In Their Own Words - Angie

Hi, my name's Angie, I'm Genna's cousin. Well, I mean, she's more like my little sister really. When her parents were alive, they lived upstairs from us and she was always underfoot, in my room, trying on my clothes. I'm sixteen months older than she is so, of course, she had to find fashion somewhere right? I mean Christ, if it were up to Fortuna we'd all be wearing velour track suits. Anyway, after her parents died, instead of moving her downstairs with us, my parents moved Robby upstairs with her. It was like one big open house after that. They'd sleep up there but eat down here. It was good for me because when Robby moved upstairs I got his room, which was bigger.

Anyway, Genna. She's a good kid. I mean, a nice girl. A nice woman. Well, what do you call women these days in their early thirties, chicks? Never mind. Genna's nice. And smart. And funny when she wants to be. She doesn't let a whole lot of people see that side of her, but when she does, I mean watch out. She's better than watching those comics on HBO. I like her, a lot. She's always been good to me. More than I've been good to her that's for sure. She's forgiven me a lot of shit that I did to her. Did she ever tell you about that perm in tenth grade? No, well, she forgave me for that. And how about the time I puked all over her cashmere sweater, and then tried to wash it without her finding out, and put it in the dryer. Yeah, she forgave me for that too. Like I said, she's a good kid.

I'm jealous of her. Not for her life, I mean who wants to work, work, work, but for who she is deep down inside. She's got her shit together that's for sure. No one can call her bluff, she stands up for what she believes in and if you get in her way, watch out. I mean, she'll run you over if it's something she wants. Driven, is the word. And you know, her Nana Rocco was always throwing money in her face but Genna never took it. She didn't have to work at Pop's diner, she didn't have to save for that car she bought, she didn't have to wear those grungy clothes, her Nana would have given her all that but she never took it. Don't tell her this, but I heard her tell her Nana one day, if Nana couldn't buy me clothes, then Genna didn't want her to buy her clothes either. I thought that was real sweet of her.

Sweet, she's that too. Sometimes I hated her for it when we were kids. I mean, she was always so good, so thoughtful, so kind. She was always bringing my mom flowers. She'd always help Aunt Linda with the chores. My mother would get so pissed at me "Why can't you be more like Rosa?" Ugh, I hated her sometimes. But then, when Aunt Linda and Uncle Joey died, well, how can you hate someone after that?

I know it wasn't right, but I tried to steal Tony away from her. It was right before Genna turned sixteen. I knew Tony was waiting for that day so he could ask her out. I mean, God, he was such a hunk back then. Every girl in school used to come and sit at the diner just to catch a glimpse of him. Oh, he'd chat me up, but it was always about Genna. But then one day he asked me out. I figured he'd gotten tired of waiting around for her. But it was just about the sex. Stupid me, didn't figure that out for about two months. That was all he wanted, and to talk about Genna. Talk about getting used. I hate him. His name so fits, Testa di cazzo.

I didn't tell Genna all this until a few days ago. For someone who's so smart, I mean, can't believe she made the ulitmate mistake in sleeping with him again, so I had to tell her. He only wants her for Nana's money. Did she tell you Nana is giving her a quarter of a million dollars? Some kind of early inheritance thing so no one has to pay taxes on it. That's why Tony's sniffing around again. Stronza! Hate him. But that's why I told Genna all about me and Tony, so she could see just exactly what kind of man he really is. I mean, you might think she would be over him because of what he did to her before, you know, marrying Debbie. But love is blind, so they say. And she really did love him. I mean, really.

When she came back from church that day, after hearing Debbie tell her she was married to Tony, oh my God, I thought Genna was going to cry herself to death. It was horrible to watch, and I had to watch it because I was the one who told Debbie where to find her. Therefore, it was my fault I caused her so much pain. I had to take care of her. And I did. I did. I mean, I wasn't the bimbo everyone thinks I am. I told Debbie where to find Genna that day so Genna would leave Tony once and for all. She would never have done it if Tony had gotten to her first. He would have said all the right things and Genna would have believed him and his bullshit and God only knows what would have happened. I'm glad it happened the way it did. I mean, I'm sorry Genna had to be hurt so bad but it was for the best. And Genna forgave me for that too.

And now she's got that great job down in Delaware. She's got that great apartment, have you seen that? Oh my God, I'd love to live there, I mean, it's so big, so light, perfect for painting. And she's got Pete DiCampo. I know, I know, he's only just re-met her after all these years but I know Pete and I know Genna. I mean, they're a match made in Heaven. I just hope she doesn't scare him off. Sometimes she can be so hard, you know. And unemotional. But I think that had to do with her parents dying. And Tony. After what he did, I mean, I know she's scared shitless. She won't let herself get close to anyone. But I hope she gets over it with Pete. I hope he doesn't take her aloofness as a sign she's not interested. Because she is. I know she is. She cried at my kitchen table the other day because the kiss he gave her on the date they had the other night wasn't the same as the kiss he gave her in the alley the other morning. So I know she really likes him. I mean, really, who analyzes kisses if they're not interested?