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It was eight o’clock sharp on another rainy night when Michael knocked at Dania’s door. She hesitated and before she changed her mind opened the door.
“Hello, I see you’re ready,” Michael said. “I brought an umbrella this time.” His smile touched her soul.
“That was thoughtful.,” She said linking her arm with his, and they began walking as a heavy mist is falling.
“Michael, the police were here again. They found my father’s money—what was left of it—at Johnny Russo’s house. He’s the one who robbed us. They’re convinced that someone from the carnival found out he did it and killed him for it.” She said, her head down looking at him from the corner of her eye to see his reaction.
“Okay, but why not get the money back first?” he asked.
“Maybe, whoever did it wasn’t after the money but had another reason to kill him and it’s just a coincidence. They’re asking about Johnny getting fired,” she paused, “and you taking his place. Did you know that?”
“I saw Johnny leave that night after talking to Koslov. He was mad. He said he was let go. I thought Koslov would give him another booth.” Michael felt this was all his fault. He should never have gone to work for the carnival but then he would never have met Daria.
“Let’s not talk about this now.” Dania took his hand and picks up the pace. “I’m starved.”
They were waiting to cross Watertown Street when Michael saw Tony and Ellen coming. They were huddled under an umbrella as they stroll down Bottle Alley in their direction. Tony waved, and Ellen wore a big smile. Dania and Michael met them in front of Sullivan’s Tavern, where the air was filled with the aroma of shepherd’s pie and spaghetti and meatballs.
“What are you doing here?” Michael asked.
“Would you believe that Ma and Da said that we can take a walk around the block together tonight,” Ellen said excitedly.
“Yeah, I even had the nerve to ask if I could take Ellen to the pictures, and they said maybe.” Tony kissed Ellen’s hand, and then added, “But it will all depend on what’s playing.”
“Well, that’s a switch,” Michael said. “This is my friend Dania. Dania, my sister Ellen, and I think you know Tony. We’re going in for dinner.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Dania. I hope we’ll see you again,” Ellen gazed fondly up at Tony. “Come on, Tony, we better be going.” Ellen looped her arm in Tony’s and pulled him along.
“Those two have it bad,” Dania said, watching the couple walk away.
“They are heading toward the park on the corner of Bridge and Watertown Streets. I have an idea they’ll be warming a bench for a bit.”
Michael laughed and shook his head. “That’s my baby sister and best friend you’re talking about.” He laughed as he closed the umbrella, took her hand, and led her up the steps and into the restaurant.
****
The night was chilly, the damp creeping into the hovel Hugo calls home. Hugo and Tevia had been drinking for over an hour in the trailer. The bottle of vodka sat between them, almost empty. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts. Hugo looked at the propane heater. He opened the front casing, checked inside, and taking a match lit it up.
“I can tell you’re up to something,” Tevia said.
“You don’t want to know,” replied Hugo.
"Well, I’m going to bed.” Tevia stood and stretched, grabbed his coat and opened the door. “Don’t do anything stupid.” He threw his coat over his head and stepped out into the rain, jumping a puddle at the bottom of the step.
Hugo waited a few minutes, pacing the small space, thinking. Making up his mind, he took another bottle of vodka from under the sink and rushed out the door and over to Koslov’s trailer. He went in without knocking.
“Tevia’s gone to bed, and I have this whole bottle of vodka to share,” Hugo said companionably. He took a couple glasses from a cupboard, placed one in front of Koslov, and put one for himself on the table.
“Why are ju so happy?” Koslov asked, watching Hugo pour the clear liquid. The old man was sitting in an old comfortable chair, propped up with pillows. His head ached and was swathed in bandages.
“Soon all our problems will disappear, and we can be on our way to the sunshine for the winter.”
“How do ju figure that, my friend?” Koslov asked, taking a long, slow drink. Hugo wasted no time in refilling the glass.
“That Irish friend of Dania’s, he is going to be blamed for murder. Then we can go.” Hugo smirked. His plan might just work.
