Son of the Mob

In this chapter, Vince provides us with some family background. He tells us of his and his older brother Tommy’s early belief, encouraged by their parents, that their family was not an organized-crime family but was instead in the “vending machine business” (13). Gradually, and after such poorly explained peculiarities as a sudden “class camping trip” at which none of the other boys in Vince’s class were present, Vince realized the truth about his family. He also realized that their house is bugged by the FBI; hence, their father’s jokey habit of saying goodnight to “Agent Numb-Nuts” after he has turned off the boys’ bedroom light at night (16).

Vince introduces us more fully to individual members of his family, both immediate and extended. He tells us about his father’s business associates, all of whom are called some variation of Uncle: Uncle Fin, Uncle Pampers, Uncle Exit. He tells us that he has over sixty of these “uncles,” in all. He describes his older brother, Tommy, as both violent and not very bright, and his mother as being obsessed with order, decorum and family meals. His father is a formidable negotiator, who subtly pressures Vince to join the business–which Vince is determined not to do–and worries about Vince’s lack of motivation.

This chapter also introduces us to the character of Ray Francione. Ray’s function in the organization is to shadow Tommy, so that he does not get too out of control: “If he’s upset about being reassigned as a nursemaid to a hothead, it doesn’t show” (24). Vince admires Ray for his calmness and reasonableness–rare qualities, in Vince’s world–and regards him as a confidante and a role model.

Vince and Alex decide to join the high school football team, although neither one of them are good at, or interested in, football. Joining the team is another one of Alex’s strategies for attracting girls: “‘Chicks can’t resist shoulder pads’” (29).

During their home opener, both boys are benched at first; in the middle of the match, however, Vince is told by their coach to get out on the field. He does inexplicably well out there, considering his lack of athleticism or experience. As he is going back to the bench, a boy on the opposite team approaches him; he recognizes the boy as “Johnny Somebody,” the son of Rafael, who is himself a member of “Uncle Uncle’s crew” (32). Later, back on the field, he notes the “fear” in the eyes of the other players watching him, and hears someone behind him whispering, “That’s him. Luca’s kid” (32). In frustration, he realizes that his triumph on the field has nothing to do with his talent as an athlete; instead, it is a consequence of all of the other players knowing who his father is.

To Alex’s confusion and disappointment, Vince decides to quit the team, right in the middle of the game. He is followed to the locker room by a reporter for the high school journal, a girl named Kendra Brightly, who presses him on what happened to make him quit the team so suddenly. While finding Kendra “[p]ratty cute,” he evades her questioning and mocks her poor knowledge of football (34).

Vince and Alex are given a tough new assignment for their least-favorite high school class, New Media: they are to design their own website. Their teacher, Mr. Mull nicks, tells them that their grade will be based solely on how many “hits” their website is able to generate.

That evening, Vince and Alex have plans to go to a party in New York City. The host is a boy named Elfie Heller, a former high school classmate who now goes to NYU. Before going to the party, Vince stops by Tommy’s apartment, since Tommy lives in Greenwich Village. He is greeted by a beautiful girl named Cede, whom he assumes is Tommy’s girlfriend; Cede tells him that Tommy is out and asks him if he would like something to drink. Her manner towards Vince turns increasingly flirtatious and familiar, and she starts rubbing his shoulders. She tells him not to worry about Tommy coming back, asking him, “Who do you think set this up?” (46). Vince realizes that she is not Tommy’s girlfriend, but a prostitute. Hiring her, he realizes, is Tommy’s way of trying to “make up for the Jimmy Rat thing” (46).

Vince flees the apartment and Cede, although Vince is tempted to stay: “It’s the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make, but I make it” (48).

Vince meets Alex at Elfie’s party, which is noisy, crowded and drunken. At the party, Vince once again encounters Kendra. Kendra is being harassed by a drunken fraternity boy, and she uses Vince as an escape, telling the boy that Vince is her boyfriend. Her ruse works, and the boy disappears, at which point Vince and Kendra start talking. This is when Vince learns that Kendra is the daughter of an FBI agent. Something about learning this information drives him to spontaneously kiss her: “It’s as if an unseen force takes over, and I have absolutely no say in the matter” (56). Some of his motive comes from attraction, but he is also still brooding about his family and their sway over his life. Vince feels the desire to get revenge: “Once, just once, I’d like to hand it back to them in spades” (56). Kissing an FBI agent’s daughter makes him feel that he is taking control of his own destiny.

At home, Vince father is waiting up for him. He wants to be sure that Vince is “all right with what happened” at Tommy’s apartment (61). He defends Tommy’s good intentions, but grudgingly admires Vince for his independence and strong will. He then states that he is going up to bed and turns off the living room lamp, first saying, as is his habit, “We’re going to bed if that’s okay with you, Agent Bite-Me” (62). Vince then remembers that Kendra’s last name is Bightly–a very similar-sounding name—and realizes that her father is not only an FBI agent but is the very agent who is bugging his house.