Paul Koyak

Deep Eddy: a Chicago Story Paul Koyak

Lots of kids from Marquette Park, the Lithuanian enclave of Chicago, work in gas stations while they are in high school, but very few get picked to work at Zip's. Not only does Zip run a first class operation, but he caters to the elite of the city. He trains his staff to treat customers with the utmost consideration, not only for his own benefit but eventually for theirs too. In return Zip looks out for his guys. He acts as their guardian and mentor in life. You don't work at Zip's long before you meet a judge or a politician. Zip knows them all. Young Eddy Pasko doesn't look forward to leaving Zip's after graduating from St. Rita's. He will go on to DePaul University soon but leaving Zip's, which had been his rites of passage, is hard. Zip has many rules at the station, one of which is his part time employees must move on after high school. Eddy is an ambitious young guy. Grounded in the solid work ethics and values of his ancestry he has been further refined by his tutelage under Zip. Eddy has earned the respect of all Zip's customers and is looking for the next door to open in his life. And, of course, Zip plays a part in opening it. Eddy has a couple obsessions, one mainstream, the other not so much. First he wants to be self-employed and run a successful business. Less mainstream is his romantic desire. Unlike most in his age group, Eddy has little interest in sowing wild oats and is consumed by finding the right girl. The story takes the reader through the myriad characters that inhabit Eddy's neighborhood from Zip himself to the fearsome Cunningham twins. When Eddy starts a relationship with the beautiful Judy Meade he is enthusiastic but knows he needs to complete college before any serious commitment. But nevertheless the relationship blossoms into true love only to have a tragic ending that seemingly comes out of nowhere. One of Chicago's most legendary restaurateurs recruits Eddy as a weekend bartender. Buzz Vincenti owns one of the highest volum