📚 First Chapter: A Reservoir Man by L.J. Ambrosio #FirstChapter #ChapterOne

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Title: A Reservoir Man Author: L.J. Ambrosio Publisher: Film Valor Pages: 340 Genre: Fictional Memoir

Blurb:

A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.” Twists and turns further pull the reader in to Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity. “Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.” — R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday.com. Soft Cover: ISBN: 979-8985965117; 340 pages; $9.99; Hardcover $19.99; Kindle $5.99 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TUjOEX Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61401919-a-reservoir-man Bookbub: https://www.bookbub

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE 1947-1951 Michael was born on February 20th, 1947. His father, Andy, was Italian, his mother, Frances, Polish. Frances and Andy were the radiance of love. The day of Michael’s birth they were standing in Saint Mary’s hospital in Brooklyn looking at the babies in the maternity ward, but instead of being filled with joy and excitement, their faces were worn with fear and sadness. For many long minutes, Frances had been quietly weeping as Andy held her tenderly, their eyes fixed on the hole in their son’s lip. Suddenly, the doctor approached them, looking very content. “Thank God,” he said, his voice echoing in the hallway, “Your baby did not have a cleft palate. It was only a hair lip.” Andy glared at the doctor but said nothing. Behind his silence was a man of great strength. He was a professional boxer, winning all sixty of his matches, less an eye. Andy’s eye had a detached retina; it happened during one of his last fights. Andy had known the feeling of having a defect. He struggled with the thought of his son, deformed, in a society where perfection was the keynote of success. Frances was noticeably quiet, loving, and sensitive. Frances had all the ingredients of a strong Polish woman. She was extremely loyal to Andy despite many friends and family telling her not to marry him. They would ask her, “How could a man with one eye provide for a family?”

Her love was so strong and pure no one swayed her feelings toward him. Andy was extremely intelligent for a young man with only a third-grade education. He had many names: Andrew, Vesuviano (after the mountain from his mother’s hometown in Italy), and Lazarus. Andy had risen from the dead. His mother almost had a miscarriage—therefore earning the name Lazarus. Finally, he had his boxing name, Frankie Lazari. Andy had a great following when he was in the ring. So many people wanted to help him when he married Francis. Dutch Schultz, the infamous mobster, even attended all of Andy’s fights and helped him and Frances settle into their new apartment. Andy was very firm that he wanted to maintain an Italian home. Frances, Andy, and Michael waited in front of the emergency entrance of Saint Mary’s hospital to be picked up by Andy’s brother, Patty, who was visibly disturbed by Michael’s condition. They had great anxiety about their family’s reaction to Michael coming home. As the car approached the gray stone apartment house, the wounded couple were ready to face the family waiting for them upstairs. Michael began crying. His cries were not that of a regular newborn baby, but a combination of whistles, snorts, and musical flaps. As they entered the apartment, the family members slowly approached Michael. No one said, “Oh, what a beautiful baby!” but instead they all gaped as if they were seeing a circus side show. Michael’s crying never seemed to stop. It was feeding time, but there was no way those flaps can go around Frances’s nipples. The nurses taught them to hold the flaps together and let the baby suck on her breast. Though Cathy, Frances’ sister, had a better idea to tape the flaps together. Cathy said, “Now the hole is gone.”

Aunt Margaret, Andy’s beloved sister, wanted to know how the hair lip happened. Cathy told the family it was Sally’s fault! Sally, the next-door neighbor’s daughter, hit Frances with a rubber ball in the stomach. The rubber ball incident became the prevailing belief of the family until each member of the family died taking this belief to their grave. Frances and Andy knew better than any of them. Frances and Andy interviewed many plastic surgeons to make Michael’s lip cosmetically better. They understood that if it were not properly corrected, Michael would have a bad speech impediment. Finally, they found a doctor who could correct Michael’s hair lip. The procedure would take up to five separate operations. The cost was prohibitive, but Andy and Frances had a lot of friends who wanted to help Michael. Michael liked his two older sisters. Lisa, the younger of the two, was childlike towards Michael. She was overly protective but could not stop jiggling Michael’s lips together, making a strange perverse sound. Phyllis, the older sister, was withdrawn, dealing with Michael with extreme intensity as if she were plotting how-to beat-up Sally, that girl with the ball. Andy and Frances would always take the baby carriage down four flights of steps and walk through the neighborhood with Michael. He enjoyed the fresh air and seeing people around him. As they walked down Belmont Avenue, so many people would come up and comment how beautiful he looked. Andy and Frances knew they were being kind, but they were happy Michael got attention. There were the occasional assholes.

One day a man came up to the carriage and screamed: “This kid is a fish!” Frances turned her back, and tears streamed down her face. Andy turned to the guy and said, “This is my son, and I am sure he is glad to meet you.” Andy could not understand how men could be so cruel, having no compassion. Frances, at the helm of the carriage, just wanted Michael to feel free being pushed down the street. The onslaught of operations began. Michael had four in five years. The first two made him appear worse. Andy and Frances started to have doubts in the surgeon; he was graphing skin all over Michael’s body, leaving large birth-like marks. Lisa was sure the surgeon was selling Michael’s skin to other people. The third and fourth operation were successful, but the wear on Michael’s physical appearance was very noticeable. The fifth operation was now on the horizon. The prep work started for Michael’s operation; he told his parents he did not want any more. He was tired of the hospital. Most parents would tell their child to stay with it. “Fine, no more! You are just going to be great. I love and respect you,” said Andy. This was Andy’s strongest desire, to comfort his son. He survived, so will his son. Andy had the greatest dreams for Michael. No more four story walk up. Andy bought a house for his family when Michael was four years old. It was a big house, big back yard, lots of rooms. Michael was so happy, but he was sad to leave his friends Mrs. Rosen, Mrs. Mandel, and all the other grandmas in the apartment house. He would miss turning their lights on, rolling the toilet paper, and turning on the stove on Friday nights. These ladies genuinely loved Michael and he loved them too.

About the Author

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career. You can visit his blog at www.LJAmbrosio.blogspot.com or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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