The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
23
When the door closed behind the grateful undertaker, Don Corleone turned to Hagen 
and said, “Give this affair to Clemenza and tell him to be sure to use reliable people, 
people who will not be carried away by the smell of blood. After all, we’re not murderers, 
no matter what that corpse valet dreams up in his foolish head.” He noted that his 
firstborn, masculine son was gazing through the window at the garden party. It was 
hopeless, Don Corleone thought. If he refused to be instructed, Santino could never run 
the family business, could never become a Don. He would have to find somebody else. 
And soon. After all, he was not immortal. 
From the garden, startling all three men, there came a happy roaring shout. Sonny 
Corleone pressed close to the window. What he saw made him move quickly toward the 
door, a delighted smile on his face. “It’s Johnny, he came to the wedding, what did I tell 
you?” Hagen moved to the window. “It’s really your godson,” he said to Don Corleone. 
“Shall I bring him here?” 
“No,” the Don said. “Let the people enjoy him. Let him come to me when he is ready.” 
He smiled at Hagen. “You see? He is a good godson.” 
Hagen felt a twinge of jealousy. He said dryly, “It’s been two years. He’s probably in 
trouble again and wants you to help.” 
“And who should he come to if not his godfather?” asked Don Corleone. 
* * * 
The first one to see Johnny Fontane enter the garden was Connie Corleone. She forgot 
her bridal dignity and screamed, “Johneee.” Then she ran into his arms. He hugged her 
tight and kissed her on the mouth, kept his arm around her as others came up to greet 
him. They were all his old friends, people he had grown up with on the West Side. Then 
Connie was dragging him to her new husband. Johnny saw with amusement that the 
blond young man looked a little sour at no longer being the star of the day. He turned on 
all his charm, shaking the groom’s hand, toasting him with a glass of wine. 
A familiar voice called from the bandstand, “How about giving us a song, Johnny?” He 
looked up and saw Nino Valenti smiling down at him. Johnny Fontane jumped up on the 
bandstand and threw his arms around Nino. They had been inseparable, singing 
together, going out with girls together, until Johnny had started to become famous and 
sing on the radio. When he had gone to Hollywood to make movies Johnny had phoned 
Nino a couple of times just to talk and had promised to get him a club singing date. But 
he had never done so. Seeing Nino now, his cheerful, mocking, drunken grin, all the 

---