Крестный отец

           Hismotherhadthoughtthesamethingbuthehadlearnedearly.Hisfatherhadshownhimtheropes.

           Hisfatherhadbeenapolicesergeant,andeveryweekfatherandsonhadwalkedthroughtheprecinctandMcCluskeySeniorhadintroducedhissix-year-oldsontothestorekeepers,saying,"Andthisismylittleboy."

           Thestorekeeperswouldshakehishandandcomplimenthimextravagantlyandringopentheircashregisterstogivethelittleboyagiftoffiveortendollars.Attheendoftheday,littleMarkMcCluskeywouldhaveallthepocketsofhissuitstuffedwithpapermoney,wouldfeelsoproudthathisfather’sfriendslikedhimwellenoughtogivehimapresenteverymonththeysawhim.Ofcoursehisfatherputthemoneyinthebankforhim,forhiscollegeeducation,andlittleMarkgotatmostafifty-centpieceforhimself.

           ThenwhenMarkgothomeandhispolicemenunclesaskedhimwhathewantedtobewhenhegrewupandhewouldlispchildishly,"Apoliceman,"theywouldalllaughuproariously.Andofcourselateron,thoughhisfatherwantedhimtogotocollegefirst,hewentrightfromhighschooltostudyingforthepoliceforce.

           Hehadbeenagoodcop,abravecop.Thetoughyoungpunksterrorizingstreetcornersfledwhenheapproachedandfinallyvanishedfromhisbeataltogether.Hewasaverytoughcopandaveryfairone.Henevertookhissonaroundtothestorekeeperstocollecthismoneypresentsforignoringgarbageviolationsandparkingviolations;hetookthemoneydirectlyintohisownhand,directbecausehefeltheearnedit.