The day rolled on and the partito continued. When the big diggers began to tear up the parking lot (except for the strip designated as access road) a couple of the older men walked over and began to pace out two rectangles, each 90-ft long by 13-ft wide., with a couple of trees shading them.
When I looked confused Mrs. Orlandini, said: “I vecchi stanno construendo un campo da bocce… you understand? Sì? The build due bocce court… so they play… is good for them to tend fields and play… no trouble in homes… busy men no make trouble… the wife have peace…”
“Sì,” agreed Mrs. Moretti. “Non più si trovano sul divano e guardare la TV… we get these men moving and working… enough the lazy lying around… we make inside and outside una piazza per venire a mangiare , bere un caffè , giocare a carte , stare con gli amici…”
Arm and arm, the two women watched their husbands fondly.
As we were talking, a shout went up. The Provincial Department of Transportation brought in the noise abetment barriers and had begun to install them down the side of the highway. Tomorrow night when the final truckload of debris was removed from the site, the DOT would close off the road. Given what I knew about the supposed gang deadline, that would not be a minute too late. I wondered how we were going to be able to close off the other road to Cooper Street if we needed too.
I must have muttered something out loud, because Father Andrea turned to me.
“You did not know Miss Charlie that we are about to become Coopertown – a gated community? The City was going to put the gate at the bridge and we asked why not included the Co-op within the community? Mr. Moretti and I pointed out that the two communities were approximately 80% Italian and Catholic and that with the three factory sites being converted into fields and those already fenced and walled, we only needed to put the one wall across Cooper Street. Additionally, a very large percentage of the community lives and works within the community… we have schools, the church and businesses… together we can all work.”
“Well Father, then work is what we need to do. Apparently we have, to be safe, about 36-hours to get what me need before the businesses here are closed down. Did you speak with John today? No? Okay well he was beaten because he recognized that more than half the staff at the local Costco were gang members. I was at Canadian Tire this morning when it melted down. Young Taylor over there with Jack was one of the two young men helping me. The other boy, after I got them both out, turned out to be a fully tattooed, double strip, member of the gang. He advised me on the deadline. So I as you what needs to be done at your end?” I asked.
“Well the City has a crew in demolishing the remaining internal bits of the brick yard. It is going to be used largely for live stock…. the maiali e le mucche… each family will keep their animals there and then Mr. Moretti will train up two more butchers to carry on. The livestock will come in tomorrow. That keeps the hoof close to the butcher.”
Eric joined us. “When the demolition crew is done here, they will move across the street,” he told us. “Just as when the crew is done in the brick yard they will move to the factory site behind the mews. Now Charlie when is the crew coming in from Riverdale Farm?”
“Not sure,” I said. “It might be tonight, but my guess is a pre-dawn load up tomorrow and then a rapid departure. If they don’t get out of there fast, the livestock will be taken.”
John came hobbling-up, cell phone in hand. “We’ve got a problem!”
Eric looked weary for a minute. “What?”
“Just had a call from Mike Gibson… you remember my buddy who is in the mounted regiment?”
Eric looked more interested…”Yeah, I remember him at one of the Aunty’s bbq’s last summer…”
“Right,” nodded John. “Someone has just tried to burn down the horse barns. They got it put out but they lost two horses. They need to move them… Ideas?”
Eric and I looked at each other. Housing a mounted division of the police was like gaining a cavalry unit but our only space was across the street and we needed the growing space…
Father Andrea then came up with a suggestion. “When I first came here, I visited all the factories. The factory beyond the one across the street is mostly made up of four Quonset huts. The parking area was never paved and its mostly grass… perhaps they could use that and some could even live on site. You do have to block off the far end as it’s just got a chain link fence…”
“Father did we ever tell you that you were a gift from God!” said John fervrently.
“That is my calling,” said Father Andrea with a smile.