Angelo & Catherine “Mambo Italiano”


Angelo and Catherine will mesmerize you. Two individuals: complete opposites. One born, so pure, imagined wearing the wings of angelic countenance, and the other, the attire of “God’s” nemesis: imagined in red, in full regalia, from head to foot adorned with horns and cuddling his authoritative spear: none other than Satan himself! What could have possibly brought two individuals of such a contrasting nature to formulate a lasting love affair culminating in hearts and flowers?


High atop a mountain in central Italy lives a family of four: The Marzianos, Mamma, Papa, Attilia and Angelo. Their wherewithal to exist is the fruit of the land. From sheep and goats came milk and cheese. And from the gardens, a host of nutritious foods including grapes that make the wine that ingratiates their table come supper. All in all, a life without the complexities of a town or city dweller.


In spite of all, without portfolio or announcement, come morning Attilia, baggage in hand, announces: “I’m going to America.” Concerned, and rightfully so, Mamma calls upon her younger son, Angelo, to venture forth and talk Attilia into giving up America and returning to the villa in the Italian mountains overlooking Naples. “Angelo,” says Mamma, “if he won’t return, you must go with him to watch his back! For unlike you, Attilia will go out of his way to find trouble.”


And so, our story begins. Attilia had signed on, unknowingly, with the American Mafia via the Freemasons, and Angelo followed to keep his Mamma’s request to watch his back, in spite of what the consequences would be! However, in order to do so, Angelo must follow the footsteps of Attilia to gain entrance to a secret society of years gone by, the Freemasons: The secret of a secret? It all began with an invitation. Though somewhat intriguing, it’s like a joyride through a haunted house! A traditional ceremony that, in fact, not only preceded but was mirrored, in later years, as La Cosa Nostra, to the extent that they virtually became one and the same.


Qualified aspirants: came to realize their invitation to a sacred temple really meant “In for a penny, in for a pound”: one way in and no way out! That was the fate that preceded Attilia and now Angelo as he gazed upon a spectra of paraphernalia upon the alter that adorned their ritual of a blood curdling event to be.


Though the ritual demanded absolute concentration, Angelo stole glances whenever and wherever to embellish his curiosity as to what was to be! He gazed upon the appropriations worn by the congregation: towels reflecting the “ICON” of Freemasons, hung from their waists and though the light was tantamount to a single candle straining to cast its glow throughout the temple, he was able to identify the dagger: blood dripping to the floor, and wondered?


Candlelight glistened off the silver chalice embroidered in gold, as drops of blood found their way. Angelo was reminiscing: he thought about the last words of his mother, “Watch your brother’s back!” Then realized, as the Worshipful Master of the lodge, chalice in hand, stood fast as his protruding arm pushed the drink forward. “Mamma,” thought Angelo, “who’s gonna watch my back?” Then he felt the cool chalice against his lips and smelled the hot blood beneath his nose. Angelo thought about the secret told by Attilia. “The secret is how to die?” said Attilia.


Angelo was in deep thought: wanting to know why he is the center of a ritual that commanded his thoughts when he heard the soft voice of the lodge’s Worshipful Master: “Take the oath, and complete your journey!” Angelo thought about his first degree, then the second, responding to the Worshipful Master as he pressed the bloody ceremonial dagger against his heart, urging the oath to complete his journey: the third degree! “Do you freely present yourself as a candidate for the mysteries of this brotherhood?” “I do!” said Angelo.


Angelo was choking on his promise to his Worshipful: thinking about the threat of terrible consequences if he ever shared the ancient secrets he was about to learn! The consequences: so terrifying, death would be a blessing. He forgot about “The Secret of Secrets” and focused upon Attilia’s words: “The secret of how to die!”


Angelo had withheld the truth. Had it not been for Attilia, and his promise to Mamma, he would have cared less to know “The secret of a secret?” His head was spinning, he began to twitch. Then he remembered how it all began: following Attilia, to learn the secret of how to die!


And so it was, a naive brother, Attilia Marziano would be easily recruited by those intent on propagating their anticipated futuristic circumvention of “Crime, Incorporated”: La Cosa Nostra. The good brother, Angelo, curtailing the antics of Attilia, a wayward brother. A mother’s words, echoing within, remind her second son to admonish her prayers, “Angelo, watch over your brother. Bring him back, for he knows not what he is about to do! For only you, my prayers, and those answered by the glory of our ‘Lord,’ will save both of you. Remember, Angelo, you must watch his back while protecting your own!”


The responsible son, Angelo, did exactly what was asked, in spite of brother Attilia’s wayward extravagance. One of which, together, as guests of a most renowned mobster: head of one of the most notorious crime syndicates under the umbrella of La Cosa Nostra, none other than the most volatile gangster of them all, Alphonse (Scarface) Capone.