Enrico Maso, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 5 – An Adventure!
Umberto lowers the car window and sounds his horn twice. Beside him in the passenger seat Antonino’s eyes are fixed on his new smartphone and his finger swipes the screen.
“Have you quite finished playing with that phone?” Umberto asks him, exasperated. “You haven’t said a word for half an hour. You’re like my 16 year old son!”
Antonino turns to look at him in silence and then his eyes return to the screen. Just then, Alessandro opens the rear door and gets in.
“You’re only 50 minutes late, guys. Congratulations!”
Umberto is about to drive away when Antonino shouts “Found him!”
“Found who?” asks Alessandro.
“Vittorio! I’ve found his agriturismo. Lets go!”
“Where?” Umberto asks, a little hesitantly.
“To Vittorio’s place,” replies Antonino evenly, “We can’t go without him.”
“I don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm, Antonino,” says Alessandro, “but Vittorio doesn’t know what we’re doing or where we’re going. I don’t think it’s a very good idea to just turn up unannounced.”
“Um…..we are talking about our friend Vittorio here, aren’t we?” asks Antonino drily.
“I agree. We can’t go without him,” interrupts Umberto, “But do you remember why he didn’t come to the concert 40 years ago? He left for India with that Buddhist girl he met at a party a week before. Without a word to anyone!”
“Yes, a complete idiot,” agrees Alessandro, “At least you didn’t come, Antonino, because you had to leave for military service.”
“Yes, and I missed the best concert of my life, unlike you two….”
Umberto and Alessaandro glance at each other a little embarrassed but say nothing. Umberto starts the engine. “OK, let’s go and collect the idiot!”