In 1979, Novotny's dad was a high school gym teacher at Roald Amundsen High School in Chicago. He did his job well. He was involved in many outside activities for the school. Driver's Ed, The Chess Club, and homecoming float coordinator. This kept him quite busy. Novotny lived with his parents and 3 sister on Western Avenue just north of Irving Park Road. The middle two girls, Mary and Joan, and young Novotny went to Amundsen as well. Young Novotny was a freshman, Mary was a senior and Joan was a sophomore. They had a lot to talk about while Shirley cooked up the dinner. The oldest girl, Vicky, changed her name to Cherry, moved out of the house at 18 and worked as a porn actress in California. She made quite a nice living at it. Often Novotny's dad would come home from school, relax with the kids, talk about their day at school, talk about their lives. Following their stimulating and heartwarming family discourses, Novotny's dad he would disappear into his study for some private contemplation, work on the activities for the next week of gym classes, and listen to a little music. Rarely was he interrupted and rarely did he invite anyone in to the study with him. Except for one night on July 11, 1979. Novotny's dad quietly asked Novotny to join him in the study after dinner. What went on was one of the most memorable times of Novotny's life. It was the only time Novotny 's dad called him a man. It was the only time Novotny's dad told him a secret. Novotny's dad told him that it wasn't just gym class preparation that he worked on at night. He told Novotny's that on the side he ran a small numbers racket amongst many of the teachers in the public school system. He took bets, collected the money, put a little away for Shirley and the kids. The bets he collected were for high school games mostly. The Prep Bowl, some Bears games. Once in a while some high school basketball games. Just a little extra income. Nothing to be scared of. Novotny's dad said that although the racket was small time, any time you got into gambling you still had to be careful. Still watch over your shoulder. Novotny's dad reached into a locked desk drawer and took out a very small pistol in a very small holster. He said to Novotny that he wears this on his ankle anytime he goes out for gambling purposes. He has yet to use it. He said he never will. He told young Novotny that he was a man now. He gave him the pistol. Novotny did not say much. He looked at his dad with great awe and respect. He did not care that he was a small time numbers man. It was the father to son time that was most special. He cherished it. Wanted it. Needed it. Novotny's dad instilled some long lasting knowledge into his son that night. One was to "...always keep an out." The other was the one piece of advice that Novotny never forget was when his dad leaned close to him. He said "Use the gun as your last resort".

While Mr. Black stabbed and carried Novotny over to the bathroom floor, Novotny remembered that evening of July 11, 1979. He remembered that his dad had said to always keep an out. As the life was gushing out of Novotny's veins, he tried to think of an out. That night kept coming back to him. While Mr. Black was stabbing him in the chest and leaning on the pool cue like a cane, Novotny remembered what else his dad had said. It was about the gun. "Use this gun as your last resort." Instinctively, Novotny reached down to his ankle holster and pulled the gun out. He pointed up to the crotch of Mr. Black. Novotny fired the gun for the only time. He spoke one last time before dying. A gurgling whisper that only he heard. "Thanks Dad...last resort...I love you..."

The VIRULENT bullet went straight into the balls of Mr. Black, up through his stomach, slid past the sternum, careened through the neck, and went out the top of Mr. Black's head. Mr. Black fell dead on top of Novotny. He did not think of his dad before dying. Unlike Novotny, he did not utter any last words...