Chapter 16
The subway was chugging up and over the Manhattan Bridge and the muddy East River into Brooklyn, before it crept back underground on its way to Coney Island. Dewalt was giddy, like a kid, excited to introduce Neal to the last, decaying bit of New York sideshow grandeur.
“We’d hit it in the summer, me and Boney,” Dewalt said. “Got me into tattoos and s**t. You gonna love dis shit.”
Neal realized he’d often spoken of himself, but never asked Dewalt about his past.
“Did you ever go with your family?” Neal said.
Dewalt stood up, leaning against the grimy train’s window and looking out at the last glimpse of the water before they slid down into the underground darkness. As they went underground, he sat near Neal.
“I was raised by my Aunt, Big Lou,” he said. “My mom died when
