| They were trudging along together through the sandMinetta with a grunt dropped his ration box on a new pile they were starting"No, Veneetz," he said"My grandfather was a big shot, you know, an aristocrat near Venice They turned around to go back to the landing craft"How do you know that stuff?" Minetta asked Polack
"Aaah, what do ya t'ink?" Polack said"I lived with a bunch of dagoesI know more about 'em than you do
"No, you don't," Minetta said"Listen, I wouldn't tell anybody this, 'cause you know how guys are, they'll think you're handing them a line of mulberry bayswater bag crap, but you can believe me, this is the truth, honestWe were really society, nobility, back in the old countryMy father never did a day's work in his life, all he'd ever do was go huntingWe had a regular estate
"You think I'm kidding youYou see, I don't look like an Italian, I got light-brown hair and light skinYou ought to see the rest of my family, they're all blond, I'm the black sheepThat's how you tell the aristocrats, they got light complexionsThis town we come from is named after one of my ancestors, the Duke of Minetta"What're we breaking our asses for, prada black bags let's take it easy
Minetta continued talking eagerly"Listen, I know you don't believe me, but you ever get to New York and look me up, I'll show you some of the family medalsMy father's always taking them out to show usMy aching back, he's got a whole boxful of them
Croft passed by them, and called over his shoulder"All right, troopers, let's quit fuggin the dog
Polack sighed and got to his feet"I'll tell you what, there ain't no future in thisWhat's it to Croft if we take it easy?"
"That guy is stripe-happy," Minetta said
"They're all that way," cheap tiffany's jewelry Polack answeredHe pronounced "that" as "dat"Jus' let me meet up with one of those guys after the war
"What'll you do, buy Croft a drink?"
"You think I'm scared of him?" Minetta said"Listen, I been in the Golden Gloves, I ain't afraid of any of these guys Polack's grin irritated him
"The only guy you could take is Roth," Polack said
"Aaah, fug you, there's no use talkin' to you
"I'm too ignorant
They lifted two boxes from the pile in the boat, and began to walk back to the supply dump"Boy, I can't stand this," Minetta burst out angrily"I'm losing all my prada logo ambition
"You think I'm just a fug-off, don't you?" Minetta asked"You ought to seen me back when I was a civilianI knew how to dress, I had an interest in life, I was always the leader in everything I didI could be a noncom now if I wanted to buck for stripes, suck the way Stanley does, but it ain't worth itYou got your self-respect
"What do ya get worked up for?" Polack asked"You know I was makin' a hundred fifty a week, and I had my own carI was in with Lefty Rizzo, but 'in' There wasn't a dame in the world I couldn't make, models, actresses, good-lookin' vintage cartier watch twots |