Крестный отец

           Vitoneversaidawordtoanyoneandofcoursehisterrifiedwifedarednotopenherlipseveningossipforfearherownhusbandwouldbesenttoprison.TwodayslaterPeterClemenzareappearedintheneighborhoodandaskedVitocasually,"Doyouhavemygoodsstill?"

           Vitonodded.Hewasinthehabitoftalkinglittle.ClemenzacameuptohistenementflatandwasgivenaglassofwinewhileVitodugthebundleoutofhisbedroomcloset.

           Clemenzadrankhiswine,hisheavygood-naturedfacealertlywatchingVito."Didyoulookinside?"

           Vito,hisfaceimpassive,shookhishead."I’mnotinterestedinthingsthatdon’tconcernme,"hesaid.

           Theydrankwinetogethertherestoftheevening.Theyfoundeachothercongenial.Clemenzawasastoryteller;VitoCorleonewasalistenertostorytellers.Theybecamecasualfriends.

           AfewdayslaterClemenzaaskedthewifeofVitoCorleoneifshewouldlikeafinerugforherlivingroomfloor.HetookVitowithhimtohelpcarrytherug.

           ClemenzaledVitotoanapartmenthousewithtwomarblepillarsandawhitemarblestoop.Heusedakeytoopenthedoorandtheywereinsideaplushapartment.Clemenzagrunted,"Goontheothersideoftheroomandhelpmerollitup."

           Therugwasarichredwool.VitoCorleonewasastonishedbyClemenza’sgenerosity.TogethertheyrolledtherugintoapileandClemenzatookoneendwhileVitotooktheother.Theylifteditandstartedcarryingittowardthedoor.

           Atthatmomenttheapartmentbellrang.Clemenzaimmediatelydroppedtherugandstrodetothewindow.