Ficlets

“How does it make you feel to know you got a load of kids runnin’ around town, and they don’t even know that your their daddy?” I asked Anthony.
“Guess it feels about the same as me knowin’ I got a load of relatives in this town that won’t speak a word to me.”
“At least they know you’re their relative. They come talk when they need a favor.” I lean on the edge of his desk and light up a smoke.
“Yea, and they run when I need one. Anyways, here’s the check for Little Tony.” Anthony hands me his usual amount.
“Anthony, why is it you pretend Little Tony ain’t yours just like the rest of ‘em, but you still pay me on the side?”
“You was the only girl I actually loved. Now get outta here I got a business to run.” Anthony uses a hand motion to shoo me away.

As I walk out of the old canning factory and take a breath of thick city air, I sigh and start talking to myself like I always end up doing when I leave Anthony’s office.
“He’s the only guy I ever loved too. What a mess up.”