Carmella Commands
“Mrs. Barrington has discharged Dixon, padre.”
“What for?”
“For getting sick. Just a few weeks, the doctor said, but she fired him for it.”
“This is America,” said Tommaso, puffing his pipe.
“He’ll be out of the hospital before long, and out of a job. Padre mio, may I ask a question?”
“What is it?”
“Why don’t you get Mr. Dixon for a partner?”
Tommaso smoked heavily, without answering.
“Why don’t you get him for a partner? He’s American, and he knows about real estate. He can drive a car or a truck. He knows a lot of men.
“You know what he does not, padre, and he knows what you do not. You’re going to be a big contractor some day. Dixon could help it happen.”
Tommaso puffed long and earnestly. Once he emptied his pipe and refilled it without speaking. At last he spoke:
“You think it good, Carmella?”
“You bet!” she cried in English. But he understood.
“We will see,” he finally said. “Time for bed now, piccola ragazza.”
Early the next morning Carmella presented herself at the hospital, only to be told that visiting hours were in the afternoon.
“But,” she exclaimed, “I’ve got to see him. It’s business.”
[238]
