By Giovanni Galavotti, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 8 – The Last Day Of School
It’s the last day of school for Michele and his classmates. Then the summer holidays begin; no more school for three months!
And this summer there won’t even be any homework to do, because next year they are all going to middle school.
At break time no one mentions the big goldfish. Instead everyone is talking about the holidays; some are going to the seaside, others to the mountains, or to the lakes.
A girl asks her friend, “Where are YOU going for the holidays?”
“To Rimini,” is the reply “And you?”
“I’m going to Croatia. What about you, Francesco?”
“I’m going to stay with my father in the United States.”
Michele looks at Francesco, who tells him “It’s true; my father lives there now: he has a new family….”
Then another boy asks “And you, Michele? Where are you going?”
“I’m going with my family on a round-the-world trip. First by air, then by train, then by air again…”
Francesco and the others are amazed, and stare at Michele in disbelief.
But Michele smiles, “Only joking… we’re going to the mountains, to my grandparents’ house. The whole family. That’s the best thing of all!”