Крестный отец

           "Halfofallthiswillbeinthekids’names,"hetoldher.Shegavehimagratefulsmileandkissedhimgoodnightbeforeshelefthisroom.

           Therewasaglassdishfullofhisfavoritemonogrammedcigarettes,ahumidorwithpencil-thinblackCubancigarsonhiswritingdesk.Johnnytiltedbackandstartedmakingcalls.Hisbrainwasreallywhirringalong.Hecalledtheauthorofthebook,thebest-sellingnovel,onwhichhisnewfilmwasbased.Theauthorwasaguyhisownagewhohadcomeupthehardwayandwasnowacelebrityintheliteraryworld.HehadcomeouttoHollywoodexpectingtobetreatedlikeawheeland,likemostauthors,hadbeentreatedlikeshit.JohnnyhadseenthehumiliationoftheauthoronenightattheBrownDerby.Thewriterhadbeenfixedupwithawell-knownbosomystarletforadateonthetownandasureshack-uplater.Butwhiletheywereatdinnerthestarlethaddesertedthefamousauthorbecausearatty-lookingmoviecomichadwaggledhisfingerather.ThathadgiventhewritertherightslantonjustwhowaswhointheHollywoodpeckingorder.Itdidn’tmatterthathisbookhadmadehimworldfamous.Astarletwouldpreferthecrummiest,therattiest,thephoniestmoviewheel.

           NowJohnnycalledtheauthorathisNewYorkhometothankhimforthegreatparthehadwritteninhisbookforhim.Heflatteredtheshitoutoftheguy.Thencasuallyheaskedhimhowhewasdoingonhisnextnovelandwhatitwasallabout.