Free The Punishing Game by Nathan Gottlieb Page A

did.”
    Boff rolled his eyes. “Mom, that was forty years ago! Who can remember the lyrics?”
    “You can. Come on. For your dear old mother. One last time.”
    Boff glanced at the girls. They weren’t paying attention. As he shook the box, he sang the jingle in a soft voice.
    Once upon a time there was an engineer
    Choo Choo Charlie was his name, we hear.
    He had an engine and he sure had fun —
    Nina and Marta looked at him and giggled. He stopped singing.
    “Finish it, Frankie,” Thelma said. “Or I’ll take away your candy.”
    With a huge sigh, he obeyed.
    Charlie says, Love my Good & Plenty!
    Charlie says , Really rings my bell!
    Charlie says , “Love my Good & Plenty!
    Don’t know any other candy that I love so well!
    The girls clapped. Boff grimaced and waved thanks.
    “That was so nice,” Thelma said, using the corner of her apron to wipe her eyes. “It sure brought back memories.”
    Boff opened the box and shook some candy into his mouth.
    “You look great, Frankie. I wish your father was alive to see you.” She looked away a moment, let out a sigh, then turned back to him. “So who’re you defending these days? Murderer? Arsonist? I love your stories. It’s like I have a son who’s this sleazy TV detective.”
    Boff looked taken aback. “Mom, I’m not sleazy.”
    Thelma laughed. “Sure you are. But a cool sleazy, you know what I mean?”
    “No, I don’t. I’m a highly-respected private investigator with a great wife and great kids. I live in the suburbs and lead a perfectly normal life.”
    “Save the BS for court. This is your mother you’re talking to. So how are Jenny and the kids?”
    “Jenny looks as beautiful as the day of our senior prom.”
    “She was prom queen, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “What about Sharon and Steven?”
    He shrugged. “They still call me Boff instead of Dad. You need to know more?”
    Thelma tapped his hand with her finger. “Trust me, son, they love you.”
    “I know. Listen, Mom, I’m working on something in Brooklyn involving really dangerous people.”
    She shrugged. “So what else is new?”
    “But this time I’m working against them, not for them. So I’m a little concerned for your safety. You know how you’ve always wanted to take that trip to Israel?” He took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her. Opening it, she pulled out plane tickets. But instead of looking thrilled, she frowned.
    “This is a nice gift, Frankie…but I can’t go to Israel. I have to watch the store.”
    “I’ll get someone to work for you. A person you can trust.”
    Thelma shook her head. “Since Dooley died and my sister moved to South Jersey, this store is my whole life. I don’t want to go to Israel anymore. I want to stay here. The kids like me. They call me Mama Boff. Can you understand that?”
    “Yes, of course, but I’m still concerned for your safety.”
    Thelma waved a hand at him. “Not to worry. I’m well protected.” She pointed toward the front window. “See those two Puerto Rican boys outside? They watch out for me.”
    “Really? You hired them?”
    “No, no. I take numbers for Enrique Solis. Those are his runners.”
    Boff’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding. Right?”
    “No. What’s the big deal?”
    “Mom, it’s against the law! You’re a sweet little old lady. I don’t want you mixed up with a mobster like Solis.”
    “Frank Milton Boff! Why is it okay for you to get the worst kind of criminals off, but I can’t make a little extra cash taking numbers and doing the football sheets?”
    “If Papa knew what you’re doing, he’d be angry.”
    She just laughed. “You were such a naïve kid. Dooley was the one who started us taking numbers! How do you think we had enough money to put you through college?”
    Boff looked stunned. “I can’t believe you guys took numbers and didn’t tell me.”
    “Such a thing you don’t say to a child. Tell me something. How do your kids feel about what you do for a