Betrayal

I was 9 when the Brooklyn Dodgers decided to move. I was devastated. All my heroes would be leaving. I bled Dodgers Blue. I knew all the names,Hodges, Pee Wee, Jackie, Campy, and all the rest!! Loved watching the games. Still was high over the 55 series. I walked down Grove Street from St. Brigid's. I was stunned to see the sheets that had be strung across the street, 'DA BUMS DID IT!!” OR “THIS IS NEXT YEAR !! “ The day it was announced that the Dodgers would be leavingI was in a local candy store listening to the men talk. One of them yelled, “We should kill Walter O'Malley and we'll get our Dodgers back!!” That guy immediately became my new hero. The place was packed with customers. They all chimed in, "Yeah, kill Walter O'malley".He was also an adult and adults knew how the world worked much better than 9 year olds. The gears in my brain began to turn. “Think Dennis, think!!” How could this be accomplished?

I had heard rumors that if you paid some people they would do it for you!! Maybe if I thought hard enough about it someone would do the deed and save the Dodgers, Brooklyn and myself. So all that week I considered the ways that he might be eliminated and hoped for the fatal outcome. Suddenly it dawned on me! CRAP!! St Brigid's School and Reeducation Camp had taught us that sins did not actually have to take place in order for it to be a sin. We only needed to THINK bad thoughts.

But then it did dawn on me. There were some capos from the Cosa Nostra that had kids in our school. We knew this because of brother Efrem. He was Franciscan brother and slightly off his rocker. He liked to hit kids but there was one kid that he wouldn't hit. That kid was the son of a local capo. Whenever that kid acted act, Efrem, with his long rope belt and hooded dress, would come flying at the kid and smack the kid next to him! NOW I had a course of action. I could just get my older brother to talk to the capo's son we might be able to work something out!!

But then religion slapped me back into reality. I had actually committed a sin. I knew now that I needed to go to confession on Saturday. Saturday afternoon confessions were highly recommended by the culture that was ingrained at Brigid's Murder was a big deal of course, a mortal sin. Wasn't sure how Father Gribben would handle this transgression. He was a really good guy. The confessional line was always long for him.

On line for good old Father Gribben I had to admit I was more than a little nervous. In the next moment disaster struck! Father Blilevens saw the crowd for Father Gribben as he headed for his confessional. Oh for God's sake. Blilevens, this guy had a problem. A few months earlier he had come through each class in our school to inform use of a sin that was committed by a local candy store. They were selling some kind of funny cards that could flip and turn a person pictured into a half horse or other animal. We all looked around at each other thinking the same thing- "What the hell is he talking about?" He explained, although to this day I don't understand, that this was blasphemy. I didn't know what the word was but I knew it wasn't good. He encouraged, or should I say demanded, that we no longer patronize that store. He had actually gone to the store owner and asked him to stop selling these blaspheming cards! As soon as school let out my buddies and I rushed to the candy store to buy one. Pretty soon they were a huge hit with everyone. Business was never better for that store owner!

Anyway, he stopped right next to me and tapped my on the arm “Son”, he said, “Go over to Monsignor Bracken's confessional". There's hardly a line and you'll be done in no time.” WHAT??WHAT?? How could this happen to me? MONSIGNOR BRACKEN!!! Oh my God!! He was such a distant and imperious figure in my happy little world. How could I smooth this plan of murder to look less thought out? He always looked strict and did not suffer little third grade fools like myself!! I stood in line for what seemed to be an eternity. And then the curtain parted for me to enter the confessional of doom!! I entered and kneeled down immediately. Not sure if I collapsed or entered that dark booth on my own. My mouth was dry. Even though I was kneeling my knees were knocking. THEN I heard the confessional window slide on the other side and re-open on mine. The usual inquiries would soon begin as to the condition of my inquisition into my immortal soul. . “Bless me Fadder for I have sinned”.. and then I told him what I had been contemplating all week. There was a VERY long pause. I'm sure Bracken could hear my knocking knees and see the beads of sweat now pouring down my face. Why in the world had I not gone to the bathroom before, I thought. There was no urgency before but now my fight or flight mechanism had kicked in and it was causing me no little problem. I expected to be given two thousand Hail Mary's and an equal number of Our Father's. Instead the most incredible thing happened. Monsignor Bracken asked me to step outside the confessional booth. Now I was REALLY trembling. I could hardly stand up! Was I going to faint? Was he going to call the cops? Call my parents? Would he Tell Sister Mary Nathaniel,a genuine Dragon Lady? SHE knew how to handle kids like me!! I stepped out of the booth and so did he. Something amazing then happened. A true miracle right here in good old St. Brig. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a fiver and said,

”Go in Peace my Son.”