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Amigo Brothers Text

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Amigo Brothers By Piri Thomas Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas were both seventeen years old. They were so together in friendship that they felt themselves to be brothers. They had known each other since childhood, growing up on the lower east side of Manhattan in the same tenement building on Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. Antonio was fair, lean, and lanky, while Felix was dark, short, and husky. Antonio’s hair was always falling over his eyes, while Felix wore his black hair in a natural Afro style. Each youngster had a dream of someday becoming lightweight champion of the world. Every chance they had the boys worked out, sometimes at the Boys Club on 10th Street and Avenue A and sometimes at the pro’s gym on …show more content…

We both know that in the ring the better man wins. Friend or no friend, brother or no . . .” Felix finished it for him. “Brother. Tony, let’s promise something right here. Okay?” “If it’s fair, hermano, I’m for it.” Antonio admired the courage of a tugboat pulling a barge five times its welterweight size. “It’s fair, Tony. When we get into the ring, it’s gotta be like we never met. We gotta be like two heavy strangers that want the same thing, and only one can have it. You understand, don’tcha?” “Si, I know,” Tony smiled. “No pulling punches. We go all the way.” “Yeah, that’s right. Listen, Tony. Don’t you think it’s a good idea if we don’t see each other until the day of the fight? I’m going to stay with my Aunt Lucy in the Bronx. I can use Gleason’s Gym for some working out. My manager says he got some sparring partners with more or less your style.” Tony scratched his nose pensively. “Yeah, it would be better for our heads.” He held out his hand, palm upward. “Deal?” “Deal.” Felix lightly slapped open skin. “Ready for some more running?” Tony asked lamely. “Naw, bro. Let’s cut it here. You go on. I kinda like to get things together in my head.” “You ain’t worried, are you?” Tony asked. “No way, man.” Felix laughed out loud. “I got too much smarts for that. I just think it’s cooler if we split right here. After the fight, we can get it together again like nothing ever happened.” The amigo brothers were not ashamed

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