“Yes, and then do what? Go out in the streets and shout because in New Orleans they have lynched some Mafiosi Sicilians who probably deserved it? Is that what you want, with five children to feed and another one coming?”

“Andiamo, Tinuzza!” he said placatingly. “Domenico is right. We must defend ourselves.”

In her heart she also knew Domenico was right; she didn’t want America to become what the old country had been, because although she found the climate harsh and erratic and the people graceless and ugly, still it was a country that gave benessere in return for hard work. She knew Domenico was right just by the sense of self-consciousness she felt when she went out of the Hollow on occasion and experienced the disapproving stares and sneers of the Americans, who were contemptuous of her way of dress and the halting way she spoke her few words of English. Not all Americans were that way; not Mrs. Brown. But most were. And it was because she felt this and wanted so strongly for it not to be true of the country she loved that she reacted so unreasonably to Domenico. What he said was true. And she didn’t want it to be. Therefore she wouldn’t listen.

Anyway, her future was in her sons. They were becoming as American as anyone else. Jake, at fourteen, had finished eighth grade at Mount Carmel, where he had been made to memorize Washington’s Farewell Address by Sister Carmela to impress upon him in his future life, she said, the importance of religion. He took a job on the streetcar by day to add to the family earnings, which all went back into the store, and studied a business course by night. Then Ben did likewise, and when they both started working in the store at night they continued their education through correspondence courses.

Paolo, now called Paul, was more delicate, Umbertina maintained, and she favored him. Curiously, for a woman whose faith was hard work, she kept him from exertion. Paul was bright, inquisitive, adept, and he often read and wrote for her. Since the business was going well by the time he was of age, he was allowed to finish high school while Pina and Anna helped out in the store.

Umbertina, who had become a strong woman, did not ever consider that her daughters should be so; the future of the name and business was in her sons.

16. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight