Крестный отец

           Hedressedquicklyandthensawshewasinherslip.Hewantedhertogovisitherfather,hehopedshewouldbringbackinformation."What’sthematter,afewslapstakealltheenergyoutofyou?"Shewasalazyslut.

           "Idon’twannago."Hervoicewastearful,thewordsmumbled.Hereachedoutimpatientlyandpulledheraroundtofacehim.Andthenhesawwhyshedidn’twanttogoandthoughtmaybeitwasjustaswell.

           Hemusthaveslappedherharderthanhefigured.Herleftcheekwasblownup,thecutupperlipballoonedgrotesquelypuffyandwhitebeneathhernose."OK,"hesaid,"butIwon’tbehomeuntillate.Sundayismybusyday."

           Helefttheapartmentandfoundaparkingticketonhiscar,afifteen-dollargreenone.Heputitintheglovecompartmentwiththestackofothers.Hewasinagoodhumor.Slappingthespoiledlittlebitcharoundalwaysmadehimfeelgood.ItdissolvedsomeofthefrustrationhefeltatbeingtreatedsobadlybytheCorleones.

           Thefirsttimehehadmarkedherup,he’dbeenalittleworried.ShehadgonerightouttoLongBeachtocomplaintohermotherandfatherandtoshowherblackeye.Hehadreallysweateditout.Butwhenshecamebackshehadbeensurprisinglymeek,thedutifullittleItalianwife.Hehadmadeitapointtobetheperfecthusbandoverthenextfewweeks,treatingherwellineveryway,beingloveyandnicewithher,banginghereveryday,morningandnight.Finallyshehadtoldhimwhathadhappenedsinceshethoughthewouldneveractthatwayagain.