Read Online The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani - Free Book Online
Authors: Adriana Trigiani
Ads: Link
stained-glass window over the altar shows souls in torment, reaching up to the Blessed Lady, who looks down on the sinners in the fiery pit from a safe spot on a cloud. She holds the baby Jesus, who looks out at us, not down at the sinners. I don’t know what kind of savior looks away from those who are suffering, but this Jesus does.
This morning on the farm, we all got up early to have a final breakfast with Assunta before her wedding. It was very calm, even though Mama was pressing our new dresses, which I helped her sew until the last moment. Assunta was surprisingly serene. She packed, dressed, and ate her breakfast without saying much. It’s as though she had already moved on to her new home in town.
As we stand in the back of the church awaiting the organ music, Papa gives Father Impeciato an envelope. Father Impeciato understands that as a farmer, Papa cannot attend Sunday Mass on a regular basis because of his chores, but the Holy Roman Church is happy to take Papa’s donations, his eldest daughter’s wedding service included.
Assunta Maria Castelluca and Alessandro Agnello Pagano chose April 12, 1925, as their wedding day. April 12 is also Mama and Papa’s wedding anniversary, so they chose it to honor our parents. All of Assunta’s life she bragged that she would have twelve bridesmaids, but alas she only has Elena. Alessandro asked a cousin from Philadelphia to stand up for him. He is an oily fellow, with his wavy brown hair parted in the center and slicked down with pomade, and a wolfish grin. When he smiles, there’s a gap between his front teeth. Papa told us to stay away from him. Papa must know something about him that we don’t.
Assunta looks pretty in her drop-waist satin gown of shimmering ivory with a train that can be bloused into a bustle and bow for the reception. She wears a headband of tiny white roses, made by Mama in the early hours of the morning. Assunta carries three calla lilies, though she asked Papa if she could have a dozen. Assunta never gets exactly what she wants, but today she makes do without complaining.
As Assunta and Alessandro kneel before the priest, I think back to the moment they first met. Assunta was on her best behavior. Alessandro still has no idea of the Mount Vesuvius within her, the red-hot rages, or her violent tantrums. When she blows, it will come as a terrible shock to him. Elena said she wishes he had shown up ten years ago because we would have been spared years of torment. Clearly, when the prize is worth it, when she is getting something she truly wants, Assunta is capable of complete transformation.
I am wearing a pink satin dress Mama made for me. It’s a straight sheath with a wide band across the hips; the skirt falls straight over the knee. Mama covered small buttons and sewed them up the band to give the dress some interest. Now that I’m fifteen, I would have liked a split tunic like the older girls wear, especially one with full dolman sleeves (cap sleeves are too girlish for me), but Mama would not hear my argument. I wear short white kid gloves, which Chettie thinks gives the whole ensemble some sophistication. I hope so.
There’s a nice crowd in church, since Papa knows so many people from the days when he would deliver milk and eggs to town. Chettie’s family takes up a whole row. On the way in she told me that she spent the entire morning ironing her brothers’ shirts.
After the vows, Assunta crosses to an alcove with a smaller marble version of the main altar and a statue of the Blessed Mother on a gold pedestal behind it. Assunta places her bouquet at the foot of the statue. She stands for a moment as the organ plays “Ave Maria.” Upon the first notes, a man’s voice rings out over the congregation from the choir loft. The voice is so clear and beautiful, I turn to see who is singing. It is Renato Lanzara, whom I have not seen since last November.It’s not that I haven’t tried. Chettie and I walk by his father’s
This morning on the farm, we all got up early to have a final breakfast with Assunta before her wedding. It was very calm, even though Mama was pressing our new dresses, which I helped her sew until the last moment. Assunta was surprisingly serene. She packed, dressed, and ate her breakfast without saying much. It’s as though she had already moved on to her new home in town.
As we stand in the back of the church awaiting the organ music, Papa gives Father Impeciato an envelope. Father Impeciato understands that as a farmer, Papa cannot attend Sunday Mass on a regular basis because of his chores, but the Holy Roman Church is happy to take Papa’s donations, his eldest daughter’s wedding service included.
Assunta Maria Castelluca and Alessandro Agnello Pagano chose April 12, 1925, as their wedding day. April 12 is also Mama and Papa’s wedding anniversary, so they chose it to honor our parents. All of Assunta’s life she bragged that she would have twelve bridesmaids, but alas she only has Elena. Alessandro asked a cousin from Philadelphia to stand up for him. He is an oily fellow, with his wavy brown hair parted in the center and slicked down with pomade, and a wolfish grin. When he smiles, there’s a gap between his front teeth. Papa told us to stay away from him. Papa must know something about him that we don’t.
Assunta looks pretty in her drop-waist satin gown of shimmering ivory with a train that can be bloused into a bustle and bow for the reception. She wears a headband of tiny white roses, made by Mama in the early hours of the morning. Assunta carries three calla lilies, though she asked Papa if she could have a dozen. Assunta never gets exactly what she wants, but today she makes do without complaining.
As Assunta and Alessandro kneel before the priest, I think back to the moment they first met. Assunta was on her best behavior. Alessandro still has no idea of the Mount Vesuvius within her, the red-hot rages, or her violent tantrums. When she blows, it will come as a terrible shock to him. Elena said she wishes he had shown up ten years ago because we would have been spared years of torment. Clearly, when the prize is worth it, when she is getting something she truly wants, Assunta is capable of complete transformation.
I am wearing a pink satin dress Mama made for me. It’s a straight sheath with a wide band across the hips; the skirt falls straight over the knee. Mama covered small buttons and sewed them up the band to give the dress some interest. Now that I’m fifteen, I would have liked a split tunic like the older girls wear, especially one with full dolman sleeves (cap sleeves are too girlish for me), but Mama would not hear my argument. I wear short white kid gloves, which Chettie thinks gives the whole ensemble some sophistication. I hope so.
There’s a nice crowd in church, since Papa knows so many people from the days when he would deliver milk and eggs to town. Chettie’s family takes up a whole row. On the way in she told me that she spent the entire morning ironing her brothers’ shirts.
After the vows, Assunta crosses to an alcove with a smaller marble version of the main altar and a statue of the Blessed Mother on a gold pedestal behind it. Assunta places her bouquet at the foot of the statue. She stands for a moment as the organ plays “Ave Maria.” Upon the first notes, a man’s voice rings out over the congregation from the choir loft. The voice is so clear and beautiful, I turn to see who is singing. It is Renato Lanzara, whom I have not seen since last November.It’s not that I haven’t tried. Chettie and I walk by his father’s
Similar Books
