you had just came to america, specifically new york, from sicily. you were living with your mother, since your father had passed when you were young. she was very strict. she did not allow you to date, nor go out on a date. if you were with a boy, you had to remain in her eyesight.

but, you weren't very good with boys. they always seemed to make you nervous, even the ones you didn't find attractive - which were most of them. so, your mother never really worried for you.

one day, she send you out to get groceries at abbandando's. you went down there, your mother telling you that she needed you home in twenty minutes. with the time looming over your head, you decided to ask one of the men working if he could help you.

the man, who looked well into his twenties (he was only eighteen), was very attractive - slicked back, black hair, dark brown eyes, a mustache on his lip, thin but strong features. he had a soft voice, and he helped you with no problem.

he reached into the back of the shelf for a jar of olives, then said to you, "it is never any good to take things that’re first on the shelf."