Chapter 21 - THE OLD CAPOS
The older Bellini men held one final private dinner using the old titles.
Not official.
Just nostalgia.
Carlo “capo.”
Vincent “capo.”
Anthony “consigliere.”
Me apparently “don,” though I corrected them.
Arturo attended.
Marcus did not.
The conversation turned to succession.
Of course.
Carlo asked:
“When Arturo’s gone, who gets the watch?”
Arturo put down his fork.
Nobody moved.
Then he said:
“I’m leaving it to the dog.”
We did not have a dog.
Carlo laughed.
Arturo did not.
Then:
“You people almost let a piece of jewelry become corporate governance.”
Anthony raised his glass.
“Finally, something I can put on letterhead.”
We laughed.
Then Arturo became serious.
“No more objects.”
Meaning?
No ceremonial transfer of his signet ring.
No watch presentation.
No “blessing” photograph.
No private declaration of next patriarch.
There would be shareholders.
Boards.
Family relationships.
Nothing else.
The old men complained that the family needed symbols.
Arturo answered:
“Use the flag.”
Which flag?
Nobody knew.
May you like
Dinner dissolved into argument.
Healthy.
