Крестный отец

           SomedayI’lltellmychildrenIhadsupperwiththegreatJohnnyFontaneallaloneinhisapartment."

           Hesmiledather."Andthatyoudidn’tgivein,"hesaid.Theybothlaughed."They’llneverbelievethat,"shesaid.AndthenJohnny,beingalittlephonyinhisturn,said,"I’llgiveittoyouinwriting,wantmeto?"Sheshookherhead.Hecontinuedon."Anybodydoubtsyou,givemeabuzzonthephone,I’llstraightenthemrightout.I’lltellthemhowIchasedyouallaroundtheapartmentbutyoukeptyourhonor.OK?"

           Hehad,finally,beenalittletoocruelandhefeltstrickenatthehurtonheryoungface.Sheunderstoodthathewastellingherthathehadn’ttriedtoohard.Hehadtakenthesweetnessofhervictoryawayfromher.Nowshewouldfeelthatithadbeenherlackofcharmorattractivenessthathadmadeherthevictorthisnight.Andbeingthegirlshewas,whenshetoldthestoryofhowsheresistedthegreatJohnnyFontane,shewouldalwayshavetoaddwithawrylittlesmile,"Ofcourse,hedidn’ttryveryhard."Sonowtakingpityonher,hesaid,"Ifyoueverfeelrealdown,givemearing.OK?Idon’thavetoshackupeverygirlIknow."

           "Iwill,"shesaid.Shewentoutthedoor.

           Hewasleftwithalongeveningbeforehim.HecouldhaveusedwhatJackWoltzcalledthe"meatfactory,"thestableofwillingstarlets,buthewantedhumancompanionship.Hewantedtotalklikeahumanbeing.Hethoughtofhisfirstwife,Virginia.