“How do ju know that? Has Gillespie been here?” Koslov asked. He didn’t notice that his glass was refilled each time he took a drink.
“Gillespie is just another stupid Mick with a badge. I'll show him who did it, and he will believe it.” Hugo spoke with such confidence, it worried Koslov. Could he have underestimated Hugo?
“I think ju don’t give him enough credit. He is smarter than ju think,” Koslov took another drink. “I also think I’m getting old. I can’t drink like I used to.”
Hugo reached over and struck a match, turning on Koslov’s heater. He turned it on high.
“It’s not cold enough for the heater yet,” Koslov protested. “I like it cold to sleep. It reminds me of home in Russia. I dream of home sometimes.” Koslov got up and stumbled to his bed. “Maybe I will go back some day. For
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now, I will dream.” He fell into bed, and in minutes he was in a deep vodka-fueled sleep, snoring loudly.
Hugo smashed the half empty vodka bottle against the heater. Koslov stirred a little at the sound but didn’t wake. Hugo watched the spilled vodka run under the heater. Taking a blanket from the bed, he threw it over the heater, positioning a corner of the blanket, so it soaked up the vodka.
Hugo left quickly. He will miss Koslov but feels he has no choice.
The rain was steady now, and the noise on the metal roof was keeping Tevia awake. Tevia looked out his window and watched Hugo come out of Koslov’s trailer and dash to his own trailer.
****
Dania and Michael spent their time talking about family; his here, and hers in Russia. He learned about life in a carnival and appreciated all that it meant to Dania. The carnival was her life and not being part of it, or with her father, scared her.
He was happy with his life in Newton. He told her about Tony and all the trouble they got into as kids. How they skated on Silver Lake in the winter and took the bus to Norumbega Park in the summer. She was fascinated by a park where they could picnic, canoe, ride the carousel, and
visit the zoo. He said he’d like to take her to the Totem Pole Ballroom before she left. Maybe one of the big bands will be playing.
They talked, holding hands across the table until closing time. Sullivan follows them to the door and locked it behind them. Michael opened the umbrella, and they huddled together as they crossed the street and walked up Bottle Alley to where the travel trailers were parked. Inside the gates they laughed as they jumped around the growing puddles of rain water to reach Dania’s trailer. She hesitated on the steps.
“I had a wonderful time, Michael.” She didn’t want to go inside yet. “Thank you.” She knew inviting Michael in at this hour was not a good idea, considering the way she felt about him.
“Me, too,” Michael said, brushing his fingers tips along her jaw line, tucking a stray damp curl behind her ear.
“I would ask you to come in . . .” Dania said trying not to weaken.
“We probably shouldn’t,”
Over Michael’s shoulder she saw her father’s trailer glowing red and orange. “Oh, my God, I think it’s on fire!” She jumped off the step and ran. “Papa! Papa! Help! Fire!”
Michael was behind her and stopped her from running into the burning trailer.
“Not so fast! Be careful.” He felt the doorknob. “It’s warm, but not hot.”
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“Go get help,” he told her. “Get Tevia or Hugo to pull the fire alarm on the corner. Go now. I’ll get your father.”
Michael carefully opened the door. The heat from the flames was intense. The fresh air from the open door fed the fire, and in seconds it spread. At first all he can make out was fire and smoke. Then he cautiously stepped in. He saw Koslov on the bed, unconscious. The fire was licking the bed where the man lay.
“Koslov, Koslov . . . you better not be dead!” Michael coughed, smoke filled his lungs. “Koslov, get up before we both burn.”
The old man grumbled but roused enough to let Michael pull him to his feet. They staggered to the door and down the steps, collapsing in a heap on the wet ground. There followed a sudden whoosh, and the fire surged through the doorway. Windows exploded, and the trailer was engulfed with smoke, flames dancing on the roof. Reflecting brilliant colors on the wet ground.
