บท 3: Deborah
The first day shift wrapped up at 3 PM, and Lorenzo and Adam stepped out of the factory, pockets five dollars richer from their toil from 6 AM. Together, they made their way to the train, setting off towards the lower east side of Manhattan.
As the train carved its path through the city, Lorenzo reflected on his new reality. Conversations with fellow workers had unveiled a startling truth—he was living in 1943, amidst the throes of World War II.
This era was marked by austerity; citizens clutched ration books, a necessity to purchase scarce commodities like sugar, meat, and coffee. These measures were part of a larger effort to support the war, necessitating the rationing of food, gasoline, and other essentials.
Surviving on five dollars a day was a challenge for Lorenzo and Adam, barely covering their rent and food. When the train halted, they alighted and made their way to a Jewish neighborhood, with Lorenzo pondering his next steps in this historically fraught world.
Lorenzo also discovered that his friend Adam was Jewish, while he himself was of mixed heritage, with an Italian father and a Jewish mother.
The war had scattered their families—both their fathers had been called to serve overseas, and their mothers had left them in the care of the Jewish neighborhood, despite Lorenzo being only 16 and Adam a year younger.
Bonded by their shared circumstances, Lorenzo and Adam grew close, finding solace and friendship in each other's company.
As they wandered through the streets of the Jewish neighborhood, Adam suddenly suggested, "Let's grab something to eat at the deli, Lorenzo."
"Isn't that a bit pricey?" Lorenzo questioned, his brow furrowed in concern.
Adam just smiled, giving Lorenzo a reassuring pat on the back. "Trust me, it's worth every penny. It's delicious," he assured. With that, the two of them made their way to the neighborhood delicatessen, eager for a taste of comfort in the midst of uncertainty.
Stepping into the delicatessen, Lorenzo and Adam were greeted by the sight of desserts and various dishes showcased behind glass displays.
"What'll it be for you two?" asked a chubby young man behind the counter, eyeing both Lorenzo and Adam.
"I'll have a sandwich, please," Adam decided.
The young man then looked expectantly at Lorenzo, who, following Adam's lead, said, "A sandwich for me, too."
With a nod, the man disappeared into the back.
As Lorenzo settled in to wait, Adam suddenly stood, casting curious glances around before heading towards a specific direction. Watching Adam's suspicious movements, Lorenzo rubbed his chin thoughtfully and decided to follow, tracing Adam's steps to the restroom of the delicatessen.
Lorenzo had assumed Adam was merely taking a break, but to his astonishment, he watched as Adam clambered onto a wooden crate and reached for the upper wall of the restroom. With a swift movement, Adam removed a piece of wood, revealing a hidden hole. Lorenzo's eyes widened in surprise at the sight.
"What are you doing there, Adam?" Lorenzo's voice, sudden and curious, startled Adam.
Seeing Adam's shocked jump, Lorenzo couldn't help but chuckle. "What's going on? Are you spying on someone?"
Adam, hand pressed to his chest in a sigh of relief at recognizing Lorenzo, motioned for silence with a finger to his lips.
Curiosity piqued, Lorenzo climbed up to stand beside Adam. In a hushed tone, Adam whispered, "Remember the pretty girl I've been talking about these past few days?"
Lorenzo, puzzled and slightly conflicted due to not actually remembering any girl Adam mentioned—owing to his disconnection from his current body's past memories—decided to play along, "Yeah... What about her?"
Adam, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and nervousness, confessed, "I found out there was a peephole here, and... it looks into a room she often uses..."
"Interesting," Lorenzo commented, eyeing Adam with a mix of amusement and intrigue. "No wonder you suggested this delicatessen..."
Though Adam seemed a tad embarrassed by the admission, he couldn't hide his anticipation as he peered through the hole, "But she's still not here—"
"Shush!" Lorenzo suddenly cut him off, motioning for silence. The door to the room they were spying on opened, and in walked a stunningly beautiful girl. Clad in a white dress that accentuated her figure, her long hair cascaded perfectly over her shoulders, highlighting her smooth, flawless skin. The sight of her was so striking that even Lorenzo found his heart skipping a beat.
As Lorenzo's gaze fixed on the girl's beautiful visage, a thought unbidden crossed his mind, "Could that be Jennifer Connelly?" The resemblance was uncanny, but the momentary distraction faded as he observed the young woman, who appeared to be about 16, gracefully embarking on what seemed to be ballet practice, her movements flowing elegantly through the space.
This scene, somehow deeply familiar to Lorenzo, stirred a sense of déjà vu within him. It was reminiscent of a poignant scene from the film "Once Upon A Time in America," where a similar moment of observation and longing is depicted through the character of Noodles watching his love interest, Deborah, dance.
The coincidence of watching the young woman dance through the very peephole reminiscent of the one Noodles used, sparked a startling thought in Lorenzo's mind, "Could she actually be Deborah?" This connection between the scene before him and the iconic movie deepened his intrigue and wonder.
