The Assassin

The Assassin(Joseph Logsdon) The Assassin
By Joseph Logsdon
James Raft was a notorious outlaw and gangster. As a young man, James was poor and uneducated. Because of his hard life, James wanted to become a successful man, but only on his own terms. Without hesitating, James made a living as a drug dealer. For the first time in his life, James felt secure and complete.
After many years of breaking the law, James fell in love with a nightclub singer. Like James, Tipsy Novak came from a poor background, but as time passed, she managed to secure a modest living. One afternoon, James visited his fragile girlfriend.
“I love you,” James stated as he entered the dressing room.
“What are you doing here?” Tipsy asked.
“I wanted to see you, is that a crime?”
“Everything you do is a crime,” Tipsy joked.
“I wanted to hear you sing,” James stated.
“Why is that?”
“Come on, Tipsy, don’t play games with me,” James pleaded.
“I’m not playing games,” Tipsy replied.
“We’ve been together for 3 weeks, and for some reason, you still won’t let me touch you. I’ve been patient, haven’t I? Look, I know that I have a wild reputation, but that was years ago.”
“James, it’s not that I don’t care about you, it’s just that I can’t afford to have a relationship right now. I know that you’ve been patient, and, if things go right, I’ll have sex with you. Until then, be patient,” Tipsy stated.
“I didn’t mean to sound like a perverted fool,” James replied.
“Even if you were, I wouldn’t care,” Tipsy laughed.
“Why is that?”
“I don’t care about virtue, or goodness. You see, James, I only want to get ahead in this life. To be perfectly honest, I’m probably worse than you, much worse.”
“What do you mean, exactly?”
“If you stay around long enough, you’ll find out,” she laughed.
“You’re wicked, aren’t you?”
“I have to be, otherwise, people wouldn’t respect me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Even today, the world still belongs to men. Sure, they talk about equal pay, but, in the end, nothing has changed. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
“Yes, I understand, at least I think I do,” James answered.
“So, are you going to watch me sing?”
“That’s why I came,” James stated gleefully.
“Well, hopefully, you won’t be disappointed,” she stated.
That night, James watched as his beloved girlfriend sang to him. Before James could listen to the song, a man tapped him on the shoulder. At first, James refused to address the man, but he soon realized that his attention was needed.
“Mr. Raft, I must speak with you,” the man requested.
“Sir, you’re distracting me,” James replied.
“I don’t care,” the man exclaimed.
“Sir, do you know who you’re talking to?”
“Do you?”
“Sir, what are you talking about?”
“I’m Edward Greenstreet,” the man answered.
“Tell me, Mr. Greenstreet, are you in the drug business?”
“I am,” Edward answered.
“What do you want with me?”
“I only want to talk,” Edward answered.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“The future,” Edward answered as he took a seat.
“If you think that you can become a partner in my business, you’re gravely mistaken.”
“Sir, you, I’m afraid, are mistaken. Right now, there is an assassin in the room. I don’t want to be cruel, but, if you refuse to comply, you will be shot,” he threatened.
“Don’t threaten me, understand?”
“Mr. Raft, I need your answer,” Edward stated.
Before another word could be spoken, the song came to an end.
“Did you like me?” Tipsy asked as she left the stage and approached her boyfriend’s table.
“You were wonderful,” James answered.
“Raft, I need your answer,” Edward stated.
“Please, Edward, not in front of my girl,” James pleaded.
“Who’s this?” Tipsy asked as she put her arms around her boyfriend.
“That’s no girl,” Edward laughed.
“Don’t insult her!” James shouted.
“I’m not, I’m telling the truth.”
“What are you talking about?”
Suddenly and without warning, Tipsy removed her wig. At first, James didn’t want to believe it, but, ultimately, he had to accept the fact that Tipsy was, indeed, a man.
“No," James exclaimed.
“What’s the matter, don’t you love me?” Tipsy asked.
“Edward, this is your doing,” James exclaimed.
“Oh, no, this is, in fact, your doing!”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you had cooperated, you would’ve been spared the pain of knowing the truth about your beloved girlfriend. Unfortunately, you refused to accept my offer,” Edward stated.
“Tipsy, why did you do it?”
“Edward offered me money, and that is the only reason. Believe me, I had feelings for you, but I had to support my children.”
“And now, finally, he is going to shoot you,” Edward announced.
Before James could respond, a bullet passed through his head. Edward Greenstreet, after years of struggling, had finally murdered his rival.
“He was certainly a difficult man,” Edward laughed.