Крестный отец

           OnthisparticularvisitTommyhadcomeinverylateSaturdaynightandwasstillsleepinginhisroom.Hismotherwenttowakehim,tellinghimtogetdressedsothathecouldeatSundaydinnerwithhisuncleandaunt.Theboy’svoicecameharshlythroughthepartlyopeneddoor,"Idon’tgiveashit,letmesleep,"andhismothercamebackoutintothekitchensmilingapologetically.

           Sotheyhadtoeattheirdinnerwithouthim.NeriaskedhissisterifTommywasgivingheranyrealtroubleandsheshookherhead.

           NeriandhiswifewereabouttoleavewhenTommyfinallygotup.Hebarelygrumbledahelloandwentintothekitchen.Finallyheyelledintohismother,"Hey,Ma,howaboutcookingmesomethingtoeat?"Butitwasnotarequest.Itwasthespoiledcomplaintofanindulgedchild.

           Hismothersaidshrilly,"Getupwhenit’sdinnertimeandthenyoucaneat.I’mnotgoingtocookagainforyou."

           Itwasthesortoflittleuglyscenethatwasfairlycommonplace,butTommystillalittleirritablefromhisslumbermadeamistake."Ah,fuckyouandyournagging,I’llgooutandeat."Assoonashesaiditheregrettedit.

           HisUncleAlwasonhimlikeacatonamouse.Notsomuchfortheinsulttohissisterthisparticulardaybutbecauseitwasobviousthatheoftentalkedtohismotherinsuchafashionwhentheywerealone.Tommyneverdaredsaysuchathinginfromofherbrother.ThisparticularSundayhehadjustbeencareless.Tohismisfortune.