Lorenzo's recent conversations with his coworkers had led him to a staggering realization: he might actually be living within the universe of "The Godfather," evidenced by the presence of both the Barzini and Corleone families among New York's Five Families in this reality. This revelation made him ponder the possibility that elements from another cinematic classic, "Once Upon A Time in America," could also intertwine with this world.
Given that both films delve into the realms of crime and gang life, the idea didn't seem too far-fetched.
As Lorenzo watched the young woman, whom he'd internally dubbed "Deborah," dance before him, he couldn't hide his admiration.
Suddenly, a thud broke the spell. Adam, shifting beside him, had accidentally knocked against the wooden crates, sending a jarring sound through the quiet room. The dance halted abruptly as the young woman stopped and directed her gaze straight towards the peephole where Lorenzo and Adam were peeking.
"Who's there!?" she exclaimed, her eyes darting to the hole that revealed their peering faces.
At the sight of the young woman's direct gaze, Lorenzo quickly pulled back, realizing they needed to make a swift exit. Noticing Adam frozen in place, seemingly paralyzed by shock, Lorenzo had no choice but to grab him by the arm and hustle him out of the bathroom.
"Who's there!?" The young woman's voice echoed sharply behind them, but Lorenzo didn't look back.
As they returned to their table, Lorenzo couldn't help but chide Adam, "What were you doing? You froze up like a jittery joe out there."
Adam, still looking somewhat dazed, offered a sheepish apology. "I don't know. My heart just skipped a beat when she looked right at me..."
Lorenzo couldn't suppress a snort of amusement. "Idiot."
They settled at their table just as the young man returned with their order. "Here's what you asked for," he said, placing the sandwiches in front of them.
Lorenzo nodded in thanks, but as the server turned to leave, a curious thought struck him. He called after the young man, "Fat Moe?"
The young man stopped dead in his tracks and turned, a look of surprise etched on his face. "What did you just call me?"
Adam, sensing the potential for offense in Lorenzo's remark, quickly interjected with a nervous chuckle. "Ah, don't mind my friend. He might have confused you with someone else."
The young man, however, brushed off the concern with a shake of his head. "No, it's just... he used a nickname that only my close friends use." His gaze shifted back to Lorenzo, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Do we know each other from somewhere?"
"Uh, just heard about you from a friend," Lorenzo replied, managing a smile that belied his inner turmoil.
"Is that so..." Fat Moe murmured, before turning away and leaving them to their meal.
Adam, picking up on the odd exchange, teased, "Looks like you've got friends other than me, huh?"
Lorenzo, however, was far from the mood for banter. His face was etched with a serious expression, his mind racing. By calling the young man "Fat Moe," Lorenzo had sought to test a theory about the reality he was ensnared in. The server's recognition of the nickname confirmed it: they were indeed navigating a world woven from the threads of "Once Upon A Time in America." This realization weighed heavily on Lorenzo, as the implications of their situation began to fully dawn on him.
Lorenzo's discovery that he might be in a world blending elements of "The Godfather" and "Once Upon A Time in America" was staggering, but the presence of "Fat Moe" and the young woman who mirrored Deborah from the latter movie made the scenario undeniable.
The encounter with the young woman they had inadvertently spied on clinched it for Lorenzo. There was no doubt in his mind now; she was the spitting image of Deborah, a character pivotal to "Once Upon A Time in America," and her resemblance to Jennifer Connelly only reinforced this realization.
While Lorenzo was lost in thought, munching on his sandwich, Adam gave him a jittery nudge.
Lorenzo was pulled from his reverie and turned to Adam, puzzled, "What's going on?"
With a nervous grin, Adam tilted his head towards an approaching figure. Lorenzo's gaze followed to find the striking Deborah before them. She bore a striking resemblance to Jennifer Connelly, with a charmingly vexed expression....
Lorenzo, caught off guard, stammered, "Um... Can I do something for you?"
Pointing accusingly, the young woman demanded, "Were you two spying on me?"
Adam, mortified, began, "I... I'm sor—" but Lorenzo quickly silenced him with a hand over his mouth.
"No, you must be confusing us with someone else," Lorenzo interjected smoothly, without missing a beat.
Her suspicion evident, Deborah quizzed, "Why are you silencing him?"
Lorenzo stumbled over his words for a moment before replying, "Oh, no, that's not it at all. It's just that..." His thoughts raced as he struggled to find an explanation. "It's just that it's considered impolite to talk while eating, especially in the company of a charming young lady like yourself."
Deborah's skepticism lingered, yet without concrete evidence, her accusations remained unconfirmed.
Seizing a more congenial moment, Lorenzo smoothly transitioned, "By the way, I'm Lorenzo. And your name is?"
Adam offered a blank stare in the midst of the awkward exchange.
Lorenzo extended his hand in greeting, but Deborah hesitated, wary of the hand Lorenzo had just used to muzzle Adam. Noticing her hesitation, Lorenzo quickly wiped his hand on his shirt for a do-over. This time, Deborah, though still reluctant, accepted the gesture, introducing herself in kind, "I'm Deborah. Nice to meet you..."
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