Read Online MEN, MUSCLE, and MAYHEM by Milton Stern - Free Book Online
Authors: Milton Stern
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his backpack over one shoulder and was heading out of the dressing room, turned around and gave Marvin a look of disbelief.
“Well?”
“It’s just that you’ve been pretty much an asshole this past month, and you haven’t said two words directly to me since we started. Now you want to go out for a drink?” Sammy asked.
“Yeah. Look, I hated this gig, and besides you tall people always get to play Santa while the real elves,” and Marvin gestured to himself as if on display, “don’t get to play the jolly ole St. Nick. So, forgive me if I’m not such a happy leprechaun. I also don’t care too much for the goyim or their spoiled kids.”
“You’re Jewish?” Sammy asked.
“My name is Marvin Minkoff.”
“Who knew? Mine is Sammy Sagman,” he said with a smile.
“I know. I looked at your application after they hired you. What do you know? Two members of the tribe celebrating their lord and savior’s birth,” Marvin said as he put on his jacket.
“Which took place during Elul ,” Sammy said. “What the hell? Let’s go get a drink.”
Marvin grabbed his backpack, and they headed out of the department store and down the street looking for a bar that might be open. Sammy knew of a leather bar around the corner, but he wasn’t sure if Marvin swung that way. They walked a couple of blocks before Marvin stopped.
“There’s the Falcon, Down Under’s, the Garage … pick one,” Marvin said.
Realizing Marvin did swing that way, Sammy picked the Garage as it was the only one quiet enough to allow for a conversation. Sammy suggested they put their backpacks in the trunk of his car, so they doubled back to the parking lot, ditched their backpacks, and walked the four blocks to the Garage.
As it turned out, Marvin was not the jerk Sammy thought he was; he just wasn’t happy about his employment situation, and being a little person made it that much harder to find a job as many potential employers did not take him seriously when he came in for an interview. Sammy couldn’t quite figure out what Marvin did for a living, but it sounded a bit like an assembly-line supervisor or a social worker. And, Sammy didn’t bother interrogating him too much. Sammy was a print production manager before the company where he worked went under.
Around eleven, they decided to call it a night. They walked back to Sammy’s car to retrieve Marvin’s backpack before Sammy drove home.
“Do you need a ride?” Sammy asked as he closed the trunk.
“That’s OK; I can catch the bus.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, besides, it’s Christmas Eve; where are you going to get a bus at this hour?” Sammy asked.
“It’s just that …”
“Get in the car,” Sammy insisted.
Marvin climbed in, and Sammy asked where he lived. Marvin only gave him cross streets.
When they arrived at the destination, Sammy saw a rundown motel offering weekly rates and efficiencies. He was heartsick. In the few hours he had spent with Marvin, he had grown a little fond of him, and he didn’t like the idea of his having to live like this in what was essentially a crack house offering weekly rates.
“Is that where you live?” Sammy asked pointing to the motel across the street.
“Yeah, and don’t give me any lectures. I had a nice time tonight and thanks for the ride …”
“Not so fast,” Sammy interrupted. “Go in and get your things. I have a two bedroom apartment. My roommate moved out a while ago, and I need help with the rent. No arguments, you can stay for as little or as long as you want,” Sammy said, and he was surprised at how quickly he offered Marvin a place to stay. This was so not like him to let just anyone into his home; however, Sammy was a compassionate person, and he knew he would not be able to sleep nights knowing Marvin was living in these conditions.
“Look, I don’t need looking after …”
“I know, but I am not leaving you here. I don’t care how long you’ve lived here. This isn’t safe, and I’m
“Well?”
“It’s just that you’ve been pretty much an asshole this past month, and you haven’t said two words directly to me since we started. Now you want to go out for a drink?” Sammy asked.
“Yeah. Look, I hated this gig, and besides you tall people always get to play Santa while the real elves,” and Marvin gestured to himself as if on display, “don’t get to play the jolly ole St. Nick. So, forgive me if I’m not such a happy leprechaun. I also don’t care too much for the goyim or their spoiled kids.”
“You’re Jewish?” Sammy asked.
“My name is Marvin Minkoff.”
“Who knew? Mine is Sammy Sagman,” he said with a smile.
“I know. I looked at your application after they hired you. What do you know? Two members of the tribe celebrating their lord and savior’s birth,” Marvin said as he put on his jacket.
“Which took place during Elul ,” Sammy said. “What the hell? Let’s go get a drink.”
Marvin grabbed his backpack, and they headed out of the department store and down the street looking for a bar that might be open. Sammy knew of a leather bar around the corner, but he wasn’t sure if Marvin swung that way. They walked a couple of blocks before Marvin stopped.
“There’s the Falcon, Down Under’s, the Garage … pick one,” Marvin said.
Realizing Marvin did swing that way, Sammy picked the Garage as it was the only one quiet enough to allow for a conversation. Sammy suggested they put their backpacks in the trunk of his car, so they doubled back to the parking lot, ditched their backpacks, and walked the four blocks to the Garage.
As it turned out, Marvin was not the jerk Sammy thought he was; he just wasn’t happy about his employment situation, and being a little person made it that much harder to find a job as many potential employers did not take him seriously when he came in for an interview. Sammy couldn’t quite figure out what Marvin did for a living, but it sounded a bit like an assembly-line supervisor or a social worker. And, Sammy didn’t bother interrogating him too much. Sammy was a print production manager before the company where he worked went under.
Around eleven, they decided to call it a night. They walked back to Sammy’s car to retrieve Marvin’s backpack before Sammy drove home.
“Do you need a ride?” Sammy asked as he closed the trunk.
“That’s OK; I can catch the bus.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, besides, it’s Christmas Eve; where are you going to get a bus at this hour?” Sammy asked.
“It’s just that …”
“Get in the car,” Sammy insisted.
Marvin climbed in, and Sammy asked where he lived. Marvin only gave him cross streets.
When they arrived at the destination, Sammy saw a rundown motel offering weekly rates and efficiencies. He was heartsick. In the few hours he had spent with Marvin, he had grown a little fond of him, and he didn’t like the idea of his having to live like this in what was essentially a crack house offering weekly rates.
“Is that where you live?” Sammy asked pointing to the motel across the street.
“Yeah, and don’t give me any lectures. I had a nice time tonight and thanks for the ride …”
“Not so fast,” Sammy interrupted. “Go in and get your things. I have a two bedroom apartment. My roommate moved out a while ago, and I need help with the rent. No arguments, you can stay for as little or as long as you want,” Sammy said, and he was surprised at how quickly he offered Marvin a place to stay. This was so not like him to let just anyone into his home; however, Sammy was a compassionate person, and he knew he would not be able to sleep nights knowing Marvin was living in these conditions.
“Look, I don’t need looking after …”
“I know, but I am not leaving you here. I don’t care how long you’ve lived here. This isn’t safe, and I’m
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