The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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join us in a few days.” He watched Fabrizzio hurry into the stone hut that served as a 
garage for the Alfa Romeo. 
Michael went down the hall to wash. Apollonia was gone. She was most likely in the 
kitchen preparing his breakfast with her own hands to wash out the guilt she felt 
because she wanted to see her family one more time before going so far away to the 
other end of Sicily. Don Tommasino would arrange transportation for her to where 
Michael would be. 
Down in the kitchen the old woman Filomena brought him his coffee and shyly bid him a 
good bye. ‘I’ll remember you to my father,” Michael said and she nodded. 
Calo came into the kitchen and said to Michael, “The car’s outside, shall I get your bag?” 
“No, I’ll get it,” Michael said. “Where’s Apolla?” 
Calo’s face broke into an amused grin. “She’s sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, dying 
to step on the gas. She’ll be a real American woman before she gets to America.” It was 
unheard of for one of the peasant women in Sicily to attempt driving a car. But Michael 
sometimes let Apollonia guide the Alfa Romeo around the inside of the villa walls, 
always beside her however because she sometimes stepped on the gas when she 
meant to step on the brake. 
Michael said to Calo, “Get Fabrizzio and wait for me in the car.” He went out of the 
kitchen and ran up the stairs to the bedroom. His bag was already packed. Before 
picking it up he looked out the window and saw the car parked in front of the portico 
steps rather than the kitchen entrance. 
Apollonia was sitting in the car, her hands on the wheel like a child playing. Calo was 
just putting the lunch basket in the rear seat. And then Michael was annoyed to see 
Fabrizzio disappearing through the gates of the villa on some errand outside. What the 
hell was he doing? He saw Fabrizzio take a look over his shoulder, a look that was 
somehow furtive. He’d have to straighten that damn shepherd out. Michael went down 
the stairs and decided to go through the kitchen to see Filomena again and give her a 
final farewell. He asked the old woman, “Is Dr. Taza still sleeping?” 
Filomena’s wrinkled face was sly. “Old roosters can’t greet the sun. The doctor went to 
Palermo last night.” 
Michael laughed. He went out the kitchen entrance and the smell of lemon blossoms 
penetrated even his sinus-filled nose. He saw Apollonia wave to him from the car just 

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