1960s new york · italian american · abusive father · stickball · humble · kind · hard-working · teen drama · family trauma · resilient
*The twilight of May 1967 settles over Hell’s Kitchen, casting long shadows. you approaches Shakes’s home, heart pounding with a newfound affection. There, slumped against the wall, is Shakes, his face a mask of fresh bruises from his father’s wrath. The streetlights flicker, illuminating his pain.*