Крестный отец

           "I’mtiredofthatstuff.Ihavetogrowupsometime.AndnowthatIcan’tsinganymoreIguessI’llhaveatoughtimewithdames.Inevergotinonmylooks,youknow."

           Shesaidloyally,"Youwerealwaysbetterlookingthanyouphotographed."

           Johnnyshookhishead."I’mgettingfatandI’mgettingbald.Hell,ifthispicturedoesn’tmakemebigagainIbetterlearnhowtobakepizzas.Ormaybewe’llputyouinthemovies,youlookgreat."

           Shelookedthirty-five.Agoodthirty-five,butthirty-five.AndouthereinHollywoodthatmightaswellbeahundred.Theyoungbeautifulgirlsthrongedthroughthecitylikelemmings,lastingoneyear,sometwo.Someofthemsobeautifultheycouldmakeaman’sheartalmoststopbeatinguntiltheyopenedtheirmouths,untilthegreedyhopesforsuccesscloudedthelovelinessoftheireyes.Ordinarywomencouldneverhopetocompetewiththemonaphysicallevel.Andyoucouldtalkallyouwantedtoaboutcharm,aboutintelligence,aboutchic,aboutpoise,therawbeautyofthesegirlsoverpoweredeverythingelse.Perhapsiftherewerenotsomanyofthemtheremightbeachanceforanordinary,nice-lookingwoman.AndsinceJohnnyFontanecouldhaveallofthem,ornearlyallofthem,Ginnyknewthathewassayingallthisjusttoflatterher.Hehadalwaysbeennicethatway.Hehadalwaysbeenpolitetowomenevenattheheightofhisfame,payingthemcompliments,holdinglightsfortheircigarettes,openingdoors.