10
A week had passed , so quiet , I did not receive new envelopes , no one had rushed at three in the morning to knock the door, and even the weather seemed to be improved.
" And yes, its a beautiful day, what luck! Today I want to take a stroll at the Foro Italico , a bit ' of sea air that can not be good for me . "
Usually the morning of my day off I spent sleeping or going to the grocery store at the mall, but today the weather was just beautiful , it looked like an early spring .
I was finishing lazy to get dressed when I heard the bell . - Who is it? - I was expecting the voice of Serena or Alexis, since they were the ones who enjoyed greater flexibility in work and study , and then often had the mornings free. Instead, I replied in a voice that did not know.
- I am the engineer Tommasini - dry replied the man .
I stood motionless as a statue , I was paralyzed with astonishment " And this ? Where to check ? How did you find me ? Now they are dicks! "
- Looking for Mr. Andrea Restivo . - I took courage , I settled his hair with his hand, and opened it - Yes, I am hello, please enter - I said these words so fast without looking at him in the eye , even keeping their heads down . As my eyes saliva materialized in front of me a big man , stout , balding with white hair , bulbous nose and round eyes hazel , was wrapped in a large faux leather jacket and wore glasses with a beautiful frame in tortoise. The engineer was really impressive , " if this gives me a punch , sends me to another world ."
I did sit in the living room , sat down in the chair and I on the couch in front of him . There was a silence that lasted an eternity. I was studying , watching me with those hazel eyes , I was doing an x-ray , read inside of me all the discounts and embarrassment I was feeling at that moment. I was about to speak , but he anticipated - Mr Restivo , I was very curious to know . I as I said I'm an engineer Tommasini , maybe my last name does not tell her anything. -
No, no , of course I said something , I was at his house. - Now I had to deal with the topic was pointless to pretend you do not remember , the man was able to recognize a person who very well mind I was sure. The engineer escaped a half-smile , I continued - I was going to meet you personally find it again to apologize to her for what she accidentally combined my dog. -
As soon as he had said these words appeared Chimay , who went immediately to know the new host, sniffed his shoes and did pretty much everything that dogs do pander to a person who does not know and who want to conquer . The engineer leaned toward Chimay, stroked it and put it on your legs. With amazement I saw that the dog was docile and immobile , she let caress it seemed that his master had always been him and me instead the intruder. "But we can do this with dogs ! " Thing a bit ' reassured me , usually people who love animals do not hate men.
- And you, the culprit? - Asked by sketching a beautiful smile.
- Yes, yes she is! - I lied , but all that mattered , for some things a dog was as good as another, and so I could not even to tell him everything.
The man as he continued to caress Chimay, adjusted his glasses , threw me another look and said - But do not worry, I did not come here to ask you some damage - and I emphasize the word damage by making a loud laugh - but for two reasons , the first to thank you for the flowers that gave to my servant, Ms. Rose . Gesture much appreciated. He knows it's not often that a young man presents a bouquet of roses . -
" Okay, and the second reason? Come on , tell me why you came . "
Tommasini stopped settled back in his chair , with Chimay still motionless on his legs . - The other reason I said - shooting , still studying me with his eyes that seemed to me at that moment two lasers - is that they are very curious , I wanted to meet you. My curiosity is aided by the fact that I'm retired now and I have so much of that free time , that if I could sell it making it very rich. - And here the man smiled , assuming , however, a melancholy expression .
- May I offer you some coffee? - I asked .
That man made me tenderness , there was no real reason , I do not even know , I felt indebted to him , had stolen his memory , I came into his life and I had lied . Once I got the coffee , the engineer had a relaxed air , put down the cup on the table and said to me - I told her that they are now a bit ' of years in retirement , I 've always worked in my life . As a child I was an assistant to my father, he was an electrician , and at times when I did not study . Although I graduated with honors , my real school was my father , I learned so many things standing beside . My family was proud of me , no one had continued his studies until graduation , I was the first . And the pride of my father and my mother grew when I was able to graduate in engineering. I went to railways and remained there for more than thirty years. I have worked all my life .. -
I began to admire the man , I was convinced that people of older generations were stronger ones , the ones with the sweat of one's brow had created a degree of prosperity in Italy . They were people who had known hunger after the war , he knew what it meant to dirty their hands to work .
Sure , the job also gave me so much - he continued - I was able to marry and establish a family, to have two children, Alex and Luke, to study and to make them come true. Everything was fine, until the day when the fate would have it, my wife left us .. bad bad off and sucked the life gradually , until one day in August, when he died . -
The engineer paused , you could see how much it cost him to remember , and turn those memories into words. I felt almost physically felt the difficulty in telling , but I saw also that he did more than most seemed to get rid of a burden, as if the day of the death of his wife he had not spoken to anyone, and now it was ready to show his pain. He pulled from his pocket a handkerchief with which he wiped his glasses and began to tell .
- That tragedy also mark the end of our family. My daughter , in what later became her husband left for Australia, where he works as a marine biologist , also gave me grandchildren , that I have not known .. are seven years now, I have not seen every now and then I get a letter , where I talk about the pain he feels for his dead mother again . Luckily with the internet I was able to see my grandchildren , they are just beautiful.
My son Luke on the other hand , he found work in Gelsenkirchen in Germany , he married a German . Before , when I was still in service , whenever I had the holidays , I took the train and went to find them. But since I retired, I no longer want to move, so I'll see you at Christmas or in the summer when they spend the holidays in Sicily. -
- But why do not you go to find more often? - I asked , interrupting him.
- Why , it happens in the life of a man, when you want to stay with one person only .. loneliness .. -
Chimay jumped down from the legs of the engineer , yawned and stretched.
-It 's just a cute dog ! - Said the engineer - I can tell you that is forgiven . - He added , rising and adjusting his coat. I got me too , and I accompanied him to the door.
- Andrea , I can give her , do not you ? You might see me son or grandson . Andrea you seem a nice guy, it was a pleasure to meet you, sorry if I bored with the story of my life. As you can see , the last part I will reserve loneliness and regret. -
I was natural to give him a pat on the back , that man had conquered me , I opened the door to let him out, but I take this opportunity also to Chimay groped a flight, immediately froze , it was enough to order them to stop - Chimay stop! -
- You see - I said, turning to the man - he just a habit of running away ! -
I see - I see ! But it was not called Tweety ? - I asked the engineer.
- Well, yes , we say that it has so many nicknames . - Sketched a smile.
" Wow, Ms. Rose has made him a detailed report on all that has happened , if you can not remember the name of the dog. I need to speak with Serena, telling her of the meeting . " At that moment I remembered that the photo had been in his possession on the day of the meeting with Professor De Felice "I have to return the photo to Tommasini . "
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