The Family Corleone by Ed Falco

Author:Ed Falco [FALCO, ED]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781455521616
Amazon: B006VFLINQ
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2012-05-08T04:00:00+00:00

14.

Richie Gatto piloted Vito’s Essex slowly down Chambers Street on his way to city hall. Outside, the weather was clear and cold. Mounds of snow left over from the last storm collected grime as they hardened into a low barricade between the street and the sidewalk. In the back of the Essex, between Vito and Genco, Michael chattered excitedly about city hall.

“Pop,” Michael said, “did you know that Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant both lay in state in city hall?”

“Who’s Ulysses S. Grant?” Genco asked. He sat stiffly by the window with one hand on his stomach, as if something hurt him there, the brim of his black derby in his other hand, the derby resting on his knees.

“Eighteenth president of the United States,” Michael said. “Eighteen sixty-nine to eighteen seventy-seven. Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox to end the Civil War.”

“Oh,” Genco said, and he looked at Michael as if the boy was a Martian.

Vito laid a hand on Michael’s knee. “Here we are,” he said, and he pointed out the window to the gleaming marble facade of city hall.

“Wow,” Michael said, “look at all those steps.”

Vito said, “There’s Councilman Fischer.”

Richie, having caught sight of the councilman, pulled the big Essex to the curb in front of the central portico.

Michael was dressed in a navy blue suit, with a white shirt and a red tie, and Vito leaned over him to straighten out the tie and pull its knot neatly to the collar. “After the councilman gives you a tour,” he said, “one of his aides will drive you home.” He took a money clip from his inside jacket pocket, slid a five-dollar bill free, and handed it to Michael. “You won’t need this,” he said, “but you should always have a few dollars with you when you’re away from home. Capisc’?”

“Sì,” Michael said. “Thanks, Pop.”

In front of the city hall steps, Councilman Fischer waited with his hands on his hips and a broad smile on his face. He was sharply dressed in a brown windowpane-plaid suit with a high-collared shirt, a bright-yellow tie, and a yellow carnation in his lapel. Though it was cold, even in the bright sunlight, he carried his overcoat draped on his arm. He was a stocky, middle-aged man with bright shocks of blond hair showing around the edges of his fedora.

Michael pulled on his overcoat and followed his father out of the car and across the wide sidewalk, where the councilman was walking toward them with his arm extended for a handshake.

“This is my youngest son, Michael,” Vito said, after shaking the councilman’s hand and exchanging greetings. He put his arm around Michael’s shoulder. “He’s very grateful to you for your generosity, Councilman.”

The councilman put his hands on Michael’s shoulders and looked him over. To Vito he said, “Fine-looking young man you’ve got here, Mr. Corleone.” To Michael he said, “So your father tells me you’ve developed an interest in government. Is that right, young man?”

“Yes, sir,” Michael said.

The councilman laughed and patted Michael on the back.

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