got myself a job."

"Hey that's great George. Where ya workin'?"

"Well Guido's movin' over to Youngstown. He'll be collectingfrom the runners and I'm takin' over his south side route."

Michel stared at George and glanced at his friends. He slowlysaid "Oh, that's good George. That's good. See ya around I gottago."

He quickly joined his brother and cousins and hurried to hiscar.

Nico said "Geez Mikey did I hear right? Is George going to bea numbers runner? That doesn't sound right to me."

"Not good, Nico. Not good. I didn't want to say anything withthose toughs around but I'll talk to George tomorrow. My theory isto live and let live with the mob. You can't antagonize them but youshouldn't make deals with them either."

When they got home and Michel went into his house, Stefaniagreeted him. She said "Hi honey. Did South win the game?""Yeah they won. It was a good game."

"Then why are you lookin' so down cast? Somethin' elsewrong?"

"Yeah.... kinda. I saw George at the game and he was withsome toughs from the Youngstown mob. He's gonna be a numbersrunner for them."

"Well honey, they need the money and I heard from Biancathat they get paid on a commission. Maybe it will only be untilthey get back on their feet."

"You already heard?" Michel asked.

"Yeah, Bianca's girlfriend told her. That kind of news travelsfast" she said.

"Well I don't mind playing a number once in a while. Everyonedoes but that's as close as I want to be. Let's go to bed."

THANKSGIVING DAY1936

Michel and his family spent Thanksgiving with the restof the Gianini family at his mom and dad's housewhich was on the other side of the duplex from AuntRose. The two Gianini brothers, Giuseppe and Enrico, had boughtthe duplex after moving from a small town near Philadelphiawhere, they had originally settled after immigration from Italy.

As with many in those times, they moved to the "Rust Belt"and worked in the steel mills, so prevalent in that area. Michel'sdad, Giuseppe, left the mill and was doing well as an insuranceman.

Michel and Stefania had moved in with his folks when theymarried and planned to stay until they could afford to rent on theirown. These were depression days and work was hard to find. Aftertwo children were born they just had to find a place. When the westhalf of the duplex next door became available, Michel felt that theycould just barely afford it on his WPA wages, so they moved. It wasgreat because they were still close enough that Michel's mom couldhelp Steffy with the kids and Michel could pick up a few bucksdoing odd jobs in the neighborhood. He was quickly becoming agood carpenter.

Michel's other brother, Giuseppe Gianini Jr., they called himJoe, started making plans to open a bar downtown in the basementof an old building. He wanted to name it "The Cavern NightClub". He would pattern it after a German rathskeller that he hadfrequented during Prohibition. He had the place rented, and hadbeen working on fixing it up for months. He told Michel that hecould earn some extra money tending bar there if he wanted to.

But Joe was having one very large problem. His request for aliquor license was being held up and he didn't know why. He...