Крестный отец

           Theywerestillfriends.

           WhenJohnnywokeupthenextmorningitwaslate,hecouldtellbythesuncominginthroughthedrawnblinds.Itnevercameinthatwayunlessitwasintheafternoon.Heyelled,"Hey,Ginny,doIstillratebreakfast?"Andfarawayheheardhervoicecall,"Justasecond."

           Anditwasjustasecond.Shemusthavehadeverythingready,hotintheoven,thetraywaitingtobeloaded,becauseasJohnnylithisfastcigaretteoftheday,thedoorofthebedroomopenedandhistwosmalldaughterscameinwheelingthebreakfastcart.

           Theyweresobeautifulitbrokehisheart.Theirfaceswereshiningandclear,theireyesalivewithcuriosityandtheeagerdesiretoruntohim.Theyworetheirhairbraidold-fashionedinlongpigtailsandtheyworeold-fashionedfrocksandwhitepatent-leathershoes.Theystoodbythebreakfastcartwatchinghimashestubbedouthiscigaretteandwaitedforhimtocallandholdhisarmswide.Thentheycamerunningtohim.Hepressedhisfacebetweentheirtwofreshfragrantcheeksandscrapedthemwithhisbeardsothattheyshrieked.Ginnyappearedinthebedroomdoorandwheeledthebreakfastcarttherestofthewaysothathecouldeatinbed.Shesatbesidehimontheedgeofthebed,pouringhiscoffee,butteringhistoast.Thetwoyoungdaughterssatonthebedroomcouchwatchinghim.Theyweretoooldnowforpillowfightsortobetossedaround.Theywerealreadysmoothingtheirmussedhair.Oh,Christ,hethought,prettysoonthey’llbeallgrownup,Hollywoodpunkswillbeoutafterthem.