Крестный отец

           Thenalmostsadlywithgravebeautyshesaid,"Youpoorsillybastard,givingmecrampslikeakid.Ah,Johnny,youalwayswillbeadumbromanticguinea,youevenmakelovelikeakid.Youstillthinkscrewingisreallylikethosedopeysongsyouusedtosing."Sheshookherheadandsaid,"PoorJohnny.Goodbye,Johnny."Shewalkedintothebedroomandheheardherturnthekeyinthelock.

           Johnnysatonthefloorwithhisfaceinhishands.Thesick,humiliatingdespairoverwhelmedhim.AndthentheguttertoughnessthathadhelpedhimsurvivethejungleofHollywoodmadehimpickupthephoneandcallforacartotakehimtotheairport.Therewasonepersonwhocouldsavehim.HewouldgobacktoNewYork.Hewouldgobacktotheonemanwiththepower,thewisdomheneededandalovehestilltrusted.HisGodfatherCorleone.

           ***

           Thebaker,Nazorine,pudgyandcrustyashisgreatItalianloaves,stilldustywithflour,scowledathiswife,hisnubiledaughter,Katherine,andhisbaker’shelper,Enzo.Enzohadchangedintohisprisoner-of-waruniformwithitsgreen-letteredarmbandandwasterrifiedthatthisscenewouldmakehimlatereportingbacktoGovernor’sIsland.OneofthemanythousandsofItalianArmyprisonersparoleddailytoworkintheAmericaneconomy,helivedinconstantfearofthatparolebeingrevoked.Andsothelittlecomedybeingplayednowwas,forhim,aseriousbusiness.