Tough as Nails

[Stephen Torelli]

I remember her; she worked in the raincoat factory sewing raincoats and she supplemented her paycheck running numbers, you know, the lottery before it was legal. She smoked Lucky Strikes, swore a lot and was tough as nails. When her husband died in a street fight she continued working and booking numbers and put her kids through school though she never complained or gave reason for the way she lived, but that’s all she knew.

Well, I visited Sal and Sophia last night, both lawyers, and mama was sitting there and what do you think she said when she saw me? “How in the fuck you doin you big crybaby and I heard you joined the army and made a man of yourself.” Well, I never saw myself as a crybaby except for that time when Johnny got ran over and that other time when grandma passed and, oh yea that time….  

 

[Jeanette Cheezum]

Riviting 6. She was tough as nails and I suspect that was how she survived.

[Bill Floyd]

A fine & stirring portrait.  She does sound tough, and anyone who smokes Lucky Strikes and keeps on ticking is cool in my book!

[Diana E. Backhouse]

You have painted a vivid picture here, Stephen. From your tag, it looks as if this is part of a series. I look forward to more.

[Jamie Hogan]

I love how you thought to point out that she never complained or gave reason because it was all she knew. Many of us sitting in a pretty place can't understand how folks in a less pretty place don't know they are doing wrong. What if all of us in the pretty places are doing wrong?