Крестный отец

           "Iknowsomeofit,buthowdidtheybecomefriendsandwhywasBrasisodevotedtomyfather?Don’tbeafraid,cometellme."

           Filomena’swrinkledface,herraisin-blackeyes,turnedtoDonTommasino,whoinsomewaysignaledhispermission.AndsoFilomenapassedtheeveningforthembytellingherstory.

           Thirtyyearsbefore,FilomenahadbeenamidwifeinNewYorkCity,onTenthAvenue,servicingtheItaliancolony.Thewomenwerealwayspregnantandsheprospered.Shetaughtdoctorsafewthingswhentheytriedtointerfereinadifficultbirth.Herhusbandwasthenaprosperousgrocerystoreowner,deadnowpoorsoul,sheblessedhim,thoughhehadbeenacardplayerandwencherwhoneverthoughttoputasideforhardtimes.Inanyeventonecursednightthirtyyearsagowhenallhonestpeoplewerelongintheirbeds,therecameaknockingonFilomena’sdoor.Shewasbynomeansfrightened,itwasthequiethourbabesprudentlychosetoentersafelyintothissinfulworld,andsoshedressedandopenedthedoor.OutsideitwasLucaBrasiwhosereputationeventhenwasfearsome.Itwasknownalsothathewasabachelor.AndsoFilomenawasimmediatelyfrightened.Shethoughthehadcometodoherhusbandharm,thatperhapsherhusbandhadfoolishlyrefusalBrasisomesmallfavor.

           ButBrasihadcomeontheusualerrand.HetoldFilomenathattherewasawomanabouttogivebirth,thatthehousewasoutoftheneighborhoodsomedistanceawayandthatshewastocomewithhim.Filomenaimmediatelysensedsomethingamiss.