Крестный отец

           Butwhatdidhewant?

           Hisfirstwifewaswaitingforhimatthedoor.Shewaspretty,petiteandbrunette,aniceItaliangirl,thegirlnextdoorwhowouldneverfoolaroundwithanothermanandthathadbeenimportanttohim.Didhestillwanther,heaskedhimself,andtheanswerwasno.Foronething,hecouldnolongermakelovetoher,theiraffectionhadgrowntooold.Andthereweresomethings,nothingtodowithsex,shecouldneverforgivehim.Buttheywerenolongerenemies.

           Shemadehimcoffeeandservedhimhomemadecookiesinthelivingroom."Stretchoutonthesofa,"shesaid,"youlooktired."Hetookoffhisjacketandhisshoesandloosenedhistiewhileshesatinthechairoppositehimwithagravelittlesmileonherface."It’sfunny,"shesaid.

           "What’sfunny?"heaskedher,sippingcoffeeandspillingsomeofitonhisshirt.

           "ThegreatJohnnyFontanestuckwithoutadate,"shesaid.

           "ThegreatJohnnyFontaneisluckyifhecanevengetitupanymore,"hesaid.

           Itwasunusualforhimtobesodirect.Ginnyasked,"Istheresomethingreallythematter?"

           Johnnygrinnedather."Ihadadatewithagirlinmyapartmentandshebrushedmeoff.Andyouknow,Iwasrelieved."

           TohissurprisehesawalookofangerpassoverGinny’sface."Don’tworryaboutthoselittletramps,"shesaid."Shemusthavethoughtthatwasthewaytogetyouinterestedinher."AndJohnnyrealizedwithamusementthatGinnywasactuallyangrywiththegirlwhohadturnedhimdown.

           "Ah,whatthehell,"hesaid.