Крестный отец

           HehadNinoplayingthemandolinasaccompanimentandsangallhisoldsongs.Hesangthemallthewayout,notnursinghisvoiceatall.Histhroatwasfine,hefeltthathecouldsingforever.Inthemonthshehadnotbeenabletosinghehadoftenthoughtaboutsinging,plannedouthowhewouldphraselyricsdifferentlynowthanasakid.Hehadsungthesongsinhisheadwithmoresophisticatedvariationsofemphasis.Nowhewasdoingitforreal.Sometimesitwouldgowrongintheactualsinging,stuffthathadsoundgoodwhenhehearditjustinhisheaddidn’tworkoutwhenhetrieditreallysingingoutloud.OUTLOUD,hethought.Hewasn’tlisteningtohimselfnow,hewasconcentratingonperforming.HefumbledalittleontimingbutthatwasOK,justrusty.Hehadametronomeinhisheadthatwouldneverfailhim.Justalittlepracticewasallheneeded.

           Finallyhestoppedsinging.Tinacameovertohimwitheyesshiningandgavehimalongkiss."NowIknowwhyMothergoestoallyourmovies,"shesaid.Itwasthewrongthingtosayatanytimeexceptthis.JohnnyandNinolaughed.

           TheyplayedthefeedbackandnowJohnnycouldreallylistentohimself.Hisvoicehadchanged,changedahellofalotbutwasstillunquestionablythevoiceofJohnnyFontane.Ithadbecomemuchricheranddarkerashehadnoticedbeforebuttherewasalsothequalityofamansingingratherthanaboy.Thevoicehadmoretrueemotion,morecharacter.Andthetechnicalpartofhissingingwasfarsuperiortoanythinghehadeverdone.Itwasnothinglessthanmasterful.