The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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Don Tommasino shook his head. “I’m responsible to your father for you, don’t ask me 
that. Another thing, I hear you’ve even talked marriage. I can’t allow that until I’ve sent 
somebody to speak to your father.” 
Michael Corleone was very careful, this was after all a man of respect. “Don 
Tommasino, you know my father. He’s a man who goes deaf when somebody says the 
word no to him. And he doesn’t get his hearing back until they answer him with a yes. 
Well, he has heard my no many times. I understand about the two guards, I don’t want 
to cause you trouble, they can come with me Sunday, but if I want to marry I’ll marry. 
Surely if I don’t permit my own father to interfere with my personal life it would be an 
insult to him to allow you to do so.” 
The capo-mafioso sighed. “Well, then, marriage it will have to be. I know your 
thunderbolt. She’s a good girl from a respectable family. You can’t dishonor them 
without the father trying to kill you, and then you’ll have to shed blood. Besides, I know 
the family well, I can’t allow it to happen.” 
Michael said, “She may not be able to stand the sight of me, and she’s a very young girl, 
she’ll think me old.” He saw the two men smiling at him. “I’ll need some money for 
presents and I think I’ll need a car.” 
The Don nodded. “Fabrizzio will take care of everything, he’s a clever boy, they taught 
him mechanics in the navy. I’ll give you some money in the morning and I’ll let your 
father know what’s happening. That I must do.” 
Michael said to Dr. Taza, “Have you got anything that can dry up this damn snot always 
coming out of my nose? I can’t have that girl seeing me wiping it all the time.” 
Dr. Taza said, “I’ll coat it with a drug before you have to see her. It makes your flesh a 
little numb but, don’t worry, you won’t be kissing her for a while yet.” Both doctor and 
Don smiled at this witticism. 
By Sunday, Michael had an Alfa Romeo, battered but serviceable. He had also made a 
bus trip to Palermo to buy presents for the girl and her family. He had learned that the 
girl’s name was Apollonia and every night he thought of her lovely face and her lovely 
name. He had to drink a good deal of wine to get some sleep and orders were given to 
the old women servants in the house to leave a chilled bottle at his bedside. He drank.it 
empty every night. 
On Sunday, to the tolling of church bells that covered all of Sicily, he drove the Alfa 
Romeo to the village and parked it just outside the cafe. Calo and Fabrizzio were in the 

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