When The Mafia Cries

“Do it, Andre! Do it now.” Little Andre’s hand was trembling under the weight of the gun he was holding. His eyes were filled with tears as he looked at his beloved dog that he was being forced to shoot by his father. “What are you waiting for, boy? Kill the f*****g dog!” Antonio Cimaro yelled at his son. “I can’t.” Andre whimpered and dropped the gun on the floor. “You weakling!” Antonio Cimaro said and slapped Andre on the cheek, sending him to the floor. “This dog was never a pet, boy. It was a tool to get you ready if you were one day going to run this clan. You need to be ready to sacrifice anything in order to be a competent Mafia leader. You cannot let silly attachments hinder you from being smart and effective.” he said. “But Benji is a good dog, father. He loves me and he’s loyal. Why do we have to kill him?” Andre asked. He couldn’t understand! “Your mother was a good wife to me as well, boy. She was loyal and I loved her, but on the night she was birthing you, there were several complications. It was a difficult birth and her womb got badly damaged. The doctors gave me a choice between saving you or saving her…and I chose you because I need a successor." “I let her die just so you’d be born. I sacrificed her life for this clan and I expect you to learn to do the same and this is your first lesson. Pick up the gun and kill the dog.” Don Antonio pointed at the weapon. Andre looked into Benji’s soulful eyes and when he heard his low whimpers, he just couldn’t bring himself to do what his father was asking. Benji had been his dog for the past four years and Andre could remember how happy he was when his father brought him the pet three years ago. He just couldn’t kill his best friend. “I can’t do it, dad.” Andre said and stared at the floor in shame. “Eventually, you’ll learn. If not today, then some other day. But for now, let me show you how it’s done.” his father said. Don Antonio picked up the gun and made sure it was properly c****d. He pointed it at the dog and was about to shoot it when he noticed Andre staring away. “Do not look away, boy. Watch him die the same way I watched your mother die.” he said with so much hate. “I don’t want to.” Andre replied. “I said WATCH!” Antonio screamed and shot the gun into the air to scare Andre into doing as he had ordered. In fear, Andre slowly looked over at his dog and waited for his father to do it. The gun went off twice and Benji collapsed on the floor, dead. Don Antonio tucked the gun into his trousers and stared at his son, waiting for his reaction. Andre just stared at his dead pet and could barely move. He was rooted to the spot, in a state of shock because of how much blood he was seeing. He had never seen anything as gruesome as this and it terrified him to think that this would be the rest of his life. Don Antonio was satisfied with the way Andre was reacting. It was exactly what he wanted; to scare him into seeing how dark and evil the world could be and how he would have to be cold and ruthless to survive it. “Carry him to the woods, dig a hole in the ground and bury him yourself. “ Don Antonio left Andre with the task, forcing his seven-year-old son to do something so nightmarish, a night that little Andre would never forget for as long as he was alive.