Nicky

[first lines]

Narrator:
In my heart, I love knowing that he's with me. I love knowing he's near. I hope he doesn't disapprove too strongly of what I'm going to do now.

Karen:
Where are you headed?

Narrator:
In the right direction, I hope.

Cigarette:
You think we'll get away with it?

Narrator:
Whether I get away isn't really the point, is it?

Cigarette:
I guess not. You could probably always plead insanity anyways.

Narrator:
What makes you say that?

Cigarette:
You're talking to a f***ing cigarette.

Narrator:
What was it like hearing their cries of fear?

Bartender:
You know why they pay so much? Because of the cries.

The Voice:
Hello?

Narrator:
It's me.

The Voice:
Are we on a safe line?

Narrator:
Yeah, I'm at a pay phone.

The Voice:
You must be close then.

Narrator:
Not far. A few more hours.

The Voice:
Have you found them yet?

Narrator:
The first one. Didn't realize he'd be so young.

The Voice:
Well, his organization has grown. He doesn't need to be the one on the streets these days. Besides, young men make for better hunters.

Narrator:
Piece of sh*t.

The Voice:
That's right. Hold onto that.

Narrator:
Yeah.

The Voice:
Hey, you're a good man. You'll be a hero when this is through.

Narrator:
Was there anything else?

The Voice:
Yeah, make sure it hurts.

Narrator:
[voice over] They told them I was coming. They thought this through. I just have to finish it. I begin to relax, sip my beer. Everything is set in motion.

Narrator:
He's back, I know it. He's somewhere.

Narrator:
[voice over] He's a sweetheart, huh? That's my youngest brother, or rather was my youngest brother, the day of my first wedding. Yeah, my first wedding, I know. Two and holding, thank you. That goes for the divorces as well, two and holding. That's Nicky waiting for my mom outside of the ladies room. I went on my honeymoon the next day and then moved away all at the same time. I never saw him again. See within six months no one would ever see him again - he vanished. Literally, not a single trace, not even the courtesy of a phone call or ransom note or anything. There was a shoe, not his, near the supposed scene of the abduction. I held onto that shoe for a long time, kept it in my car. I don't know why. His room is still as it was back then, mom insists on it. It's locked mostly, bed still unmade, toys and furniture as they were. They get dusted, that's about it. Mom is still waiting. She's sure he'll come back, having made his way in the world with outrageous tales to tell about how he's been in the merchant marine or some-such. But he won't and not even I can convince her of that. He won't, they just never come home. They don't. They unfortunately live forever at the age they disappeared at, all funny and sweet and loving and not knowing the horrors of the world. Let alone the horrors that befall them for just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I often, too often, think of him at that moment of taking, that moment of realization. "I'm in trouble. Is this really happening? Where is my brother?"

[repeated line]

Nicky:
Wake up, wake up!

Business Man:
Cute kid. What's he, five? Six? That's the popular age.

[repeated line]

The Voice:
You're a good man.

Narrator:
You take his money, right?

Bartender:
You're goddamn right I do.

Narrator:
Really? Why's that?

Bartender:
Because it's green.

Business Man:
We can talk, we can talk, we can talk!

Narrator:
[picks up a pair of pliers] We're talking.

Narrator:
[holding up picture] Take a look. Does he look familiar? His name was Nicky.