Крестный отец

           ShepulledKayinsidethedoorandledhertothekitchen,whereaplatteroffoodwasalreadysetoutandapotofcoffeeperkedonthestove."Michaelcomeshomeprettysoon,"shesaid."Yousurprisehim."

           TheysatdowntogetherandtheoldwomanforcedKaytoeat,meanwhileaskingquestionswithgreatcuriosity.ShewasdelightedthatKaywasaschoolteacherandthatshehadcometoNewYorktovisitoldgirlfriendsandthatKaywasonlytwenty-fouryearsold.Shekeptnoddingherheadasifallthefactsaccordedwithsomeprivatespecificationsinhermind.Kaywassonervousthatshejustansweredthequestions,neversayinganythingelse.

           Shesawhimfirstthroughthekitchenwindow.Acarpulledupinfrontofthehouseandthetwoothermengotout.ThenMichael.Hestraighteneduptotalkwithoneoftheothermen.Hisprofile,theleftone,wasexposedtoherview.Itwascracked,indented,liketheplasticfaceofadollthatachildhaswantonlykicked.Inacuriouswayitdidnotmarhishandsomenessinhereyesbutmovedhertotears.Shesawhimputasnow-whitehandkerchieftohismouthandneeandholditthereforamomentwhileheturnedawaytocomeintothehouse.

           Sheheardthedooropenandhisfootstepsinthehallturningintothekitchenandthenhewasintheopenspace,seeingherandhismother.Heseemedimpassive,andthenhesmiledeversoslightly,thebrokenhalfofhisfacehaltingthewideningofhismouth.