Page:They Knew What They Wanted.pdf/53

Rh come in dees country for growin’ da grape! God mak’ dees country for growin’ da grape! Ees not for pro’ibish’ God mak’ dees country. Ees for growin’ da grape! Ees true? Sure ees true! [Another glass of wine.] An’ w’at happen? Before pro’ibish’ I sell my grape’ for ten, maybe twelve dollar’ da ton. Now I sell my grape’ some’time one hundra dollar’ da ton. Pro’ibish’ is mak’ me verra rich. [Another glass of wine.] I got my fine house, I got Joe for bein’ foreman. I got two men for helpin’ Joe. I got one Chink for cook. I got one Ford car. I got all I want, evrathing, excep only wife. Now I’m goin’ have wife. Verra nice an’ young an’ fat. Not for work. No! For sit an’ holdin’ da hands and havin’ kids. Three kids. [He demonstrates the altitude of each.] Antonio Giuseppe  Anna Da’s like trees an’ cows an’ all good peoples. Da’s fine for God an’ evrabody! I tell you, Padre, Tony know w’at he want!

Whatever made you think a man of your age could have children? [This staggers Tony.] I tell you, Tony, it ain’t possible.

Eh? Tony is too old for havin’ kids? I tell you, Tony can have twent’ kids if he want! I tell you