A Million Little Pieces - James Frey [57]
I had to live in an Orphanage, which was awful. Nobody there gave two shits about me. I started skipping School and following this guy around my neighborhood whose name was Michelangelo, but who was better known as Mikey the Nose. I thought Mikey was a God. He drove a Caddy, always had a blonde riding shotgun, and he carried a huge wad of cash in his pocket. He did good things for people in the neighborhood who needed them done. He paid their rent, gave them coats and hats and gloves in the winter, delivered food to people who were hungry. I knew he did bad shit too, but I was too young to understand what might be involved in that.
One day, at one of his stops, Michelangelo got out of his car and came up to me and asked me why the fuck I followed him around all the time. I was so scared I couldn’t talk. He asked again, and this time he added that he wasn’t going to hurt me, he just wanted to know. I told him it was because I wanted to figure out what he did and do it myself so I wouldn’t have to live in the Orphanage anymore. He laughed and he asked me my name and I told him and he said following me around all the time is stupid, if you want to see what I’m doing, come ride with me tomorrow. So the next day, instead of a blonde riding shotgun, there was me, and that’s all I did from that point on, ride around with Michelangelo and learn what he did for a living.
A couple months after that, I left the Orphanage and moved in with him. I don’t think anyone noticed that I was gone. A year later, Michelangelo got married to a woman named Geena, who was the greatest woman that I have ever known. I lived with them just like I was their Son, though I figured once they had Kids I’d be gone. Turned out Geena couldn’t have Kids, so they asked me if I might want to stay with them permanently. I said yes, Michelangelo pulled some strings and he and Geena adopted me, and for the rest of my childhood, they treated like I was their real Son. They gave me a life, they gave me a home, they gave me a future, and they gave me love. They gave me lots and lots of love.
Leonard stops speaking, looks down at the table. I wait for him to start again, but he doesn’t. I speak.
That’s a very touching story, Leonard, very sweet and tender.
He looks up at me.
But I’m not a Kid and I’m not an orphan and I don’t want to be your fucking project. You understand me?
He smiles.
You need help, Kid.
Find someone else, Leonard.
You like football?
Find someone else.
I heard you, I understood you, I’m changing the subject. You like football?
Yeah.
Who’s your team?
The Cleveland Browns.
Really?
Yeah.
Why the Browns?
I was born in Cleveland
He nods.
They’re playing Pittsburgh today, should be a good game. You wanna watch with me?
Not if it’s part of your project.
It’s not.
Then maybe.
You got plans?
No.
Then watch with me.
We’ll see.
I notice Lincoln walking across the Dining Hall. He’s staring at me and he’s not carrying a tray. I stare back at him. Leonard sees me staring and he follows my eyes.
Looks like another fight.
There was never a first one.
Lincoln arrives. He looks at Leonard.
You mind giving me and James a minute alone?
Leonard looks at me.
That okay with you, Kid?
Yeah.
He stands, picks up his tray.
I’ll be right over there if you need me.
He motions to the next table.
I’m not gonna need you, Leonard.
Leonard laughs and he walks to the next table and he sits and he watches my table. Most of the men in the Dining Hall are watching my table. Lincoln pulls out a chair and he sits down.
You and Leonard friends?
Sort of.
You know anything about him?
Not really.
It might not be such a good idea for you to be around him.
Is that why you’re here? To tell me who I should and shouldn’t