Крестный отец

           Nericomplainedtotheprecinctandwastoldnottomakewaves,tojustignoreit.Butonenighttherewasawholesidestreetthatwasimpassablebecauseofthecarelesslyparkedautos.Itwasaftermidnight,soNeritookhishugeflashlightfromthepatrolcarandwentdownthestreetsmashingwindshieldstosmithereens.Itwasnoteasy,evenforhigh-rankingdiplomats,togetthewindshieldsrepairedinlessthanafewdays.Protestspouredintothepoliceprecinctstationhousedemandingprotectionagainstthisvandalism.AfteraweekofwindshieldsmashingthetruthgraduallyhitsomebodyaboutwhatwasactuallyhappeningandAlbertNeriwastransferredtoHarlem.

           OneSundayshortlyafterward,NeritookhiswifetovisithiswidowedsisterinBrooklyn.AlbertNerihadthefierceprotectiveaffectionforhissistercommontoallSiciliansandhealwaysvisitedheratleastonceeverycoupleofmonthstomakesureshewasallright.Shewasmucholderthanhewasandhadasonwhowastwenty.Thisson,Thomas,withoutafather’shand,wasgivingtrouble.Hehadgottenintoafewminorscrapes,wasrunningalittlewild.Nerihadonceusedhiscontactsonthepoliceforcetokeeptheyouthfrombeingchargedwithlarceny.Onthatoccasionhehadkepthisangerincheckbuthadgivenhisnephewawarning."Tommy,youmakemysistercryoveryouandI’llstraightenyououtmyself."Itwasintendedasafriendlypally-unclewarning,notreallyasathreat.ButeventhoughTommywasthetoughestkidinthattoughBrooklynneighborhood,hewasafraidofhisUncleAl.