[TheStellarEnsemble.com] The Godfather - Mario Puzo

to prove extremely important. And now that he had settled his business affairs the Don foundtrouble at home.Santino Corleone, Sonny, was sixteen years old and grown to an astonishing six feet withbroad shoulders and a heavy face that was sensual but by no means effeminate. But where Fredowas a quiet boy, and Michael, of course, a toddler, Santino was constantly in trouble. He got intofights, did badly in school and, finally, Clemenza, who was the boy’s godfather and had a duty tospeak, came to Don Corleone one evening and informed him that his son had taken part in anarmed robbery, a stupid affair which could have gone very badly. Sonny was obviously theringleader, the two other boys in the robbery his followers.It was one of the very few times that Vito Corleone lost his temper. Tom Hagen had beenliving in his home for three years and he asked Clemenza if the orphan boy had been involved.Clemenza shook his head. Don Corleone had a car sent to bring Santino to his offices in theGenco Pura Olive Oil Company.For the first time, the Don met defeat. Alone with his son, he gave full vent to his rage,cursing the hulking Sonny in Sicilian dialect, a language so much more satisfying than any otherfor expressing rage. He ended up with a question. “What gave you the right to commit such anact? What made you wish to commit such an act?”Sonny stood there, angry, refusing to answer. The Don said with contempt, “ And sostupid. What did you earn for that night’s work? Fifty dollars each? Twenty dollars? You riskedyour life for twenty dollars, eh?”As if he had not heard these last words, Sonny said defiantly, “I saw you kill Fanucci.”The Don said, “Ahhh” and sank back in his chair. He waited.Sonny said, “When Fanucci left--the building, Mama said I could go up the house. I sawyou go up the roof and I followed you. I saw everything you did. I stayed up there and I saw youthrowaway the wallet and the gun.”The Don sighed. “Well, then I can’t talk to you about how you should behave. Don’t youwant to finish school, don’t you want to be a lawyer? Lawyers can steal more money with abriefcase than a thousand men with guns and masks.”Sonny grinned at him and said slyly, “I want to enter the family business.” When he sawthat the Don’s face remained impassive, that he did not laugh at the joke, he added hastily, “I canlearn how to sell olive oil.”193