City of Gangsters: City of Gangsters
Something Valuable

Astrid quickly ran over to Michael, with worry clearly drawn on the girl's face, Astrid then helped Michael stand up.

"Hey are you all right?" Astrid asked worriedly, her tiny hands trying to tidy up Michael's coat but being patted by him.

With a stagger Michael took the wooden bracelet that had fallen off earlier, then he quickly put it into the pocket of his coat.

"Astrid!! "

A woman appears who looks like a copy of the adult version of Astrid but the difference is she has black hair without any blonde color, the woman looks very beautiful and may be only 28 years old.

Astrid's parents, worried and angry on her mother's face, approached her daughter.

"Had I told you to wait in front, you went far away, I was worried that I thought you were kidnapped" she said, hugging Astrid.

"I'm just walking for a while mom"

"You always do, next time don't go unbeknownst to the mother" the woman's advice as she flicked her son's forehead.

"It's good mom,"

Then Astrid's mother looked at Michael.

Seeing her bruised body, and in pain as her hands held onto Astrid's mother's belly felt sorry for Michael.

"Hey brother, we better get to the hospital first"

But unfortunately his words were not written by Michael, by walking staggering Michael moved away from the place. But astrid held michael's hand.

"You have to go to the hospital" he said with pity, Michael stopped and looked at the boy.

"I don't know what the problem is until you're projected, but looking at the wound on your body we'd better check it first, for the cost I'll pay" Astrid's mother said.

Michael was just stunned, only this time there was a stranger who was worried about him, to be honest the pain in his stomach felt very piercing, Slowly he nodded, he had no choice, he had no choice, this person offers free treatment, rather than using his own fees which are quite expensive for him.

"Alright, then let's get in the car"

"Here I help" Astrid then circles Michael's hand to his shoulder helping him walk.

The three of them rushed towards the parked car about 30 meters from the slum, right next to a food store.

when he got there Michael saw a Lancia Lambda car output in 1922, the latest type of car and the price is quite expensive, making Michael ask who exactly is the person who helped him?. the three of them got into the vehicle.

saint Helena Hospital, East lower side district

10 Minutes passed, the rays of the sun had already started to pierce through the cloudy clouds in the sky and illuminate the city, giving a warmth in this cold November, he said, the Lambda car was headed towards the front parking lot of the hospital where there were not so many parked vehicles.

'Krieet' the sound of the handbrake pull rang, Lambda's car parked perfectly.

Bopong by astrid they rushed to Saint Helena Hospital, which was the only largest hospital the city of East Bay had.

After they went inside, Astrid's mother approached the nurse standing at the reception desk

"I need quick treatment without having to wait for the boy, and of course I'll pay more"

The nurse nodded her head, demanding the three of them to the examination room. Michael was laid on the bed that was available in the room.

The nurse immediately came out of the room, not long before the doctor and 2 nurses entered the examination room.

"Hello dik, I'm a doctor anton permission will do the examination" said the doctor to Michael. Which is only answered with a nod.

After that, Anton immediately did an examination, although in that year it was available Rentogen was found in 1895, but the tool was only available in large hospitals only.

Michael's bruising was treated by two nurses, while the doctor examined him, which took thirty minutes. Dr. Anton breathes and smiles, then he looks at his mother Astrid.

"This sister is okay, it's likely that only her stomach was lightly injured and in shock, lucky that her impact wasn't too hard." Said Dr. Anton while noting the drugs that must be given.

"No need to be treated, Doc? "

"No, get enough rest and take regular medication" he said, handing over the prescription to his mother's astrid.

"If your stomach still hurts, you come here again, well then thank you" said doctor Anton as he left the examination room.

Michael was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when he found out that he had only suffered a mild injury. The pain began to be somewhat less pronounced when Anton's doctor told him to take pain medication during the examination.

"Thank God, son, you didn't have any major injuries" the woman said, handing over Michael's topo appolo.

"I'm very grateful for your help, mrs" Michael replied as he lowered his head.

"then I will take the medicine and administration first, Astrid you wait here"

Astrid's mother then left them both to take care of the administration.

Astrid then looked at Michael.

"Hey, what's your name? " Ask astrid

"Michael's"

"My name is Astrid Fiona Callista" replied Astrid.

