ST110 ... Jonny Lee was a gambler

Born into a wrong neighbourhood a wrong gang the wrong times.

Jonny Lee was a gambler, he wore a many a shoe. He tore thru the suburbs with a gun like a toad, jumpy. The night life, the deep money, the girls, drugs, honour amongst thieves long gone. Jonny had an edge, from a long history of connected muscle, family ties. He had a good heart, too kind for this life, left him vulnerable, bound to die young unless he could escape. The temptations, the raw world of sex and money, power and crime, left him helpless in his tender mind…. the heart would suffer, betrayal inevitable, young death likely.

The day started normal, the gang down by the cafe-club. Possibilities discussed. Little Willy, Big Ben and the rest of the gang sat around with a coffee in the morning light. Sunlight flickering in from the park across the street, the high maples glistening with yellow. The smell of tobacco silently moving thru the air like an emotion, aroma from a broken time.

a Little WIlly

Little Willy called over Jonny Lee to make a scene, "come on you little shit head, its time you proved yourself, we got a job for you"

Jonny Lee remembered that fateful morning, that day that changed his life forever. "If only i had the balls to walk away, be a man, say nothing, move away. I didn't, I've been in prison ever since, what a fool, what a waste of my life".

Jonny Lee moved into the street with his loaded revolver and a head full of stupidity. It was all over in a few minutes, his rival escaped and a ten year old boy lay dead from a restless barrel and a misguided aim. The son of a warehouseman, minding their own business enjoying the sun in the park. A complete absurd minute in a little town neighbourhood of a bustling big city.

After 32 years in a state prison Jonny walked a free man into a world where he knew no one, couldn't adapt to the modern mode, left him strangled but for the love of one old man, the father, the warehouseman, a simple man with a heart of forgiveness for an absurd moment that left his son dead in the street.

Jonny Lee…. could have been, just before he died.

Thru some sort of an impossible intervention from above, they connected and met and the power of understanding beyond words crept into their hearts and they bonded like a miracle.

Jonny died of cancer in his brain a few months after re-entering this crazy world. He never married, never had kids, never lived a life as a citizen; a prisoner from beginning to end…. but he did find some form of peace in the end.

Born into a wrong neighbourhood the wrong gang the wrong times. ‘Life and death’, he would always say in his last years, 'you can't think of much can you man when you ain't got much you do what you can with what you got'. He was a gentle man with a gentle heart with bad luck in an insane world. He made the best of it. Rest in peace Jonny Lee

a warehouseman

Note:

Weyword Times is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
A OneTime Contribution coffee !
I appreciate your readership! I do. This is my way of entrapping thought. If you are amused/inspired reading these words and eyeing my images, please support my work and pass it on. Comments mean everything, Money more.
I thank you.

Buy An Image for Your Wall…. Images

Pass On The WeyWord Times / Writing and Images by Patrick Wey