MICKAEL'S KATHARSIS

Η ΚΑΘΑΡΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΙΚΕΛ

                                                     MICKAEL’S KATHARSIS  by Dim. Vagena

 1909
 the spring of that year, Michael arrived with the steamer ship "Messinia", at the port of New York city.

 Bending with his body weight , on the ship’s railing , looking at those enormous  buildings , with dozens of floors.

  Cars on wide streets , with eyes and ears full of images and sounds unprecedented  ,  for a young lad from Aigion Peloponnese Greece.

 That evening, he descended the staircase of the ship and headed for the city lights.

“Remember my words” The Boatswain , would say to the crew ,  "the kid , will leave us soon” . He  taught

 him two or three words in English, Greek, job, food and water , Mickael could not remember what they

 mean ,  simply , that they were related to food and work.

All of his money , of 12 dollars , were in his right shoe . Everyone he met on the road , he was literally

 bombarding them ,  with the four words of the boatswain ,  interspersed with Greek as "feele=buddy", "i

 panagia tha se antamipsi= the Virgin will pay u back", "patrioti=patriot" and other phrases , so

 incomprehensible to Americans.

 He found only a Greek church, where he spent his first night.

Not much of a church at that . Do not imagine any luxuries. It was an old warehouse, purchased from the Greek community ,  as a place to practice their religious needs. Papa Spyros , a young priest from the Greek town of Messologgi gave him space to sleep , fed him and found him a job. "You start on monday Michael, in a shoe factory , which is not far away, next to the docks." papa Spyros said , “a dollar per day , 12 hours  of hard work except Sundays”.

 At the factory , with the help of two Greek colleagues , he managed to find his way and soon found himself up and down the stairs of the Four-floor building , loading with leathers  and shoes.

  On Saturday noon heard his nickname , shouted out , " mike the greek to the office ". Statered " says whatguys??” , he asked the other two.They laughed and told him to go into the office and get paid, meet.................jack too ... Michael went into the office, wondering who the heck is jack!!!!!

 The accountant gave him 6 dollars, mumbled something in English and showed him the exit.There was no Jack anywhere ... but as he started to descend the stairs to the exit, a mountain of muscles and bones, blocked his pass.

  On his black, full of scars, face , a caricature of a huge smile  was painted , showing off his missing teeth ,when the bass voice said'  "Jack needs three dollars and you can leave then ".

 Michael did not understand what he said exactly ,  but seeing the black ugly face and listening to the word "dollars" did not need more to realise , that he wanted his money , "do u want my dollars nigger?? all u can get from mickael , is his balls" and jumped five to six steps below, throu the gap ,  between Jack and the wall .

 Mickael headed to the exit , with his ears echoing the cries of Jack. He arrived at the church's corner, where he  slept , the last few days , between  old blankets, panting and scared.
The priest came to him worried: "what happened Michael, what happened;;

  "Father Spyros, i will not go back to the factory , for anything in the world, I was just paid and a black monster asked me me money".

  The next day, Sunday, friends from the factory , found  and tried to calm  him down.

 "Michael everyone gives Jack , money, but not what he wants , just one or two dollars , so he does not  hurt us.Give him something next Saturday and everything will be just fine.”

  " Listen guys. I came illegally here to work and return home  with some money. I will give to that bully , nothing"

  "Good luck then my friend. He will beat the shit out of you and you will lose your job too" his friends replied."Jack is asking for the money , cause he works for our bosses.They use him to take some of our money back and scare us not to complain."

  "Makes no difference guys. I will not give him any of me money" mickael insisted , " if he will try to beat orhurt me , i will kill him.God is my witness".

  So next day he returned to his job , looking around for Jack. Not a sign of him , for a whole week.

  On Saturday ,  the whole factory seemed like holding its breath .The story of the mad Greek, was already the gossip of the week. Bets on how much Jack will beat him up, or the amount of money Mike would have to pay just to appease his anger, was the theme of all discussions.

  None of those , who were paid before Michael, left the building. Once Mickael got out of the office , a heavy veil of silence fell over the building.

  With a face as if it was carved in stone, Michael proceeded to his destiny.The moment Jack stood in his way nand tried to catch him , the blade flashed under the low lights, before he nailed Jack’s carotid and see him collapse dead on his legs.

  Michael ran to the port like all the devils of hell  , which he just created , were chasing him. He saw the Greek flag like in a dream . Never remembering  how he got on that ship and after 4 months , he was back home , having less than 18 dollars in his right shoe.

  They said , he died  from overage , without ever having a fight .