Крестный отец

           EnzomustbekeptinAmericaandbemadeanAmericancitizen.Andtherewasonlyonemanwhocouldarrangesuchanaffair.TheGodfather.DonCorleone.

           ***

           AllofthesepeopleandmanyothersreceivedengravedinvitationstotheweddingofMissConstanziaCorleone,tobecelebratedonthelastSaturdayinAugust1945.Thefatherofthebride,DonVitoCorleone,neverforgothisoldfriendsandneighborsthoughhehimselfnowlivedinahugehouseonLongIsland.Thereceptionwouldbeheldinthathouseandthefestivitieswouldgoonallday.Therewasnodoubtitwouldbeamomentousoccasion.ThewarwiththeJapanesehadjustendedsotherewouldnotbeanynaggingfearfortheirsonsfightingintheArmytocloudthesefestivities.Aweddingwasjustwhatpeopleneededtoshowtheirjoy.

           AndsoonthatSaturdaymorningthefriendsofDonCorleonestreamedoutofNewYorkCitytodohimhonor.Theyborecream-coloredenvelopesstuffedwithcashasbridalgifts,nochecks.InsideeachenvelopeacardestablishedtheidentityofthegiverandthemeasureofhisrespectfortheGodfather.Arespecttrulyearned.

           DonVitoCorleonewasamantowhomeverybodycameforhelp,andneverweretheydisappointed.Hemadenoemptypromises,northecravenexcusethathishandsweretiedbymorepowerfulforcesintheworldthanhimself.Itwasnotnecessarythathebeyourfriend,itwasnotevenimportantthatyouhadnomeanswithwhichtorepayhim.Onlyonethingwasrequired.Thatyou,youyourself,proclaimyourfriendship.