Donning the mask (part 1) - Joe

Donning the mask (part 1) A look back at how Joe Kerr came to be... The Bronx, New York, 1990 - The rare calm of a Saturday morning was broken by the bellowing roar of Frank Bartoli Salvatore. "Aargh! Evelyn! Anthony! *Sei Nei Guai! Quando mettere le mani su di te....." Sadly for Frank, his angry roar did not have the desired effect of putting the fear of God in his two children. Instead, the two kids brats merely laughed at their unfortunate victim and then proceeded to carry out their ritual of retreating to their rooms for safety. "What's with the screaming dear?" Lisa Gracie Salvatore asked as she stepped out of the kitchen carrying a towel and a plate of pasta. "Those darn kids of yours played another of their blasted pranks on me, that's what. Can't believe I fell for the old bucket of water over the door prank AGAIN!" Frank grumbled as he reached out for the towel his wife so graciously provided. Unfortunately for him, at that point, she withdrew said offering and instead arched an eyebrow at him. "Oh, so they're MINE when they're up to no good and they're YOURS when they're angels?" "Uh...Bella, you're right. I'm sorry. They're my brats children too. You know I'd never really hurt them. I just get so angry when they keep playing pranks. Why can't they do something constructive with that energy, like clean the deli for me?" Finally relenting and tossing the towel in her husband's lap, Lisa laughed and gave him a fat kiss on the cheek. "Speaking of the deli, you'd better change and go open it. It's almost nine." Muttering under his breath, Frank stomped back to their bedroom to change into a more suitable, and dryer, set of clothes before heading out to the family deli. Meanwhile, Lisa just went back to the kitchen and continued making the Lasagna that she knew would pacify Frank. Unlike Frank, she had realized pretty early on why the children targeted Frank. It had been Evelyn's idea to try and get him to lighten up and enjoy life, rather than always behave like a sour-puss around the home. Lisa had secretly supported the pranks as long as they never got too out of hand. Back in the children's bedrooms, a young, twelve year-old girl with flaming red hair and bright blue eyes giggled as she swapped Yankee trading cards with her younger brother. Evelyn Magdalena Salvatore was an energetic, and some would say precocious, little girl who loved three things more than anything else in the world - her family, the New York Yankees, and laughter. It was her love for the latter that had prompted her to play small gags on the people around her in an effort to get them to laugh and lighten up. Whenever she felt someone was too serious and needed a laugh, she'd cook up a prank or two to make them remember to enjoy life as much as she did. To aid her in her pranking escapades, she had roped in her brother, who despite being a year younger, seemed to show even more flair for pranks than she did. "I can't believe dad fell for that prank again. How many times have we pulled the bucket over the door trick on him?" "Dunno sis. You'd think he'd catch on by now." came the reply from her co-conspirator.. Anthony Joseph Salvatore was every bit as energetic, hyperactive and precocious as his beloved sister; the only difference was that he was more than a head shorter. However, what he lacked in height, he more than made up with in gusto. "Dad only has himself to blame for the pranks though. Despite what we do he never lightens up." Evelyn added. "Maybe he doesn't know how to laugh?" joked Anthony. The duo laughed as they continued to play with Evelyn's precious collection of Yankee baseball cards. As they did so, they came across one of Joe DiMaggio, Evelyn's favourite Yankee of all-time. "I still don't get why you like Joe DiMaggio so much. Reggie Jackson was so much cooler with all his home runs. Mickey Mantle too." "None of those had anything on good ol' Joe. He was the most reliable player on his team and though he didn't shine as much as some others may have, he was always there as the rock for his team, helping them win. He wasn't the biggest, flashiest or most good looking, but he had the most heart," replied Evelyn as she stroked the card in her hand. She then smiled at Anthony before continuing. "You're just like him you know. You may not be the tallest or flashiest little brother, but you're the most reliable little brother a girl could have, and I wouldn't trade you for the world. That's why you're my little Joe DiMaggio." Anthony smiled. That nickname always struck him as funny and always made him feel warm and fuzzy. Deciding to change the topic before he started crying, he brought up the subject of their next prank. "So sis, what's next? We can't do the bucket again and dad