The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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a quite common fibrous growth that could in no way be malignant or a cause for serious 
concern. He picked up a heavy medical book and said, “Hold out your arm.” 
She held out her arm tentatively. He smiled at her for the first time. “I’m going to cheat 
myself out of a surgical fee,” he said. “I’ll just smash it with this book and it will flatten 
out. It may pop up again but if I remove it surgically, you’ll be out of money and have to 
wear bandages and all that. OK?” 
She smiled at him. For some reason she had an absolute trust in him. “OK,” she said. In 
the next instant she let out a yell as he brought down the heavy medical volume on her 
forearm. The lump had flattened out, almost. 
“Did it hurt that much?” he asked. 
“No,” she said. She watched him completing her case history card. “Is that all?” 
He nodded, not paying any more attention to her. She left. 
A week later he saw her in the coffee shop and sat next to her at the counter. “How’s the 
arm?” he asked. 
She smiled at him. “Fine,” she said. “You’re pretty unorthodox but you’re pretty good.” 
He grinned at her. “You don’t know how unorthodox I am. And I didn’t know how rich 
you were. The Vegas Sun just published the list of point owners in the hotel and Lucy 
Mancini has a big ten points. I could have made a fortune on that little bump.” 
She didn’t answer him, suddenly reminded of Hagen’s warnings. He grinned again. 
“Don’t worry, I know the score, you’re just one of the dummies, Vegas is full of them. 
How about seeing one of the shows with me tonight and I’ll buy you dinner. I’ll even buy 
you some roulette chips.” 
She was a little doubtful. He urged her. Finally she said, “I’d like to come but I’m afraid 
you might be disappointed by how the night ends. I’m not really a swinger like most of 
the girls here in Vegas.” 
“That’s why I asked you,” Jules said cheerfully. “I’ve prescribed a night’s rest for myself.” 
Lucy smiled at him and said a little sadly, “Is it that obvious?” He shook his head and 
she said, “OK, supper then, but I’ll buy my own roulette chips.” 
They went to the supper show and Jules kept her amused by describing different types 
of bare thighs and breasts in medical terms; but without sneering, all in good humor. 
Afterward they played roulette together at the same wheel and won over a hundred 

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