"That's a very good name" said Michael, himself understood the meaning of the name Astrid.

Astrid is derived from the Old Norse word meaning "Gorgeous Goddess".Fiona means White, holy, clean, fair and Callista which means Beautiful, beautiful, enchanting. The boy's name was filled with a mixture of kindness, from which Michael could understand Astrid's parents' expectations for his son.

"How old are you?" Michael asked Astrid.

"Five years"

"Well, you're my sister's age, today she's exactly 5 years old"

"You have a sister? "

Michael was always excited when he talked about his sister, as an older brother of course it was natural.They both talked about many things ranging from Michael's younger sister to their hobbies. the conversation continued until Astrid's mother returned.

Seeing her mother return Astrid immediately jumped from the bed and held her mother's hand.

"mama, mama, Astrid wants a little sister, too"

"eeh, how come you say that? "

"the reason Michael told me about his sister, Astrid also wanted to have a sister"

michael's mother did not reply to Astrid's words, she just ruffled her daughter's hair, which made the child puff up her cheeks in annoyance at her mother's response.

"Let's go home son I'll take you home" Astrid's mother told Michael.

THE HARLEM DISTRICT

The black lambada car penetrated the dirty streets in the western part of the district of Harlem, and became the center of attention amid the activities of people there.

"Mrs, I'll just get off here" Michael said

"Your house is here?"

"Yes,"

"It's the cure, don't forget to drink it regularly" astrid's mother handed the medicine that was inside her bag to Michael.

"Together, don't think too much"

Michael immediately got off the black lambada.

"May we meet again Michael!!!" Astrid said as she waved her hand from the front seat car window.

"Yes, thank you" said Michael. while bowing his head, after giving a horn 2 times the black lambada car was moving away until it really disappeared from Michael's vision.

After he walked down the narrow alley, past the drunken people they were adorning this muddy alley, Michael passed by these men quite carefully, drunk people are very troublesome.

inside there is an apartment with a height of 5 floors. Michael and his family have been living in this apartment for about a year and a half. With monthly rent costs reached 40 dollars, with one bedroom, one toilet and kitchen that blends with the family room, it is not comfortable to occupy 4 people, but this apartment is the cheapest apartment in the city, at least it's better than sleeping on the streets or in a rental house near the port whose condition is almost collapsed and a lot of rats.

Michael was standing right in front of the door of the apartment located on the third floor of the building, Romano's writing was plastered in front of the door, he breathed, he breathed, while thinking about what reason he had to say to his mother, after being sure he opened the door of the apartment.

"I'm home"

"Ben arrivato Michael" said Michael's mother as she approached her son.

Michael's mother, whose real name is Maria Talista, married Vito Romano 8 years ago in Sicily Italy, after marrying Maria changed her last name to Romano, and now she is 29 years old, 2 years younger than her husband.

"Oh my God, why is your face bruised like this Michael? " Mary said as she held her son's face.

"I fell off the bike, the road was so slippery my face was hit hard enough asphalt"

"You've been coming home a lot lately, it's really weird, to be honest with Michael's mom what's really going on"

"Yes that's right mom, I just lack focus anyway her path is very slippery because of the rain" Michael later he did not want to make his mother worry.

Maria stared fixedly at the eyes of her son, making sure that he did not lie, Michael tried hard to put on a flat expression, so that his mother believed in the reason he said.

"Huh.., next time you have to be careful, here mom compresses your wound with warm water"

"Yes, thank you ma'am" said Michael relieved, to be honest every bruised face in the hallway of the luca he always lied to his parents, ranging from falling from the gutter, slipping, falling, and falling out of a tree while trying to save a kitten.Sometimes he feels guilty about it.

Michael quickly sat on the dull sofa, looking at his mother who was pouring hot water from a flask into a basin, then took a small towel that was on top of the drawer.

Maria then approached Michael, she sat down next to her son, her compressive water placed on the sofa, she then dipped the small towel into the basin after squeezing it, slowly he began compressing the bruises on Michael's face

"Where's isabela? " Ask michael.

"He was sleeping, apparently exhausted after helping mom tidy up the house, you know he swept this house alone."

"He's quite diligent, " Michael said with a small smile.

"Michael, I'm sorry I couldn't send you to school, but I really want you to get a proper education" his mother said with a sad look.