still has some of our other gags confiscated." Evelyn let out her signature mischievous smile. "I think it's time we introduce dad to some new flavours, don't you?" Anthony grinned with a smile that mirror his sister's as the two would spend the rest of the morning planning the prank and looking for the best day to strike. That day would turn out to be a very fateful Monday. On Sunday night, the two siblings made sure to go to bed extra early so that they could wake up earlier than their father and set the prank up. When Monday rolled around, the pranksters managed to wake up half an hour earlier than their dad. They would use this time to quickly switch Frank's special minty toothpaste with Wasabi paste then find a good vantage point for the trick. As planned, an oblivious Frank went into the bathroom, and after a good minute or two, let out a blood curdling scream that probably woke up most of the neighbourhood if not all of New York. Taking that as their cue to run for higher ground, the two kids turned to flee before their enraged father could get a hold of them. Anthony laughed as he ran towards the stairs but stopped when he realized Evelyn wasn't following. Something was off; Evelyn was usually the faster of the two and would always be leading the way - she always seemed to know the better hiding spots. Turning around to see what was the matter, Anthony froze as he saw Evelyn stagger and swoon before falling to the ground with a sickening thud. Running to her side, he shouted her name. "Evelyn! Wake up! Don't do this now. Stop pranking me. This isn't funny! Evelyn!" Anthony's shouting attracted both his parents to his side. Any anger that Frank had at the prank was soon replaced by concern for his daughter's well being. Cradling Evelyn in his arms, he yelled for his wife to call for the paramedics. Lisa, ever on the ball, was already on the phone and doing just that. Several hours later, the family was gathered at the hospital. Apparently, Evelyn had had a huge brain aneurysm. The doctors said it was a miracle she was still fighting for her life but there was nothing they could do; the rest was up to Evelyn. Most of what the doctor said flew over young Anthony's head. All he knew was the Evelyn was in the ICU and not responding to any of his shouts. He cried as he shouted into the pane of glass that separated him from his sister. Frank placed a strong, sympathetic hand on Anthony's shoulder and gently pulled him away. "Come on kiddo, let Evelyn get her rest. We'll be back tomorrow. You need to get your rest. Evelyn wouldn't want you to get sick would she?" Frank left a lot unsaid but in his heart he knew his girl was a fighter. He hoped she could fight through this. Reluctantly, Anthony allowed his parents to bring him home. Their house, usually full of tricks and laughter, was now sombre and silent. Friends, extended family and long-time patrons of Frank's deli all came to give their support to Frank and Lisa. Anthony was of course, oblivious to all this. He sat in Lisa's room and held her prized Joe DiMaggio card in his hands whilst crying. He missed her and he didn't know if he could live without her. "Don't die on me sis. Don't leave your "little Joe" all by himself." he begged, somehow hoping that Evelyn would hear him through some sibling connection or something. Despite all the prayers and all the well-wishes, Evelyn passed away a few hours later. The damage caused by the brain aneurism had been too much. It seemed like all of the Bronx and Little Italy had turned up for the funeral. Everyone in New York who had even a drop of Italian blood in them had turned up in Saint Raymond's Cemetery to offer support to Frank, Lisa and Anthony. Anthony spent most of that day just bawling his eyes out beside the casket in which his sister lay. Those eyes once vibrant and full of life, never to be opened again; that impish smile never to be seen again, and that laugh that would always cheer Anthony up, now never to be heard by anyone again. As the casket was lowered into the ground, an elderly priest came up a still crying Anthony and offered his condolences. "Do you miss her, child?" "I miss her so much now. I don't know what I'm going to do now that she's gone," bawled Anthony The priest smiled as he wiped away Anthony's tears. "You want to know a little secret? She's not completely gone. Your sister left a little part of her with you. She's alive in your memories of her, of all the fun times you've had together. She's alive in the hearts of everyone who remembers her." Anthony smiled for the first time in days. As he let the priest's words sink in, he resolved that day to keep his sister's memory alive forever, that way she would never truly be gone. He didn't know how, but he would find a way to do it.