Крестный отец

           Andsohemadelovetoallofthem,gavethempresents,hidthehurttheirenjoymentofhismisfortunesgavehim.Heforgavethemknowinghewasbeingpaidbackforhavinglivedintheutmostfreedomfromwomenandinthefullestflushoftheirfavor.Butnowheneverfeltguiltyaboutbeinguntruetothem.HeneverfeltguiltyabouthowhetreatedGinny,insistingonremainingthesolefatherofhischildren,yetneverevenconsideringremarryingher,andlettingherknowthattoo.Thatwasonethinghehadsalvagedoutofhisfallfromthetop.Hehadgrownathickskinaboutthehurtshegavewomen.

           Hewastiredandreadyforbedbutonenoteofmemorystuckwithhim:singingwithNinoValenti.AndsuddenlyheknewwhatwouldpleaseDonCorleonemorethananythingelse.HepickedupthephoneandtoldtheoperatortogethimNewYork.HecalledSonnyCorleoneandaskedhimforNinoValenti’snumber.ThenhecalledNino.Ninosoundedalittledrunkasusual.

           "Hey,Nino,how’dyouliketocomeouthereandworkforme,"Johnnysaid."IneedaguyIcantrust."

           Nino,kiddingaround,said,"Gee,Idon’tknow,Johnny,Igotagoodjobonthetruck,boffinghousewivesalongmyroute,pickingupaclearhundred-fiftyeveryweek.Whatyougottooffer?"

           "Icanstartyouatfivehundredandgetyoublinddateswithmoviestars,how’sthat?"Johnnysaid."AndmaybeI’llletyousingatmyparties."

           "Yeah,OK,letmethinkaboutit."Ninosaid."Letmetalkitoverwithmylawyerandmyaccountantandmyhelperonthetruck."