Крестный отец

           Andifhewasthatgoodnow,rustyashell,howgoodwouldhebewhenhegotinshapeagain?JohnnygrinnedatNino."IsthatasgoodasIthinkitis?"

           Ninolookedathishappyfacethoughtfully."It’sverydamngood,"hesaid."Butlet’sseehowyousingtomorrow."

           JohnnywashurtthatNinoshouldbesodownbeat."Yousonofabitch,youknowyoucan’tsinglikethat.Don’tworryabouttomorrow.Ifeelgreat."Buthedidn’tsinganymorethatnight.HeandNinotookthegirlstoapartyandTinaspentthenightinhis_bedbuthewasn’tmuchgoodthere.Thegirlwasalittledisappointed.Butwhatthehell,youcouldn’tdoeverythingallinoneday,Johnnythought.

           Hewokeupinthemorningwithasenseofapprehension,withavagueterrorthathehaddreamedhisvoicehadcomeback.Thenwhenhewassureitwasnotadreamhegotscaredthathisvoicewouldbeshotagain.Hewenttothewindowandhummedabit,thenhewentdowntothelivingroomstillinhispajamas.Hepickedoutatuneonthepianoandafterawhiletriedsingingwithit.Hesangmutedlybuttherewasnopain,nohoarsenessinhisthroat,soheturnediton.Thecordsweretrue.andrich,hedidn’thavetoforceitatall.Easy,easy,justpouringout.Johnnyrealizedthatthebadtimewasover,hehaditallnow.Anditdidn’tmatteradamnifhefellonhisfacewithmovies,itdidn’tmatterifhecouldn’tgetitupwithTinathenightbefore;itdidn’tmatterthatVirginiawouldhatehimbeingabletosingagain.Foramomenthehadjustoneregret