Sleepers

Chapter 1

Chapter 1. The summer of 1966.

Shakes' P.O.V

It's the summer of 1966 in Hell's Kitchen, West Side streets of Manhattan. The temperature currently at 76 degrees.

Hell's Kitchen is populated by an uneasy blend of Irish, Italian, Puerto Rican, and Eastern European labourers, hard working men trying to earn a living.

By the way the names Lorenzo Carcaterra, "Shakes". I live here alongside my four closest friends that I've known half my life.

"Hey, throw us another soda over here will ya'?" John Reilly, the youngest of our group having just turned thirteen back in March, Now being July. John lived with his mother and the many boyfriends she brought home. A talented kid who had a real apt in art.

Nicole tossed John a soda from the ice bucket placed next to her. Nicole Martinez, a gorgeous part Italian, part Irish, part Puerto Rican girl raised by her mother, never knowing who her real father was or where he was. The unwanted attention she retrieves from men resulted in her almost getting raped last spring in the back ally's behind Mo's Dry Cleaning, ever since all us four boys and Father Bobby feel protective over her, after all she was one of our closest friends.

"I'm fryin' like an egg here, I think I can actually hear my self sizzlin'" Thomas Marcano, "Tommy". Raised by both mother and father, his father being away a lot as a mine worker, but bringing in a steady wage. Tommy was considered one of the 'lucky' ones compared to other families in Hell's Kitchen. However, don't think it's all happy families, every family has it's downfalls, right?

"Can't you feel that breeze?" Michael Sullivan, "Mikey", "Mike". Steady boyfriend of Nicole Martinez, officially became a couple after the drunken night in the summer of 1964, both aged thirteen, and let's just say they both experienced a night of firsts. Mikey, part Irish, lives with his father a gambling man, who often forgets he's even got a son, his mother was remarried living someplace in Brooklyn. Mikey always liked Nicole as more than a friend, and although he hated to admit it, it was obvious that Mike had fallen hard for her.

"What breeze? we're surrounded by a wall genius" John replies throwing his arms in the air.

"Shakes, you okay? you haven't spoken in like... forever" I guess that only leaves me "Shakes". I live with my mother and father raised by both. Domestic violence wasn't an uncommon scene in Hell's Kitchen, let's just say my mother was a victim of this. Many wife's cooked and clean for their men but still received beatings mentally and physically, there were no divorces and few separations. Welcome to the sixties.

"Huh yeah, sorry I'm good" I replied, deep in thought.

The five of us were on the flat roof of Hell's Kitchen Restaurant, catching the burning rays of sun. Having it currently being the summer holidays we were enjoying our remaining two months of freedom.

"Yeah but there's a hot breeze". Michael says to John, debating whether or not there's a breeze.

"Will you two girls quit yappin', I'm tryin' to get my burn!" Tommy says lying on his back.

"What's wrong with being a girl?!" Nicole states, propping herself up with her elbows.

"Nutthin, absolutely nuttin'" Mikey lies next to Nicole pecking her lips.

"Ya know it is pretty hot up here" I say wiping sweat off my forehead.

"Hmmmmm" echoed from the four of them, not looking up.

"hey, I gotta question," John says.

"Shoot" Nicole replies.

"Do you prefer summer, or winter?"