"It's okay mom, I still have the best teacher in the world, mom always takes the time to teach me a lot of things, at least I can read and count"

Maria placed her right hand over Michael's head, and she ruffled his hair with a smile.

"Mom will always pray for you, hopefully someday you will be a great person, have a better life than now, and can be useful and help others. " Mary said with hope on her face.

"Amin" replied Michael, closing his eyes.

"Ah, can you teach me about multiplication?" Ask michael.

"Of course, I will teach you as much as I can" Maria replied with a smile.

- MORNING HOURS (15.30) -

Maria was cutting, onion, onion on the kitchen table, michael who was working on multiplication problems from his mother was curious he then approached his mother.

"What's cooking mom?

"Minestrone Vegetarian Soup, happens to be the mother can the leftover ingredients from the restaurant, isabela likes vegetables because it is now her birthday, mother thought to make this"

"May I help,"

"How about you?"

"I'll do it later" said Michael, taking a knife to the plate shelf.

"Then cut the rough carrots" said Isabela while giving 6 carrots, which part of the lot was thrown away because of rotten, at least carrots can still be eaten.

It has been almost 15 minutes the child's mother was struggling in the kitchen, fragrant vegetarian soup that was being cooked spread to the rest of the room, isabela who was asleep in the room woke up because of the delicious aroma.

Maria is, a waiter of the restaurant, sometimes she also helps the chef cook, therefore her cooking ability is quite good. He was able to make ingredients that were already of poor quality it into a delicious dish for his family.

"What are you cooking? " Tanya Isabela who was already standing in front of the room.

"You've woken up mother's daughter, Michael take isabela to play until the soup is ripe in about 5 minutes"

"Good ma'am" Michael said as he approached his little sister.

"I'm Home!!! " Shouted the man while following the sound of the door opening.

"Yay I'm home" said Isabela as she ran towards Vito.

"Little daughter of father" he said as he kissed her cheek.

"tumben's home soon? " Task Mary to her husband

"Today is not too much work" replied Vito while kissing his wife's forehead, he then reached into the money worth 10.5 dollars from his pocket and handed it to Maria.

"It's the pay this week" he said.

Vito works at the port with a fee of 14 dollars per week, or 2 dollars per day, the wage is paid every week. He always gave the money to his wife every payday, while Maria earned a weekly wage of 56 dollars, 8 dollars a day. the place where Maria worked did often pay employees quite high among others, probably because the owner is kind and does not distinguish immigrants and natives.

in one month they get 280 dollars, reduced the cost of renting an apartment 40 dollars leftover 240 dollars, reduced for electricity and water costs per month, and the cost of daily groceries, as well as the cost of food, at least they have cold money of 20 to 30 dollars in a month to save.

"Time to eat, the soup is ripe" said Maria as she prepared the dishes at the dinner table"

"It looks like the menu this time is delicious, oh wait for dad to have a gift for isabela" Vito said reaching into something from his pants pocket, a simple necklace with hand-carved on a small wooden board bearing the word S, a simple thread was used as a fastener. Isabela seemed happy to accept it.

"How?, father who made a loh" he said as he put the necklace to his daughter's neck.

"If mother...." Maria pulled out a pair of shoes that still looked good from the closet, these shoes were given by the wife of the owner of the restaurant where she worked who also happened to have a daughter the same age as Isabela, who was born, her shoes were already a bit broken but Maria fixed them in her spare time.

"By sister's turn" Michael said somewhat embarrassed, he then took out a wooden bracelet that had been bought in the street and then put it in Isabela's right hand.

"Happy Birthday My little princess/sister" said the three of them at the same time.

"Thank you Mom, Dad, sister, I'm so happy' she said with a slurred tone, Isabela was very happy about the gift from her family.

In the midst of this mediocre family, Michael is always grateful. He has a good family, complements each other and loves each other, he is very grateful even though he does not have so much money, but this warmth is what he always wanted, he said, involuntarily his tears felt about to fall he hurriedly wiped his two eyes.

for Michael the greatest treasure for himself was family.

"Then let's eat" said Vito who then sat on the dining table chair followed by the others.

After that, the four of them prayed first before eating food.

Michael's stomach began to hurt, he had not been given drugs given by doctors anton, michael would take it secretly in the bathroom after he ate, michael did not want his family to worry about him...