Kowalski and Lisjewski are hard at work cleaning out the sewer on a
sweltering day in July, beneath the streets of the Bronx. Kowalski
says, "I really hate this bad smelly job of shoveling the shit!"
Lisjewski says, "Yah! Me too, I hate this bad smelly job."
Kowalski says, "How come you and me are down here underground
shoveling the shit and breaking our backs, when Rafaelli is up there
sitting in the truck with the air conditioner, smoking the cigarettes
and reading the newspaper? That's what I would like to know!"
Lisjewski says, "Yah! Why is this way?"
Kowalski says, "You know what I'm going to do? I'm going up
there and I'm going to tell that to Rafaelli just like I said it to
you, and then we will see what he has got to say."
Lisjewski says, "Yah, go up there and ask him what you said."
So Kowalski brushes the crap off his pants, and climbs up the
ladder to the street and goes over to the truck, and motions Rafaelli
to come out.
Rafaelli says, "Whaddaya want, Kowalski? And hurry up, it's hot out
here."
Kowalski says, "Well, I just want to know one thing, Rafaelli.
How is it that me and Lisjewski is down there underground shoveling
the shit, and you are up here in the air conditioning , smoking the
cigarettes all day? How come?"
Rafaelli smiles and says, "Izzat all ya wanted to know? That's real
easy, Kowalski." He holds his hand out in front of the heavy iron
truck bed and says, "OK, Kowalski, hit my hand real hard."
Kowalski unloads a huge haymaker and, of course, Rafaelli
pulls his hand away quickly. Kowalski smashes his fist against the
truck.
OK, Kowalski," says Rafaelli, "That's the reason why I get to stay
up here in the truck, and you and Lisjewski gotta shovel shit in da
sewer. Do ya get it now?"
Kowalski nods and returns to the ladder, rubbing his hand.
When he gets back down into the tunnel, Lisjewski is waiting for him -
"What'd he say, Kowalski? How come that Rafaelli gets to sit up there
in the truck, and we have to come down here and shovel the shit?"
Kowalski says, "I don't know if you're going to be able to
understand this but I will try to explain it just like Rafaelli told
me. Now... You try and hit my hand real hard..." and Kowalski
holds his hand up in front of his face...
