The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
93
Michael had paid him a visit and had been astonished at his paleness, his obvious 
illness. “Christ,” Sonny said to Michael when they left Freddie’s room, “he looks like he 
got plugged worse than the old man.” 
Michael shrugged. He had seen soldiers in the same condition on the battlefield. But he 
had never expected it to happen to Freddie. He remembered the middle brother as 
being physically the toughest one in the family when all of them were kids. But he had 
also been the most obedient son to his father. And yet everyone knew that the Don had 
given up on this middle son ever being important to the business. He wasn’t quite smart 
enough, and failing that, not quite ruthless enough. He was too retiring a person, did not 
have enough force. 
Late in the afternoon, Michael got a call from Johnny Fontane in Hollywood. Sonny took 
the phone. “Nah, Johnny, no use coming back here to see the old man. He’s too sick 
and it would give you a lot of bad publicity, and I know the old man wouldn’t like that. 
Wait until he’s better and we can move him home, then come see him. OK, I’ll give him 
your regards.” Sonny hung up the phone. He turned to Michael and said. “That’ll make 
Pop happy, that Johnny wanted to fly from California to see how he was.” 
Late that afternoon, Michael was called to the listed phone in the kitchen by one of 
Clemenza’s men. It was Kay. 
“Is your father all right?” she asked. Her voice was a little strained, a little unnatural. 
Michael knew that she couldn’t quite believe what had happened, that his father really 
was what the newspapers called a gangster. 
“He’ll be OK,” Michael said. 
“Can I come with you when you visit him in the hospital?” Kay asked. 
Michael laughed. She had remembered him telling her how important it was to do such 
things if you wanted to get along with the old Italians. “This is a special case,” he said. “If 
the newspaper guys get ahold of your name and background you’ll be on page three of 
the Daily News. Girl from old Yankee family mixed up with son of big Mafia chief. How 
would your parents like that?” 
Kay said dryly, “My parents never read the Daily News.” Again there was an awkward 
pause and then she said, “You’re OK, aren’t you, Mike, you’re not in any danger?” 
Mike laughed again. “I’m known as the sissy of the Corleone family. No threat. So they 
don’t have to bother coming after me. No, it’s all over, Kay, there won’t be any more 

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