“Respect, Sebastiano,” The woman had told her young son, the melodic Italian language doing nothing to detract from the importance she put on the concept. “Never forget respect. Respect the old ways… respect people… respect opinions. Follow them, don’t, believe in them, don’t… but always respect.

“Only a fool” – the emphasis was one he would come to know implied one fool in particular – “gets so full of himself that he forgets respect. Only a fool chooses not to respect his enemies. Respect a threat. Respect the ways.

“If you’re remiss and dismiss, they won’t miss. Capiche? To survive, Sebastiano, respect.”