Michael got Koslov to his feet and helped him over to sit on Dania’s steps. They heard the fire bells in the distance. Dania rushed up and hugged her father. Consoling him in Russian. He was shivering in his rain-soaked clothes.
“Help me get him inside.” Michael and Dania guided her father up the steps and into her trailer. They eased him down on one of the beds. She got towels to dry him off and took off some of his wet clothes then covers him with a blanket. Michael heated up some coffee for them. More sirens sounded in the distance.
“You have any whisky for the coffee?” asked Michael.
” Under the sink,” she replied.
An explosion rent the air as the propane tank on Koslov’s trailer exploded.
“What’s happening?" Koslov exclaims, confused and startled by the sudden noise.
“You’re safe now, Papa.” Dania gently pushed him back down on the bed.
The lights from the arriving fire trucks reflected through the windows. Shouts and commands were heard along with the sound of approaching police sirens.
“My guess is that’s Lieutenant Gillespie coming to join the party,” said Michael, looking out the door. Tevia rushed up, breathless from running.
“Is Boris okay?” asked Tevia. “It looks like his trailer is a goner.”
“Where’s Hugo?” Dania asked. “I’m surprised he’s not here.”
“I saw him earlier leaving your father’s place. I haven’t seen him since.” Tevia knew what Hugo did but is afraid to tell anyone.
“I wonder where he went. You would think all the noise would bring him running,” Dania said, scanning the gathering crowd of onlookers.
Lieutenant Gillespie pulled up in front. He got out of the squad car and slammed the door, hard. His driver
winced. The expression on Gillespie’s haggard face told them he was not happy to be back.
“Can’t these people stay out of my hair for a while?” Gillespie grumbled to himself. “I haven’t solved the break in, the assault on Koslov, or who killed Johnny Russo, and now this!”
“Lieutenant, I’m sure this is just an unfortunate accident,” Michael said, his arms around Dania, comforting her.
“We’ll see what the arson team has to say,” the lieutenant countered. “Anyone hurt?”
“My father is in here,” said Dania. “He would have burned to death, but Michael went in and got him out just before it blew up. Papa is resting. It’s a lot for an old man to go through.”
“Let’s see what he can tell us if he remembers anything.” He climbed the steps and gave a brief knock on the wall before walking to the bed where the old man lay. “Police. I need to ask you a few questions, Koslov.”
Boris was on the bed bundled up in a blanket, but awake and waiting for the lieutenant. Gillespie pulled over a chair and sat beside the bed.
“Well, well. Here we are again, Boris,” Gillespie pulled out his notebook. “Can you tell me about tonight and how the fire might have started?” The lieutenant was almost kind to the old man. He could tell that the fire and almost burning to death shook him up.
“Hugo and I were sitting around talking and drinking,” said Boris. He closed his eyes; his brow furrows as he tried to remember. His mind was still in a vodka fog. “We were just old friends passing the time. The vodka was getting to me, so I went to lie down. I must have passed out because the next thing I know, the boy is shouting at me to
get up if I want to live. He drags me over here, and now ju are here again. That’s all I know.” The effort of talking had Koslov sinking into the bed, his strength gone.
“You’re a very lucky man, Boris.” Gillespie put the notebook and pen in his pocket. “We are going to take a look and see if we can figure out how the fire started. I’ll leave you to rest and go talk to the others.” He put the chair back where he got it from and left the man to rest.
Gillespie stepped out of the trailer. “Michael, I want to know what you saw from the time you arrived until you rescued Koslov.”
“I don’t have much to tell,” said Michael. “Dania and I had gone out to dinner. It was raining pretty hard on the way back, and we were rushing. She noticed the fire. I told her to find Hugo or Tevia and have someone ring the alarm. Koslov was on the bed, and the fire was all around. I grabbed him and got him out the door just as the whole trailer exploded.”
Michael reached out to shake the lieutenants hand. “Thank you, Lieutenant, for coming so quickly.”
