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

wrong answer, but I also sensed the pride that he felt when he heard me utter that name.
    Umbertino did nothing more than step to one side.
    Behind him, outside the door, with a bouquet of flowers in one hand, was Nina.
    Red hair worn in a braid.
    Light-colored dress, ankle-length.
    Deep, dark eyes.
    White shoes.
    Mulberry lips.
    And the swing began to sway again.
    Behind her, two adults. Nina had both a mother and a father. Gerruso’s aunt and uncle weren’t as ugly as their nephew, and they had all ten fingers. They went over to him and told him that it was just a matter of minutes, his parents were coming to see him. Nina was with them. She wasn’t looking at me.
    I leaned against the wall. I felt weak and sick.
    Why was Nina over there with Gerruso? He was ugly.
    Why wouldn’t she come over to the wall with me? I still had all my fingers in one piece.
    I couldn’t say or do anything.
    The wall was all I had left.
    Umbertino was already bending over me.
    â€œHey, everything all right?”
    â€œUncle, I’m sick.”
    â€œLook me in the eyes. I said, look me in the eyes. Now.”
    His voice was warm. He spoke softly, almost in a whisper.
    â€œYou’re not sick.”
    â€œOh, yes, I am.”
    â€œDavidù, you’re just growing up, and what you’re discovering is that it’s not just your head that decides what and who you like, but your body, above all. Do you want to leave?”
    He held out the palm of his hand to me. It was big and welcoming. I felt like crying and I didn’t know why.
    â€œBest wishes to everyone, ladies and gentlemen; ciao, Gerruso, take care of yourself; ciao, youngster, you’re a sweetheart; ciao, Ester, I’ll call you tonight.”
    I didn’t know whether Nina was responding to that farewell; I couldn’t bring myself to look in her direction.
    And yet I had them, the words.
    I had them.
    They were the first words that had come to mind.
    Nina, I wanted to tell her, look, my hand is clean, my fingers aren’t always covered in blood, can I twirl them in your hair until they vanish?
    At the door, my uncle stopped.
    â€œDavidù, someone wants to say goodbye to you.”
    â€œGerruso?”
    â€œLift your head, light of my life.”
    There was an unfamiliar gentleness in my uncle’s voice.
    I lifted my head.
    Nina was smiling at me and waving goodbye to me.
    Then she raised her hand to her mouth and blew me a kiss.
    And I died right then and there.
    â€œDavidù, I’m sorry, I didn’t understand how much you like her.”
    In the car, my uncle was patting my head.
    I would have fallen to the ground at Nina’s feet if my uncle hadn’t held me up. My legs had betrayed me. There was a new knot of hardness in my groin.
    â€œIt’s normal to be ashamed. When you really like somebody, your body does strange things.”
    â€œDid it happen to you, too, Uncle?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œAnd did it get hard down there, too?”
    â€œLike marble, if I do say so myself.”
    â€œSo I’m not sick?”
    â€œSince when is feeling the life in your own body a sign of sickness? There is only one truth and it’s a simple one: that girl gets your blood up, with a vengeance.”
    â€œIs it always that way when you like someone?”
    â€œEven worse, kid. There are people, poor things, who instead of marble find a deflated balloon.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œI knew that we’d get here sooner or later.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by ‘here’?”
    â€œThe fact that you’re turning into a young man.”
    There were no rough edges to his voice.
    He spoke words as soothing as the taste of warm bread.
    Words of a father.
    He drove slowly, carefully. He listened to me listening. He confided in me, revealing to me fears, anxieties, sorrows, not shying away from the gray areas. He explained to me that when you like a girl, your