Family Roots

One should never forget that Families are seldom perfect. Even in a Family that holds together well, there will always be dissenting voices. What is difficult to understand is that sometimes the head of a Family might bring in a consigliere from outside to help impose order. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

If the consigliere is loyal to the Family, it becomes an instant asset; an infusion of new blood, perhaps new enthusiasm and the possible bonus that this man might want to prove himself (and thus perform far above the mean). However, such an asset must always be checked against certain criteria and balanced by other Family members. A marriage helps; a marriage of convenience is suspicious.

Yesterday I heard from a gathering of the Family Elders. I was included in the conversation as a loyal consigliere from within the Family. What I heard was interesting, to say the least. You can take the boy out of the Family, but never the Family out of the boy. This is true. But does the converse hold true as well? Can you really put the boy into a Family such that the Family is put into a boy?

You can, especially if the boy is aged 6-18 or so. The prognosis is somewhat uncertain beyond that.

I heard the rumours of civil war, and then the Elders said to me: No. There will be no war. We will settle this.