“We appreciate you looking into it.” Dania said, as she watched Gillespie leave. The lieutenant got into the
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squad car, closing the door softer this time. The car took off splashing its way back to Watertown Street.
As the squad car passed through the gates, Hugo strolled up from the opposite direction.
“Where have you been?” Dania was furious. “Papa almost died. His trailer caught fire.”
“What do you mean almost died?” Hugo can barely hide how stunned he was that Boris was still alive.
“Michael saved him! He risked his life to bring Papa out of the fire!”
Hugo sat down on the steps, shaking his head, unable to believe what he’s hearing. “The damn Irish chucco messed up my perfect plan,” he muttered to himself.
“I’d better get going, Dania. The family will be wondering where I am. I’ll stop by tomorrow and see how you and your father are doing.” Michael leaned over and gave Dania a delicate kiss on the lips. He wanted to hold and comfort her. He wants to protect her from all the evil in the world. He realized at this moment that this must be what it felt like to love someone. Damn it all to hell! He’s in love with Dania, a carnival fortuneteller. He can already hear his mother; if the heart attack she’ll have didn’t kill her first.
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“Hi, Ma.” Michael walked into the warm kitchen. Taking off his wet things, he hung them in the back hall to dry out.
“Where have you been? You smell of smoke. I heard the engines leaving the station, and they didn’t go far.” His mother questioned him.
” One of the carnival trailers caught fire.” He tried to sound casual. “It’s late. How is it you’re still up?” Michael asked.
“Oh, I’m nosy,” Moira said. “I was sitting with your Da when we heard the sirens. We could smell the smoke from here. Was anyone hurt?”
Here it is, the dreaded inquisition. If he doesn’t tell her everything, she will find out eventually. She always does. He would love to know how she does it and not even leave the house.
“Is Da still up? I can tell you both together, much easier than telling it twice.” Michael knows this won’t be easy for them or him.
“Why don’t you go see, and I’ll be along in a minute.”
Michael walked quietly down the hall in case his father was asleep already. Donal was sitting in his chair by the window. He had the lights off, which Michael thinks is strange.
"Da, you okay?”
“Oh, I’m fine. I was watching the glow from the fire for a while. It’s too cold to sit outside tonight, and all the
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rain makes it damp.” Donal turned to Michael. “Did you go have a look?”
“I kind of had a front row seat.” It was confession time.
Moira came into the room and sat in an old platform rocker. Michael took a seat on the piano bench. He took a deep breath and began.
“I went to Sullivan’s for a meal with a friend,” Michael began, wondering how to bring up the subject of Dania. “On our way out, we saw that one of the carnival trailers was on fire. There was a man inside, unconscious. I helped him get out, waited for the fire department, and the police. I had to give a statement.” Michael hoped that will satisfy their curiosity.
“Did that friend of yours happen to be a gypsy girl named Daria?” Moira asked him.
“How did you know?” Michael was stunned.
“A mother knows her children,” Moira answered him.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out since the day I met your mother,” Donal said, shaking his head and looking at Michael.
“What I want to know is why in the name of St. Patrick and all the saints, you had to get mixed up with a gypsy . . . from a carnival of all things. There are plenty of nice Irish Catholic girls around,” Moira was heated. Her rocker was rocking. “You know what I think of carnivals and the people that run them. I had to find out from Mrs. O’Leary, who lives on Adams Street across from the church. From what she tells me, you and this Dania are pretty close. The only reason that girl is still here is because of all the trouble and that poor Johnny Russo.”
“Ma, I like her a lot. More than any girl I’ve ever met. Ma, I might even love her.” Michael held his breath and waited for the storm he knew will follow. This was the first time he's ever told anyone about his feelings for Dania. He’s not even told her yet.
“Well, I guess you had better bring her around,” Donal told him. “Bring her for Sunday lunch, about 2 pm. That okay with you, Moira?”
“I suppose we’d better meet her. Let’s see what kind of a girl has stolen my Michael’s heart.” The rocker rocked a bit slower. “What does a gypsy girl eat?”