you family?» asks the dutiful employee.
«No, let’s say… a friend.»
«Then you have to deliver it to the heirs» his final sentence.
I get out even more confused. Among the crowd I notice a board with my name on: I always hoped to have someone waiting for me at the airport with a nice big panel.
I approach them: «Good morning, I am Francesco Speri».
«We were waiting for you» answers with false politeness a woman in her sixties. «We would like to thank you for all you did for us.»
At my questioning look, the lady indicates to a nearby boy to come closer and introduces herself: «Grazia Barbarino, nice to meet you. I am poor Luigi Maria’s sister and he is my son: we came to give a proper burial to our beloved».
Her courteous tone and composed ways do not inspire sympathy at all. «Did you have a nice trip?» asks her, with very little interest in my answer.
«I am deeply sorry for your loss.»
None of them seems particularly afflicted; I am not either, I’m actually glad I can get rid of the corpse.
«Thanks again for everything» repeats the boy.
Of course, they could have been the ones going to Turkey, I try to not let that thought shown in my face: «You’re welcome. It was the minimum I could do, after many years…»
«Sure, I can imagine» cuts short the lady.
«Here’s a copy of the report of the anatomopathologist, in case you want to show it to your lawyer» I add, articulating my words slowly.
With a last condolences gesture, I leave the odd group and go to the train station.
Only when the Intercity from Rome arrive at Chiusi station to change, I feel I’m in Italy again; at around 19.30, after taking a minibus from Sinalunga station until Bettolle, I get home: I am glad to be back to the quietness of the town I live in since when I won the research grant from Siena’s University.
I leave my bag and immediately go down to get back the cat from my neighbour, where I left it in these days. I knock vigorously. A kid around 5 or 6 opens the door.
«Hi, is grandma home?»
The baby says: «How do we say?»
I am speechless.
«Mum says you always have to say please.»
«She’s right. So, nice kid, is grandma home, please?»
«What’s my name?»
I never knew it, actually. «What’s your name?»
The little crook smiles: «I won’t tell you!»
«Come on, tell me.»
«And what will you give me?» he says all proud.
And my parents wonder why I do not want kids…: «A candy?»
«Mum says not to accept candies from strangers»
«But I am no stranger, I live upstairs.»
The kid then puts out his right hand, I give him the honey and mint candy that luckily I had in my pocket.
«Now, will you tell me your name?»
He crosses his arms and bends his head: «Gian…luca».
«Very well, Gianluca, is grandma home?»
«Well, apart from the fact that you didn’t say please» he specifies «What’s my grandma’s name?»
I knew he would ask that, but I really can’t keep her name in mind: «Federica?»
«No.»
«Elisabetta?» I try.
«Almost» he smiles, happy with this new game.
«Elisa?»
«Got it!»
«Ok, listen carefully: Dear Gianluca, is your grandma Elisa at home… please?»
«Nope» and he slams the door in my face.
While standing stunned in front of the door, I think about a scene from the movie Caro diario of Nanni Moretti: he’s on holiday in Salina and when ringing a friend, a kid picks up and before passing the phone to his parents, he forces him to imitate several animal sounds.
Luckily Elisa overheard everything: «Francesco, welcome back. How was it?»
«Well, bureaucracy aside…» I cut short.
She smiles: «Pallino behaved very well, here he comes: he heard you.»
A fluffy white cat comes out from behind my neighbour’s legs and welcomes me with whim, almost reproachful.
«Thanks again, I wouldn’t know where else to leave him.»
I go back home, with the feline in my arms. After a nice dinner, we both tired go to bed; it has surely been an adventure for him too, these days in a stranger’s house.
Tuesday 20 July
«Welcome back to work, had a nice holiday?» asks me the director, as soon as I enter the Montepulciano station branch.
Well, yeah, I didn’t mention it yet: after finishing my professor contract at the University, I ended up working as a bank counter clerk. Not the best, but it’s a permanent contract at least!
I didn’t tell anyone the real reasons of my trip, actually the two reasons: the research of the professor and the emperor.
«All good… a bit tiring.»
It is harder to get out of Vito Darino’s questions, he’s the cashier on the desk next to mine. As we say around here, “he’s a weird fish”: he’s generally quiet and gentle, but gets upset out of nothing, becoming all red, then purple and suddenly deflates. He is against the whole world, thinking no one understands a thing and, that’s the reason they get promoted, while he has always remained stuck. He claims to be single; I’d say more of a bachelor: he hasn’t had a girlfriend in ten years I think, always talking about women, but in a very misogyny way.
«Did you have fun? Have you met any nice Turk darlings?» is his first question.
«No, I just had some rest.» Couldn’t be falser.
«I’ve also visited some touristic places.»
«Where exactly have you been?» he insists.
I try to remain vague: «Well… an archaeological site: you know it’s my passion».
«Sure,
