Read Online Sydney's Song by Ia Uaro - Free Book Online Page B

too low. How much bonus are we talking about here, if you can pass all the hurdles?”
    â€œThey vary depending on the call volumes. The company sets aside money in the bonus pool according to how much work we get. The more months you pass the hurdles, the more percentage of bonus shares you build. After a time you can get 600 or 800 dollars a month from the Attendance Bonus alone.”
    â€œSo you’re determined to show them you’re unbeatable? Your own personal Olympics?”
    I laughed. “The challenge of a horrible job.”
    Little did I know that 2000 was going to be my personal Olympics.
    We chatted more easily. I asked about his work and he taught me some general business rules. He explained the benefits of exports besides gaining a wider market and spreading the risks.
    â€œTo compete in the international market, you have to be better than others. So you’ll develop ways to improve your products. This eventually keeps your company on top even in Australia.”
    â€œSo, are you an Aussie now? There’s the faintest accent there.”
    â€œMy family moved here when I was twelve. But we went back home for holidays frequently. So I’m both Italian and Aussie in many ways.”
    â€œWhich part of Italy is your hometown?”
    â€œBorgo San Lorenzo. Near Firenze , which you call Florence.”
    â€œBorgo—whaat?”
    â€œBorgo. San. Loren-zo.”
    â€œBorgo—San—Lorenzo,” I repeated slowly. “And what’s special about it?”
    â€œApart from the fact that there are so many soccer fields and everybody is mad about real football? I could talk about football for hours. But Borgo San Lorenzo itself is magical. The country is simply beautiful in spring and summer. The area is quite hilly. It shines in spring with so many colours. And in summer you can catch moments of amazing view, especially at sunrise and sunset… I have great memories of my hometown.”
    â€œGo on. I don’t know anything about Florence except Dante.”
    â€œWell the streets are narrow. Shady. The town centre could be defined as a perfect example of medieval architecture. It was built with an ancient kind of stone called sampietrino, which gives a pleasant feeling of antique and elegance. Same as the houses. They’re painted with the typical colour of Florence, Terra di Firenze.A sort of old-gold colour.”
    I felt better when we left the restaurant.
    My friends were still by the free concert, singing along and holding liquor cans now. Sinead flashed me teasing eyes. But I was annoyed at Pete. He stood motionless, except for a polite nod.
    â€œWhat now?” Ettoré arched a brow. “You just lost your smile again.”
    â€œI like my friends boisterous and sincere,” I declared without thinking. “I don’t like it when people give me a polite, indifferent nod. It’s heaps annoying!”
    We stepped aside to let a people-mover Li’l Train pass. Ettoré turned to me, eyes searching, contemplating. Slowly he said with a deadpan, straight face,
    â€œI agree. How dare anyone do that! Don’t they know it’s your sole prerogative?”
    I broke into a laugh, feeling an instant shame to realise how badly I must have acted.
    â€œExactly!” I joked. “How dare anyone!”
    â€œSo?” he asked. “Who was the handsome guy?”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThe one who looked at you.”
    â€œThey all did. How could you notice any difference?”
    â€œCome on. The cool one. Who pretended to be indifferent.”
    â€œPretended?” This news made me feel better. “Did you really notice that?”
    He needled me about Pete. And I could not tell Ettoré anything about him. Pete and I were not normally given the same break. The short chats between calls could only be superficial. We had no chance to get to know who our co-workers really were as individuals.
    I kept thinking of them