[TheStellarEnsemble.com] The Godfather - Mario Puzo

“All right,” she said. She was having one of her bad days, rare, but recognizable. Itwasn’t too easy for her leading this kind of life.She saw him taking an extra large drink. “What are you cheering yourself up for?”Virginia asked. “Everything is going so beautifully for you. I never dreamed you had it in you tobe such a good businessman.”Johnny smiled at her. “It’s not so hard,” he said. At the same time he was thinking, sothat’s what was wrong. He understood women and he understood now that Virginia was downbecause she thought he was having everything his own way. Women really hated seeing theirmen doing too well. It irritated them. It made them less sure of the hold they exerted over themthrough affection, sexual custom or marriage ties. So more to cheer her up than voice his owncomplaints, Johnny said, “What the hell difference does it make if I can’t sing.”Virginia’s voice was annoyed. “Oh, Johnny, you’re not a kid anymore. You’re overthirty-five. Why do you keep worrying about that silly singing stuff? You make more money as aproducer anyhow.”Johnny looked at her curiously and said, “I’m a singer. I love to sing. What’s being oldgot to do with that?”Virginia was impatient. “I never liked your singing anyway. Now that you’ve shown youcan make movies, I’m glad you can’t sing anymore.”They were both surprised when Johnny said with fury, “That’s a fucking lousy thing tosay.” He was shaken. How could Virginia feel like that, how could she dislike him so much?Virginia smiled at his being hurt and because it was so outrageous that he should beangry at her she said, “How do you think I felt when all those girls came running after youbecause of the way you sang? How would you feel if I went ass-naked down the street to getmen running after me? That’s what your singing was and I used to wish you’d lose your voiceand could never sing again. But that was before we got divorced.”Johnny finished his drink. “You don’t understand a thing. Not a damn thing.” He wentinto the kitchen and dialed Nino’s number. He quickly arranged for them both to go down toPalm Springs for the weekend and gave Nino the number of a girl to call, a real fresh youngbeauty he’d been meaning to get around to. “She’ll have a friend for you,” Johnny said. “I’ll beat your place in an hour.”Virginia gave him a cool good-bye when he left. He didn’t give a damn, it was one of the332