Woven in Time by Claudia Davison

Author:Claudia Davison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2020-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

1913

Five years later, Giuseppe Bernascone still lived in the tiny room in Vegia Zena. The difference was that he had a change of clothes for every day. As well, he had bags of gold and some money stashed about his room. He did not use the bank. They were as good as thieves, he believed. He still worked every waking hour and had gained the men’s respect at all levels of the construction company. Giuseppe had increasingly been given more responsibility until he became foreman of an entire crew which included men who had worked with him five years ago when he was still a boy. Giuseppe was so honest, forthright and stubborn in his protection of his workers that he dispelled what possible envy there might have arisen about his numerous promotions. The men were glad to work with him and for him because Giuseppe, without fail, put their needs above his own. It was almost too good to be true. His father’s kindness and protection was the only model he had to live by and Giuseppe had absolutely nothing else in his life to distract or entice him.

Until venerdì, 7 febbraio, 1913. The sun had already set on the working day. Giuseppe walked alone down the very narrow streets of Vegia Zena. He passed a youth walking quickly and nervously carrying a ladies’ purse. Giuseppe politely said, “Buonasera,” and tilted his cap. The youth grunted something unintelligible. As Giuseppe came out of the narrow opening into the square, he saw a young lady crumpled against the wall, crying. He immediately understood and pointed in the direction he had come. The girl nodded.

Reluctantly, Giuseppe began to run. The street was so narrow, if you stood in the middle with outstretched arms you could touch each wall. And there was only one way out: the end of the passage that opened up into the harbour. Giuseppe calculated that he could overtake the youth before he reached the opening.

The boy began running, too. Giuseppe ran faster. His muscular build was not conducive to running fast but his determination gave him the advantage over the lanky boy who reached the opening and turned sharply to the right. Giuseppe followed. He tackled the youth and they both toppled and rolled. At full speed, their fall was a jumble of entangled arms and legs hitting the stone cobbles. Grimaces and grunts accompanied the fall. Giuseppe said nothing. He grabbed the bag, stood up and left the youth on the ground. He quickly hobbled back the length of the street without glancing back at the boy still splayed and moaning.

Giuseppe returned to the square where he first saw the young lady. She was no longer there. He looked around hoping that if he kept looking, she would appear. Nothing.

"Ma scherzi?" He did not want to be caught holding the stolen purse. So he placed the bag where he had first seen the girl and walked quickly away.

He heard a female voice,

“Signore?”

Giuseppe turned his head. There she was.

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