Big Mickey

I

Big Mickey runs the deli down the street. He’ s got everything in the world. He’s got whitefish, carp, beef, lox, halvah, stuffed derma, macaroni salad, pickles, rye bread, bagels, pumpernickel, biyalis – all fresh. What he doesn’t have, he can get, don’t worry. You want – he’ll get.  Bet on it.

Big Mickey let us kids stick our hands in the pickle barrel and suck the juice off our wrists. He screams when he sees us doing it, and he screams at least ten times a day. Big Mickey knows everybody in the world too.

II

Big Mickey can name all the players: baseball, football, basket-ball,  boxing, wrestling, hockey, tennis, golf, and the jockeys. Someone says, “He plays the ponies “ – at Roosevelt Raceway, Yonkers, Hilleah.  He’s a “betting man.” He smiles, thinking of expanding. Put in some tables. Get his liquor license.

III

Big Mickey screams more. He grabbed Joey the other day. Joey stuck his arm in the pickle barrel. Big Mickey is so strong he hoisted Joey up with one hand, then mumbled, “Sorry, kid”,  and suddenly got quiet.

Big Mickey tells Glen’s dad he wishes he could quit the ponies. Glen’s dad tells him lay low for a while. Big Mickey nods. After Glen’s dad leaves, Big Mickey wipes the counter energetically, then stares out the window, nibbling an onion roll. Picking up the phone, he dials, takes out an already-folded newspaper, and talks real low into the phone, whispering, “In the sixth, right.”

Big Mickeye hangs up the phone and walks back to the counter, smiling, “So who’s next? What’ll you have?”

IV

Big Mickey has very red eyes and bags. Not as many people come to his store any more. No kids stick hands in the pickle barrel. Mickey’s a grouch. Some days the store stays closed. Carolyn’s Ma says Big Mickey drinks like a fish. Other kids’ Mas say it’s none of Carolyn’s Ma’s business. Mickey has his life to lead. 

Besides, he’s a grown man. Too bad though. He ran a good store for a while. His corned beef wasn’t too fatty, his knishes weren’t too doughy, and his stuffed cabbage was out of this world. What’s more, he was a nice man except for his little problem that became two problems. This happens when you start  with one problem, and it becomes more than one.  Then you really got problems.

V

The new rug store where Mickey’s deli was has bright green curtains and a sign in the window: CARPETS FROM THE LOOMS OF MOHAWK. At first a lot of kids stand around the store, expecting to see Indians. But there were only a few people staring at rugs so we don’t come around that store anymore. Who wants to look at grey, green, and brown rugs?

No one knows what’s happened to Big Mickey.