Read Online Home to Italy by Peter Pezzelli - Free Book Online Page B

in America. Even then the broadcasts were almost always tape-delayed segments edited to fill up a thirty-minute program. It was engrossing to see the race in its entirety, to watch all the action unfolding as it happened.
    The time passed quickly and before Peppi knew it the sky had started to darken. Luca stood and stretched his arms over his head as he gazed out the window. The sun had already dropped from sight, leaving in its path a great splash of purple and orange across the tops of the mountains.
    â€œIt’s getting late,” said Luca with a yawn. “Soon it will be dark. I should probably drive you back to Sulmona. I can help you get your things and you can stay here for the night.”
    â€œYes,” Filomena agreed. “That’s a good idea. You’re welcome to stay.”
    â€œThank you, but that’s not necessary,” said Peppi. “I’ve imposed enough on you for the first day.”
    â€œNonsense,” said Filomena. “It’s been a pleasure.”
    â€œIf we leave now, maybe it will still be light enough to see the mulino,” Peppi said hopefully.
    â€œWell—we’ll see,” said Luca. “But first I just wanted to make one quick stop on the way.”
    With Peppi’s bike secured to the roof of Luca’s car, they left the house soon after. Luca drove them to the piazza and stopped outside the local bar.
    â€œCome on,” he told Peppi, “there are some people inside I want you to meet.”
    Luca led him into the bar and ordered a round of drinks for everyone. By then, word of Peppi’s return had already spread around town. To his amazement, Peppi recognized several of the old, grizzled faces grinning at him as they all drank to his health to welcome him back to Villa San Giuseppe. The others were strangers to him, but they too welcomed him back as if he were a long lost relative. They stayed there till well into the night, drinking and talking and remembering, until it was time for Luca to bring Peppi back to Sulmona. By then it was too dark and late to visit the mulino, but as they stepped into his car, Luca vowed that they would ride their bicycles out to it first thing the next morning.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    Peppi saw Luca waiting for him by the fountain when he pedalled into the piazza. It was early and, like Peppi, he was bundled up to keep warm in the morning chill. He greeted Peppi with a nod and the two pedalled off together.
    â€œWhere are we going?” asked Peppi. “I know I’ve been gone a long time, but I still remember that the mulino is in the other direction.”
    â€œI know,” Luca replied, “but I thought we’d go this way first so I can show you a little more of the area around the town. That will give me a chance to get a few extra kilometers in before I go to the factory.”
    Peppi let his friend lead the way. As anxious as he now was to see the mulino, he was content to follow along. Luca was right, it would be a good chance for him to reacquaint himself with the area. They rolled along at a gentle pace, spinning their legs easily to work out the stiffness left over from the previous day’s ride. As they passed the houses, Luca pointed out the ones in which their childhood friends had grown up.
    â€œThere’s Ernesto’s old house,” he said, gesturing to one home. “And there’s Tomassino’s,” he said, pointing out another. “You remember Tomassino. His father was the baker. They moved out years ago. Last I heard, Tomassino had married some girl from Naples, but I don’t know what’s become of him since.”
    On they went through the outskirts of the village, waving as they passed the children awaiting the morning school bus. Before long the village was behind them and they rode off into the rolling countryside beyond. The sun shone brightly through the chilly morning air and though they pedalled along at a gentle cadence, they were