Part 13 (1/2)
Then Mr Levin walked into the room
”Sorry, Levin, no Jews allowed,” Steve yelled ”He'll try to take over the bank!”
Mr Levin and I were friends He prepared five hundred slices of toast eachin the cafeteria while I wrote the arnish He was one of the few ins in the cooler On the outside, Levin was an attorney who represented New Orleans' top Mafia boss I told Mr Levin I could use souy who helped Carlos Marcello build a legal fortune in real estate and investa my recent business record
He took a seat where Gary had been With each of ested I buy railroads
Steve laughed at the strategy ”What's with you and the railroads, Levin?”
”My grandfather worked for the railroads,” Levin said ”They're good properties”
With Mr Levin's help, I soon acquired all the railroads; Steve purchased hotels for Boardwalk and Park Place Rent would be 3,000 If I landed on either property, I was out As Levin and I discussed my options for hotels on my cheap properties, Steve was hyperactive His hands werefor both of us,the cards and , but Mr Levin did He corrected Steve a couple of ti the deck Steve had shuffled the Chance cards so that the top card was the ”Take a Walk on the Boardwalk” Levin cleared his throat and held the card in the air Earlier in the game, it had been put on the bottom of the stack Steve had placed it back on top Steve knew if I landed on Chance, the game would be over
Levin reshuffled the cards, put thereater interest in my success He kept track of my money, paid my rents and fines, collected when Steve owed me, and continued to advise me on houses and hotels Levin's advice was flawless I accued everything to put eight hotels on Boardwalk He was down to 180 in cash when he landed on a railroad Rent: 200 With Levin's advice, I won
Steve stormed out of the room I thanked Mr Levin
”Call , while transcribing the ht about Mr Levin As ridiculous as it was to put so a my recent history with money, it felt like an accomplishment All I had to do was accept help, albeit froined how Carlos Marcellohis back, protecting hi the success of his ventures At once, I felt guiltyand oddly privileged
On the outside, I was reluctant to ask for help, unwilling to share credit, adverse to guidance I wondered how ht have turned out differently if I'd beento accept the help of others
I heard Ella's wheelchair behind me I called Mr Levin over from the inmate cafeteria and introduced hi Mr Levin's perfect strategy and advice Mr Levin smiled and pulled a Chance card from his front pocket-the ”Take a Walk on the Boardwalk” He had never put it back in the deck
Mr Levin had cheated on reat
”You would have won anyway,” Mr Levin said ”Just a little insurance” He smiled, put the card back in his pocket, and went back totoast for the inmates
”How you doin', boy?” Ella asked
I told her I was confused Confused about so s, but especially about where to live
”There's no place like home,” she said
I usually didn't anshen Ella chanted her favorite phrase but, today, it was pertinent ”I'm not sure where mine is,” I said I tried to explain to Ella the co back to Oxford But to keep my resolve to live a simple life with my children, Oxford seemed the only choice ”My mother thinks I should move to Oxford”
”Sound like she know soht Mo She spoke from experience When I was fourteen, she moved aith her new husband I stayed in Gulfport to live withup with ames and performances She er
Mo, but the last ti ”
”Childrens need they mommas and and they daddies,” Ella said they daddies,” Ella said
”How can I face the people of Oxford? What will people think?” I said
”What peoples think,” Ella said, ”ain't none of your business”
That night, in bed, I pondered this novel idea-to act without seeking praise froood portion ofabout what others thought of ined accolades, awards, trophies, applause Just wait until they see this! Just wait until they see this! I would say to myself, not even sure who ”they” were I would say to myself, not even sure who ”they” were
Journalisood news of my accohbor, friend, and relative-received aof my works bound in the finest paper money could buy People stopped raph I had discovered, or a thought-provoking editorial I had penned And I was more than happy to stop and elaborate At ti a destiny
Now, this hunt for adoration felt de Linda's news had been the catalyst that convinced e But I had no idea how to replace a drive to impress that had beco es of The Guinness Book of World Records The Guinness Book of World Records, or inviting an audience to watch me fly froine what people were thinking If she did, she ht never leave her room Her approach was so simple: Here I am Here I am She rolled into a crowd of inmates, made eye contact, and expected us to treat her with kindness
I had fewer than five months before I would be set free And to be like Ella, I had to unlearn a lifetime of habits
CHAPTER 46
”Have you seen this?” Doc asked He handedto new rules, inars, and 288 cigarettes
”What's the rationale?” I asked
”You're assu these idiots are rational,” he said ”They say it's a fire hazard” Doc had accuoing to do?”
”shi+p theirlfriend,” Doc said ”Should make her day”
I opened my locker, removed about a dozen books my mother hadfan of self-help books, but Mom had a bookcase full of them ready to share with the suddenly self-aware I picked five books with titles that sounded like they rabbedto read that crap, are you?” Doc asked
I put the books under my arm and walked to the cafeteria After I finished the h the first book, Tough Tih Tih People Do The back cover read: The back cover read: ”Make your dreams come true! Dr Schuller shows you how to build a positive self-ie” ”Make your dreams come true! Dr Schuller shows you how to build a positive self-ie”
I skie: ”Take Charge and Take Control Count to Ten and Win! Dare to Take a Risk Only a Person Who Risks Is Free ”Take Charge and Take Control Count to Ten and Win! Dare to Take a Risk Only a Person Who Risks Is Free ” ”
I put the book down and stared out at the leprosy patient courtyard The last thing I needed was a new voice telling h Tih Tih People Do back to my mother back to my mother
Ella rolled into the cafeteria ”What you readin'?”
I held the books up for her to see-Divorce Without Victi Twisted Relationshi+ps, Ho You Is Destroying Me Pleasing You Is Destroying Me ”They're self-help books,” I said
”They helpin'?” Ella asked