In Alaska Virgin Air and Fearless in Alaska, Abigail Vertuccio, reluctant clairvoyant and owner of Alaska Virgin Air, gets through life using her arsenal of Sicilian Tactics, passed down from generation to generation.
Abigail Vertuccio's Sicilian Tactics:
1. When in trouble, act innocent.
2. Change the subject.
3. Ignore them.
4. Take the offensive in any defensive situation.
5. Feign ignorance.
6. Sarcasm
7. Feed 'em. Preferable something deliciously decadent
and chocolate.
8. If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em.
9. Make 'em jealous. A dangerous one, to be used only
when absolutely necessary.
10. Win 'em over in bed (with sex, actually).
11. Threaten to put a hit out on them.
12. You want information? You grill it out of 'em.
13. Sound reasonable. Get your own way.
14. Find a fall guy, especially when it's your own damn fault.
15. Keep 'em guessing.
16. Every dog has his day and/or there's always another
day. I'm never sure which.
17. Thing positive(ly).
18. Act invincible and you are invincible.
19. Who needs the (painful) truth when a lie will do.
20. Wait and see. (Rarely used, because we're so damned
hot-blooded.
21. Never let 'em see you cry.
22. Retaliation, best served cold. More specifically, actually
put a hit out on 'em.
23. You only live once, so get off your rear and do
something already.
24. The truth
25. Never disappoint a friend in need.
26. When you've painted yourself into a corner, get out.
What's a little pain on our shoes, anyway?
27. Quit while you're ahead.
28. Never second guess yourself. It only confuses every-
thing.
29. Confuse 'em with honesty, especially when they're
expecting sneaky. A twist on 24.
30. Distract 'em before someone ends up dead.
31. Fake 'em out.
32. You don't even want to know.
33. Lie for crying out loud.
34. You owe me and I've come to collect.
35. Ignore a problem if you just can't deal with it. Oh, wait.
That's an Abbey tactic.
36. When life gives you vodka, make a Greyhound.
37. Stall
38. Go with a shocked and unfairly accused look.
39. Shred a few tears. Whatever works.
40. Think about it tomorrow.
41. Don't just sit there and wait for them to get you.
42. Never look back.
43. Family comes first.
44. Keep your mouth shut when no words seem necessary.
45, Know when to leave well enough alone.
46. You do whatever it takes.
47. Tell them where to go.
48. Everything in it's own time.
49. Work inside the law, unless they give you no other
choice.
50. Blackmailers will pay.
51. Lies have a way of biting you in the rear when you get
in too deep. (A precautionary tactic in light of Tactics
19 and 33)
52. I'll believe it when I see it.
53. Scare the heck out of 'em.
54. Act like you know exactly what you're doing, even when
you don't have a clue.
55. Pretend you don't know what the heck they're talking
about.
56. When you're cornered, like Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid, whether it's by love, the Bolivian Army
or a spy in Banana Republic clothing, don't just stand
there. Jump already!