Крестный отец

           Thecafeownergavehimanotherlook,thesmashedleftsideofhisface,thelonglegsrareinSicily.Hetookalookatthetwoshepherdscarryingtheirluparasquiteopenlywithoutfearandrememberedhowtheyhadcomeintohiscafeandtoldhimtheirpadronewantedtotalktohim.Thecafeownerhadsnarledthathewantedthesonofabitchoutofhisterraceandoneoftheshepherdshadsaid,"Takemyword,it’sbestyougooutandspeaktohimyourself."Andsomethinghadmadehimcomeout.Nowsomethingmadehimrealizethatitwouldbebesttoshowthisstrangersomecourtesy.Hesaidgrudgingly,"ComeSundayafternoon.MynameisVitelliandmyhouseisupthereonthehill,abovethevillage.ButcomeheretothecafeandI’lltakeyouup."

           FabrizziostartedtosaysomethingbutMichaelgavehimonelookandtheshepherd’stonguefrozeinhismouth.ThiswasnotlostonVitelli.SowhenMichaelstoodupandstretchedouthishand,thecafeownertookitandsmiled.HewouldmakesomeinquiriesandiftheanswerswerewronghecouldalwaysgreetMichaelwithhistwosonsbearingtheirownshotguns.Thecafeownerwasnotwithouthiscontactsamongthe"friendsofthefriends."ButsomethingtoldhimthiswasoneofthosewildstrokesofgoodfortunethatSiciliansalwaysbelievedin,somethingtoldhimthathisdaughter’sbeautywouldmakeherfortuneandherfamilysecure.Anditwasjustaswell.