A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio

Author:Donatella Di Pietrantonio
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Europa Editions
Published: 2019-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

I made out only a few words of the sermon the next morning, references to those who get lost for lack of a sure and steady guide, sheep gone astray whom the Lord would receive in his merciful embrace thanks to our prayers. As we came out there was a downpour and a circle of black umbrellas rose around us, in condolence. A stranger who didn’t know what to say whispered good luck, kissing me on the cheeks. It must have been then that I felt I belonged to Vincenzo’s family.

It wasn’t raining at the cemetery. Few of us remained with him. At some point my father the carabiniere appeared on the other side of the grave, one hand holding the collar of his jacket up over his throat. He gave me a slight nod of greeting and then opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak to me from there. He closed it. He had a beard, as Nicola had told me, and looked a little scruffy. I barely reacted to that encounter, so long awaited: I didn’t go over to him—at that moment I wouldn’t have known what to ask. After a few minutes he’d already disappeared.

The Gypsies arrived, too, and they stood apart, where a shaft of sunlight poked through. There were four of them, I think my brother’s age, except for one, who seemed more adult and wore a wide-collared purple shirt, with a mourning button pinned to the chest. They had polished shoes and brilliantine in their dark hair, combed back as on Sunday. Thus they paid homage to their friend, simply by their presence.

Beyond the boundary wall the horses waited for them, left free.

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