Several days later all the kids got called into the Port Director's office. "We're going to have a benefit in the banquet room this Friday night" the Director said. "And you girls are going to be the cocktail waitress's. The Union is supporting Moon Landrieu for Mayor of New Orleans so we're throwing a party for him. There's going to be some other dignitaries here too. Any kid caught drinking the booze will be pitched out of this Hall on his ass."
The next morning Johnny delivered a big pot of freshly peeled potatoes to the Galley. He sat the pot on the table next to the Head Steward and looked out into the dining room. Six big men walked up to a table of seamen. One of them set a bucket on the table. Another threw a notepad and a couple of pens on the table. Some of the seamen reached in their pockets, pulled out some money and threw it in the bucket. Others grabbed a sheet from the notepad, scribbled something, then threw it in the bucket. Johnny looked at the Head Steward. "Sir" he said to the big black man. "What's going on out there?" The Steward looked up. "That's the goon squad, boy. They're soliciting donations for Moon Landrieu. The ones that can, pay on the spot. The ones that can't leave an I.O.U." Johnny was perplexed. "What if you don't donate?" he asked. The Steward looked down at Johnny. "You'll be in the same boat in a few months, boy. Don't rock it! If you do you could be blackballed or even earn a trip to the basement. You'll be makin' good money. You don't have to give 'em your life savings. Just give 'em a little money. Don't ever turn the goon squad down when they come around and life will be easy on you, boy."
That Friday night Johnny was serving drinks in his section of the banquet room. There was a big, slightly balding, dark haired man talking and bragging to the people at his table while sucking down brandy and waters faster than Johnny could get them to him. On one of his trips back to the bar Johnny was stopped by the Port Director. "Vance, do you know who that big guy on the dance floor is that you've been serving drinks to?" Johnny turned around to see the brandy and water man out on the floor dancing like a chicken with his head cut off. "No, Sir" Johnny said. "That's the District Attorney, Jim Garrison. He's the one that prosecuted Clay Shaw for the murder of John Kennedy." Johnny looked at the Port Director. "Sir, do you think Clay Shaw had John Kennedy killed?" The Director looked out at Garrison then back at Johnny. "Ain't you got it figured out yet, Vance? Garrison is a goofball idiot!" he said as he walked away.
to be continued....
