Many years
ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone
wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy
city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a
lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason.
Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's
skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his
appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also
Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a
fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day.
The
estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of
the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity
that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he
loved dearly.
Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything:
clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And,
despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him
right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son
to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there
were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name and a
good example.
One day,
Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he
had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al
"Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some
semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and
he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's
life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street.
But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he would ever pay.
In Christ,
Playwright
Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible
Stories Theatre of
Fine
& Performing Arts
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