Крестный отец

           Whentheycametotheduet-duelsongthatendedtherecord,Johnnylethisvoicegoandwhentheyfinishedhisvocalcordsached.Themusicianshadbeencarriedawaybythelastsong,ararethingforthesecallousedveterans.Theyhammereddowntheirinstrumentsandstampedtheirfeetinapprovalasapplause.Thedrummergavethemaruffleofdrums.

           Withstopsandconferencestheyworkednearlyfourhoursbeforetheyquit.EddieNeilscameovertoJohnnyandsaidquietly,"Yousoundedprettygood,kid.Maybeyou’rereadytodoarecord.Ihaveanewsongthat’sperfectforyou."

           Johnnyshookhishead."Comeon,Eddie,don’tkidme.Besides,inacoupleofhoursI’llbetoohoarsetoeventalk.Doyouthinkwe’llhavetofixupmuchofthestuffwedidtoday?"

           Eddiesaidthoughtfully,"Ninowillhavetocomeintothestudiotomorrow.Hemadesomemistakes.Buthe’smuchbetterthanIthoughthewouldbe.Asforyourstuff,I’llhavethesoundengineersfixanythingIdon’tlike.OK?"

           "OK,"Johnnysaid."WhencanIhearthepressing?"

           "Tomorrownight,"EddieNeilssaid."Yourplace?"

           "Yeah,"Johnnysaid."Thanks,Eddie.Seeyoutomorrow."HetookNinobythearmandwalkedoutofthestudio.TheywenttohishouseinsteadofGinny’s.

           Bythistimeitwaslateafternoon.Ninowasstillmorethanhalf-drunk.Johnnytoldhimtogetundertheshowerandthentakeasnooze.Theyhadtobeatabigpartyateleventhatnight.

           WhenNinowokeup,Johnnybriefedhim."ThispartyisamoviestarLonelyHeartsClub,"hesaid.