by Giovanni Galavotti, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 6 – Life Stories
While Marianna and Leonardo are drinking their beer and eating the crisps, they talk about their lives.
Marianna tells Leonardo about Sicily and the university. “I’m studying history of art because I want to be a tourist guide in the area of Sicily where I was born and grew up.”
Leonardo tells her that he is 25 and from Turin, in Piedmont. He came to Bologna a few years ago with a girlfriend but she left and went back to Turin, while he remained in Bologna, a lovely city where you can have a good life.
Marianna is curious: “Where do you live?
“In a community centre with a lot of other lads. But now that I have a bit of money I want to find a room in an apartment.”
The bells of the Seven Churches ring: it’s already 5 o’clock, time has flown. Marianna must go home.
But before leaving she says to Leonardo:
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
And gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Leonardo blushes, but then asks “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is Saturday, I don’t have any lessons, I’m free.”
“We could do a tour of the city. A guided tour. I’ll be the guide…. Would you like that?”
“I certainly would,” Marianna replies happily.
“Good. Then let’s meet at 3, at the Neptune fountain.”
Oppure scopri il testo in inglese con traduzione a fronte (.pdf) 