Read Online On Earth as It Is in Heaven by Davide Enia - Free Book Online

nice and pure, and sugar is something strictly for women, so that means that I, who was sitting here drinking my nice hot espresso with sugar, you’re telling me in front of my nephew that I’m just a woman.”
    The customers murmured, considered, and after thinking it over, decided that he was right.
    The three new arrivals, demonstrating an impeccable ability to assume a defensive crouch, immediately sensed the sudden change in the wind.
    â€œListen, I beg your pardon, I certainly meant no offense, I shouldn’t have spoken, entirely my fault.”
    Umbertino’s face changed expression. One mask fell away, another fell into place.
    â€œThen it was nothing at all! Everything’s been cleared up! Let’s all drink another cup of coffee together and we’re friends like before! Oh, obviously, your treat.”
    The trio accepted eagerly. They even thanked him.
    We left the café without paying.
    â€œDid you understand?”
    â€œWhat, Uncle?”
    â€œWhat do you mean, what? Shit, I taught you a lesson.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œAbout losing. About how to lose all personal dignity in thirty seconds. It’s a good thing that I’m here to explain life to you.”
    â€œUncle, can I ask you a question?”
    â€œBe my guest.”
    â€œSince when do you take your espresso with sugar?”
    â€œCoffee with sugar, me? Have you lost your mind? Coffee with sugar is disgusting, you can’t drink it, shit, that’s a drink for women.”
    â€œThen why?”
    â€œI forgot my wallet at home, Davidù, would you believe such a thing? Absurd, isn’t it? But listen, why don’t you tell me what you think of your time at the gym.”
    â€œUncle, it’s only been three days.”
    â€œWell, tell me what you’re thinking anyway.”
    The ward where Gerruso had been admitted was disgusting, full of sick people.
    â€œFive minutes, then we’ll get out of here in a hurry, because I’m already fed up with this place,” said my uncle.
    He told me he’d wait for me in the hallway, that just going in turned his stomach. And how could you disagree with him? Gerruso’s hospital room, aside from Gerruso, was empty. Even the other patients were avoiding him. Even his relatives. Better that way. I didn’t want anyone to know I’d come to visit him.
    â€œDavidù! My friend.”
    â€œWe ain’t friends.”
    â€œYou came to see me!”
    â€œDon’t get any funny ideas, my mother made me come. But listen, did they stitch the piece of finger back on?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen you’re just a stump-finger! Serves you right, you idiot.”
    â€œYou’re right.”
    â€œI know I am. Well, I came to see you, I’ve done my bit, ciao.”
    â€œCiao.”
    In the hallway, Umbertino was leaning on the wall. His elbow was held high, his feet were crossed, his eyes were staring into the eyes of a chesty nurse.
    â€œUncle, we can go.”
    â€œDavidù, what’s your hurry?”
    He was telling her a heartbreaking story of friendship and severed fingers, of gunshots and a desire to come see the wounded boy, of a deeply moved uncle and a dark blue Fiat 126 hurtling at dangerous speed through dense traffic in order to bring a beloved nephew to the bedside of an unfortunate friend. Lowering his voice, his lips trembling, he confessed to her—“Oh, by the way, what’s your name? Ester? What a pretty name that is”—that at the sight of all that friendship his sensitive heart had cracked down the middle: “Right here, go ahead, you can touch.” He took her hand in his and guided it to that triumph of sculpted musculature that was his torso. Nurse Ester inadvertently let an admiring “Oh” escape her lips.
    Because of him, I was stuck in the hospital for another twenty minutes with Gerruso.
    â€œYou came back! My