“Thanks again for the lift,” I bubbled, sitting in the passenger seat next to Stolaro, while Jack remained scrunched up in the back seat, his angry mug showing an immense displeasure with the current situation.

  “It's no problem,” Stolaro rejoiced,” you caught me right at the start of my very own road trip!”

  “Really!?” I asked with intrigue.

  “That's right,” Stolaro tugged the breast jacket of his powder blue suit, “what you see before you is a changed man! A...sales man!”

  “Oh my!” I responded with delight.

  “Sounds about right,” Jack grumbled from the back.

  I whipped around and shot daggers at him, before turning back to face Stolaro with excitement. “What have you to offer? Try your best sales pitch on me!”

  “Well,” Stolaro beamed, “since you asked,” he cleared his throat violently and re-adjusted himself in his seat, while speeding down the road. “Hello ma'am, are you a housewife?”

  An awkward pause awaited us, as I was unsure if I should answer or not.

  “Are you tired of using that same ol' grime covered pan from 1950?” Stolaro Continued. “Well I have a solution for you!” He frantically pointed with a free hand to a lumpy black knapsack squeezed next to Jack.

  I motioned to Jack, who sighed before opening it up and pulling out a dusty and heavily scratched nonstick sauce pan. “This is it--”

  “That's right,” Stolaro chimed back in, “Everything slides right off that surface.”

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  “You know people can get these everywhere now, right?” Jack said, annoyed.

  “Hush, hush,” Stolaro spoke over him, “this is Italy, we're still 20 years behind.”

  “That's not true,” Jack stated, inspecting inside the knapsack further. “Are these stolen--”

  “Well,” I think it's great!” I tried to build up Stolaro, remembering who was currently chauffeuring us along to our goal, while slightly enjoying winding up Jack in the back too, glaring at him with a raised brow. “I'm glad you're turning things around!”

  “And it's all thanks to you two,” Stolaro said, gratefully. “But what brings you up this far? Not selling any wares that I should worry about competing with?” He chuckled uproariously, his now greased mop of hair loosening from its disorganized hair plug pompadour and bouncing in the throes of his laughter.

  “On a mission, further up north,” I pronounced excitedly, though that feeling waned when I thought more about that same mission.

  “Trying to get away from the Don?” Stolaro laughed. “I hear you embarrassed him good and he's still out for blood. Mine too,” he hung an imaginary noose around his neck and yanked it to the side in mock choking.

  “I'm not worried,” Jack said, “we'll sink him again.”

  “That's the spirit!” Stolaro cheered.

  I, however, didn't feel in as celebratory of a mood anymore.

  “It's okay,” Stolaro patted me on the knee, “It can only go up from here.”

  “There's the border,” Jack pointed at a busy checkpoint from the back. “You can let us off there.”

  “That's the plan,” Stolaro confirmed, “ Not sure I could..ahem...legally get through there...at the moment.” He looked nervously at the knapsack next to Jack through the rear view mirror.

  “Thank you though,” I said, turning to him with sincerity, “we really appreciate your help.”

  “No such thing as a debt between friends,” Stolaro said. “I look forward to the day we met again.”

  “As do we,” I smiled and looked back at Jack. “As do we,” I repeated with an edge.

  “Yeah,” Jack groaned, “thanks.”

  “No,” Stolaro said, “thank you my friend,” he slowed and turned to look at Jack with a genuine smile. “You know, there is a two for one deal going on right now with the pans. I cut you a great deal, a friend deal.”

  “You grifter,” Jack shook his head.

  “Jack,” I tried to force down a thin smile and laughter, “It sounds like a good deal.”

  Jack stared back at me, unamused, before reaching into his pocket and grabbing some spare change. “This is for the ride,” he reached forward to offer it.

  “No, no,” Stolaro said, “I couldn't!” Before slithering his hand back, and pocketing the money in an instant. It was mesmerizing.”Where to next?” he followed up, changing the subject.

  Jack rolled his head around his neck, loosening the kinks. “Maybe it is time to call in a little favor.”