Крестный отец

           ThefirstwasanenforcerwhoworkedwiththecoloredpolicybankersinHarlem,abigbrawnybruteofamanofgreatphysicalstrength,amanwithagreatdealofpersonalcharmwhocouldgetalongwithpeopleandyetwhennecessarymakethemgoinfearofhim.ButClemenzascratchedhimoffthelistafterconsideringhisnameforahalfhour.Thismangotalongtoowellwiththeblackpeople,whichhintedatsomeflawofcharacter.Alsohewouldbetoohardtoreplaceinthepositionhenowheld.

           ThesecondnameClemenzaconsideredandalmostsettledonwasahard-workingchapwhoservedfaithfullyandwellintheorganization.ThismanwasthecollectorofdelinquentaccountsforFamily-licensedshylocksinManhattan.Hehadstartedoffasabookmaker’srunner.Buthewasnotquiteyetreadyforsuchanimportantpromotion.

           FinallyhesettledonRoccoLampone.LamponehadservedashortbutimpressiveapprenticeshipintheFamily.DuringthewarhehadbeenwoundedinAfricaandbeendischargedin1943.Becauseoftheshortageofyoungmen,ClemenzahadtakenhimoneventhoughLamponewaspartiallyincapacitatedbyhisinjuriesandwalkedwithapronouncedlimp.Clemenzahadusedhimasablack-marketcontactinthegarmentcenterandwithgovernmentemployeescontrollingOPAfoodstamps.Fromthat,Lamponehadgraduatedtotrouble-shooterforthewholeoperation.WhatClemenzalikedabouthimwashisgoodjudgment.