Крестный отец

           Michaelsaidbriskly,"That’sallcrapdetail,Icanfixthat.Forgetaboutthatsupervisionandjustsothebankswon’tgetchoosyI’llhaveyouryellowsheetpulled."

           Theyellowsheetwasapolicerecordofcriminaloffensescommittedbyanyindividual.Itwasusuallysubmittedtoajudgewhenhewasconsideringwhatsentencetogiveaconvictedcriminal.NerihadbeenlongenoughonthepoliceforcetoknowthatmanyhoodlumsgoingupforsentencinghadbeentreatedlenientlybythejudgebecauseacleanyellowsheethadbeensubmittedbythebribedPoliceRecordsDepartment.SohewasnottoosurprisedthatMichaelCorleonecoulddosuchathing;hewas,however,surprisedthatsuchtroublewouldbetakenonhisaccount.

           "IfIneedhelp,I’llgetintouch,"Nerisaid.

           "Good,good,"Michaelsaid.HelookedathiswatchandNeritookthisforhisdismissal.Herosetogo.Againhewassurprised.

           "Lunchtime,"Michaelsaid."Comeonandeatwithmeandmyfamily.Myfathersaidhe’dliketomeetyou.We’llwalkovertohishouse.Mymothershouldhavesomefriedpeppersandeggsandsausages.RealSicilianstyle."

           ThatafternoonwasthemostagreeableAlbertNerihadspentsincehewasasmallboy,sincethedaysbeforehisparentshaddiedwhenhewasonlyfifteen.DonCorleonewasathismostamiableandwasdelightedwhenhediscoveredthatNeri’sparentshadoriginallycomefromasmallvillageonlyafewminutesfromhisown.Thetalkwasgood,thefoodwasdelicious,thewinerobustlyred.