Road to Respect ~ Sopranos

Chapter 2

"My wife invites this priest. He's always at the house, whether it's for Carmela or Joseph."

"Joseph?"

"Yeah, the man thinks he can save the kids soul or some shit." Tony laughs. "Joey gets annoyed by him a lot, tries to avoid him and save himself from a long-winded speech saying God can help him with all the shit in his head."

"Religion can be a very powerful outlet for someone who has gone through trauma."

"Maybe." Tony agrees. "But Joey never liked going to church and all that. Prefers trying to send people to God rather than talking to the big man himself." Tony chuckled a bit while the therapist didn't make a noise. "That's a joke."

Joseph

Joseph never really got used to crowds. On the street is one thing, it wasn't really a crowd, more like a large group of people going to where they were going, that's it. But parties weren't really something he enjoyed. The stupid small talk and the shitty expensive perfume and cologne that makes Joey want to rip off his nose.

And then there was the small talk with the neighbors no one really liked. "So, Joey, how long have you lived with the Sopranos?" One woman asked that Joey didn't really care enough to remember, she had buck teeth, so Joey just decided to call her beaver.

"A few years now." Joey answered with a fake smile and light voice. "They took me in when my parents fell on hard times."

One man smiled at him, this guy was fucking huge, Joey doesn't' mean in a good way either. It looked like the man's shirt was struggling to keep his gut on the inside. "I see, that's awfully kind of them, what did they do for a living."

Joey wanted to snort and tell this guy to fuck off, but than an idea hit him. He looked around and saw Carmela standing nearby in case he needed a way out and he smiled at her. 'This is going to be fun.' Joey cleared his throat and turned to the man. "My mother worked the corner." He said happily.

"S-she what?" The man asked while the Beaver looked appalled.

Carmela's eyes widened and stepped in. "Sorry, what he means is that she worked at that flea market over on Ash, you know that one?" Carmela sent him a look telling him to shut up that Joey decided to ignore.

"Ah I see." The man chuckled awkwardly. "And your father?"

"He sold drugs."

"Pharmaceuticals." Carmela corrected in a stressed voice. "How about you tell them about that jacket you have, Joey." Carmela suggested, trying desperately to change the subject.

"Oh, my grandfather stole it from a dead guy after he killed him and all his friends." Joey said cheerfully.

"You know what, why don't you take these out to Tony." Carmela practically ordered him while handing him a case of beer from off the table.

"Sure thing." Joey said with a smile before turning to the neighbors. "It was such a pleasure speaking to all of you." He walked outside to the back yard where Tony was getting the grill ready. "Hey, Tony, I got-" Joey stopped in his tracks When the duck started to flap around in the pool. Young man looked on as the young Ducks started to take flight above the house. That's when he heard Tony. He looked over towards the grill and saw Tony clutching his heart and swaying back and forth. "Tony, are you ok?" Joey asked as he placed a case of beer onto the ground. Tony gave an answer. He started to cough, and he fell over a table onto the grass.

"Mom, Daddy just fell down! Mom!" Meadow yelled, running over towards her father. Soon, AJ and Carmela started to run out to help her father and husband. Meanwhile, Joey ran to the grill to get the lighter fluid Tony dropped before he collapsed.