Romeo of the Streets Read Online Free PDF

calls and you just got to get up and answer that call. And so Lou might get reckless when he’s off out with his sweetheart but somebody has to be there to pick up the phone.”
    I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing, except, finally: “well I’m just glad that you were there to pick it up. I don’t know what we would have done otherwise.”
    Romeo shrugged but didn’t say anything back. His restless eyes were already prowling down the hallway and I wondered what could be going on behind them, what angle or job he was thinking about that he would have to move on to after this. I followed his gaze down the corridor where it settled on the well-toned rump of a quite-frankly beautiful looking young African American nurse and then, as I looked back to him, our eyes met and his eyebrow went up with that teasingly vague little smile of his and my own gaze shot to the floor, caught out, embarrassed and more than a little ashamed to have been found out for prying on him. Thankfully, He didn’t press the issue.
     
     
    Sometime later, what felt like hours but was probably only forty minutes or so, Gino’s doctor stepped out of the room and came towards us, holding his clipboard in his pink, perfectly-manicured hand.
    “Now, Sandy is it?” he asked, “the patient’s daughter?”
    “Niece,” I said, reasoning that it was close enough to be almost true and so not feeling too bad about lying to an authority figure of such importance.
    “Well the good news is your uncle’s going to be fine,” he said and I breathed a sigh of relief—a little too soon as it transpired. “He’ll even walk again, though it may take some time.”
    My heart dropped again. Like how long? What about the café? I wouldn’t be able to run the place all by myself, no matter how much I would want to. I had my studies to think of and there was no way I could put them off without jeopardizing the scholarship that had afforded me to be there at CCU in the first place.
    The doctor cleared his throat. “And now, unfortunately, for the bad news. I’m afraid your uncle has no health insurance and his bills are going to be, how can I put this, quite steep indeed.”
    Romeo stood up, apparently all of a sudden interested again. “What about workplace insurance,” he cut in, “wouldn’t that usually cover an accident like this?”
    “Usually, yes,” the doctor nodded, “unfortunately Mr. Morelli doesn’t have that either.”
    I felt like I’d been hit in the stomach with a ton of bricks. Oh Gino, you foolish old man. What have you done?
    “So what are you saying here?” Romeo asked.
    “That either you or Mr. Morelli will need to inform us how you wish to proceed. The patient is under sedation right now, so you still have a few hours to reach your decision.”
    The doctor nodded politely and then set off down the corridor to let us think it over. I looked to Romeo for support but this obviously wasn’t the kind of support he was used to giving, because he just stared blankly back. Luckily at that moment someone far more skilled at the supportive arts of love and nurture arrived behind me and threw her arms around my back, like a big loved-up teddy bear.
    “Oh God, Sandy, I’m so sorry we didn’t get here sooner,” Lisa said.
    “It’s ok,” I laughed, turning to return the hug, “but seriously, you should check your phone more often. You too Lou.” I turned to face my decidedly sheepish-looking brother, standing slightly behind his girlfriend. At least he appeared to understand the gravity of the situation anyway.
    “We’re here now sis,” he said, then looked to Romeo and nodded respectfully. “Thanks man.”
    Romeo shrugged. “She’s right Lou,” he said, “what if that had been Sal on the phone?”
    I spun towards them angrily, not able to help myself, “yeah!” I spat, “what if it had been Sal… like, something really important.”
    I didn’t even know who Sal was and was well aware that I had no right to take