In Their Own Words -- Salvatore

My name is Salvatore Genovase and I'm Genna's uncle. She's my Bella, mio amore . I'd do anything for her, she's the light of our lives. And hey eh, don't get me wrong, I love my own kids, they're good kids, turned out real good, but I have to say, I love my Genna just that little bit more. She's suffered so much in her life, it's hard not to. She needs it.

When Joey and Linda were killed, Linda's mother, Christina Rocco, did everything in her power to take Genna away from us. Her and that figlio di puttana lawyer of hers. But Genna said no, she wanted to stay with us. I thought old Christina was gonna' have a heart attack considering the judge was in her back pocket. But Genna stayed right where she was. With us. Where she belonged.

She worked at the diner with me after school and during the summers. I'd like to think it was me who taught her everything she knew about cooking but she went to that fancy cooking school down in Providence. I guess they taught her a few things too. And then she went to Salerno after she graduated so she could learn some more. She's like that, my Genna. She always wants to know more. Always learning, always thinking.

When she was little, she'd sit at the kitchen table with all my cookbooks open, trying to help me come up with new dishes. Wanted to be a chef, she said. Once, I think she was twelve, she wanted me to make a lasagne souffle. I didn't think it was possible but she worked out the recipe and gave it to me. I couldn't not try and make it. Of course it fell, and tasted like crap, but she didn't give up. She asked me if I did this, or that, she wanted to know why it didn't turn out right. She worked on it for a long time. A long time. And then, one day, she presented me with her version. Perfecto! Bellisimo! I was so proud of her. She didn't give up. She never did. Still doesn't. If she wants something, she works to make sure she gets it. She gets that from me.

Like now. She works at this swanky country club down in Delaware. She surprised us coming home last week just so she could tell us in person she's now the executive kitchen manager. I don't square with fancy titles but she says she's in charge of everything at the club for the kitchen. All the menus, all the staff, all the cooking. She also gets lots of money and lots of benefits. So, hey if that's what she wants eh, I'm happy for her.

I just wish she'd find a nice boy. She's lonely. She doesn't say so but I can tell.
A beautiful girl like that, wasting away, cooking for a living. Don't get me wrong eh, I'm all for women's lib, I think women should do whatever they want, but I also think they should have babies. That's what God created them for.

If Testa hadn't turned into such a porca puttana stronzo, excuse my Italian, I'd probably be bouncing a bambino on my knee right now. I had such high hopes for him and Genna. I taught him everything I know about the business. I thought when him and Genna finally got married I could give them the business. Retire. Take me and Fortuna back to Salerno for a few months every year. But Testa threw me, threw us, a bad curve. Broke my Genna's heart.

And now the facce di cazzo is sniffing around again. Che minchia! I don't know if it was fate who said he should be sitting in my diner the minute Genna walks in. I should have had him taken care of when I had the chance. But hey, live and learn, eh. I hope she won't make the same mistake and take him back but you can't know a woman's heart. She's so scombussolata. What he did was unforgiveable but that's my Genna. She has a very forgiving nature. A very tender heart.

Although, hey, I think her and Petie DiCampo got something going on. Boh! He took her out to dinner the other night. Hey, he's a nice kid eh. Got a good job, a good head on his shoulders. His mother was Irish but I won't hold that against him. Heh, heh. I hope Genna can see past Testa's vacca merda and gets together with Petie. I know Petie loves her already. He came into the diner the other morning with that look of miseria on his face. You know, the kind all men wear when they find the woman of their heart, or the car of their dreams.

I just hope it works out. The only problem is, Pete has to convince her his love is real, is true eh. My Genna doesn't trust easily, she's afraid the people she loves will get taken away from her. I just hope Petie's got the palle to fight for her. I think he does. He's a cop. And once my Genna realizes how much he loves her, she'll love him back with her whole heart. That's the way she is. She's a good girl.