Dancing To Happiness. Marisa Santi
I’m incessantly happy in her company: she always succeed in making me laugh, I forget all my bad moods and the time flies with her.
Finally, after three hours driving and several delays due to traffic, we arrive to Alassio. Along the way we scattered. Fortunately I gave them the address before leaving and the satellite navigation systems always, or almost always, do their job well.
We meet again before the entrance of Frances’ villa. I ring the bell several times until, finally, the gate opens and we see the butler Marius who welcomes us.
<<Miss Isabel, what a pleasure to see you again! Please kids, come in. Madam awaits you.>>
<<You are awful! You had already advised her of our arrival! You made me believe the whole way that we had to show up at her house without a notice like boors...>> Roberta tells me quite nervous.
<<Yeah!>> I reply kidding her, aware of her shyness. Somehow I had to avenge myself for only making me freak out on the highway behind traffic queues and crazy people heedless of traffic laws.
I have always been playful and lively so she is enough accustomed to endure an ingenuous joke at her expense. She will get over it and will learn to be less naive. Luckily they love me in spite of my tongue a little poisonous and my sarcasm and however we all have a great sense of humour; it’s difficult that we are easily offended.
Frances awaits us at the entrance with a wonderful smile: <<Come in, kids. You’re welcome! Isabel’s friends are my friends too.>> she says, making us settle in.
Everyone is amazed entering this wonderful house. She has good taste and she loves art. Her dwelling looks like a museum: she has travelled much before her husband’s death and from every journey they have brought home some souvenirs. She is a classy woman and I think that she is one of the most fascinating and intelligent woman I have ever met and, in spite of everything, she knows how to put everyone at ease without posing as many hoity-toity women in high places do. Just the thought of the existence of certain people, it makes me sick.
<<Isabel, what a pleasure to have you here! When your mother has told me that you would have stayed two days, she has filled my heart with joy. Now Lucia will show you your rooms.>>
<<Thank you very much, Frances. You are always very generous. You missed me much. You haven’t come visit us for a long time! How are your daughters? Are they always in England?>>
<<They are fine and they always tell me to greet you! Let me hug you, Isabel.>> She throw her arms around my neck and caresses me as only a mother can do. I love this woman, she is like a second mother for me. Who knows if Robbie and I will continue being so much friends as my mother and Frances. I really hope so!
We have spent the evening joyfully even if we were all very tired because of the drive. After supper the boys and girls have finally relaxed and have overcome the awkwardness. I had forgotten that Lucia was really a talented cook. She prepared a “divinely tasty” dish of spaghetti with seafood and sea-bass en papillote with salad, all accompanied with excellent white wine.
<<Isabel, you are right: Mrs Frances is really a very nice and youthful woman. Chatting with her is amusing.>> Rebecca tells me enthusiastically.
Absorbed and fascinated by Frances’ interesting stories, we didn’t realize that the time was passing. It’s very late now and we are starting to be sleepy.
Victor is the first one to fall in Sandman’s arms. <<Good night everyone>> he says while he tries to hold back a yawn.
Little by little all the others do the same and go to their rooms. Robbie and I stay and chat some more with Frances. I would never get tired of listening her talk. Who knows how much my mother and she had fun when they were young! I can well imagine them breaking hearts and getting on my maternal grandmother’s nerves. She is very harsh and I dare not think how many times she will have scolded her daughter for her “exuberance”. Luckily she’s not like that with me. Maybe getting old, you become more tolerant and patient.
<<Isabel, you’re worried about something, aren’t you? You know, nothing can escape me. You’re like a daughter to me and you can’t pull the wool over my eyes...>> she scrutinizes me waiting for my answer.
I look downward on the floor not to meet her inquiring eyes. But she doesn’t give up and perseveres: <<I can see that you’re frayed, even though you want to conceal everything behind your smile. Your eyes are the mirror of your soul and they tell me that there’s something wrong!>>
<<No, I’m just a little tired lately. So I decided to take a break from training otherwise I would arrive to the day of the competition powerless and exhausted.>> I answer off the top of my head before she investigates too deeply. I don’t even know what to say, why I’m feeling so melancholy is a mystery to me too.
<<It’s true, sometimes it’s good to have a little detachment from everyday life. But I continue doubting that you aren’t the usual cheerful girl ever. Whatever it is, you know you can count on me. You did well to come here. In this way you have a change of scenery. Now just rest and scoot off to bed!>> Frances exclaims approaching and kissing me on the forehead.
<<It’s really a pleasure to meet you Roberta. I’m glad that our Isabel has a friend like you. She desired a sister a lot and she has acquired her with you. Keep an eye on this little rascal.>>
Frances kisses also Robbie on the forehead and we head for our bedrooms.
I sink my head in the soft pillow and before falling asleep I send a text message to Max:
Good night, I miss you! Kisses
He answers me immediately:
I miss you too. Remember to be a good girl and don’t get too close to other guys when you’re at the beach. Good night!
I smile and finally fall asleep.
The weekend goes on in a big way: sun, sea, beach games, junk food, disco and a lot of light heartedness I really needed!!! It has been all too short and Turin with its monotony awaits us.
<<Thanks for the hospitality, Frances. We all had a great time. These boys and girls already love you! I’ll miss you. Please, come visit us soon.>> I hug the wonderful woman who has allowed us to spend a terrific weekend and we leave. Of course I’m the designated driver but the truth is that I don’t mind so much after all. When the road is free-flowing and I have music to keep me company, I feel like the mistress of the world. Meanwhile Robbie fell asleep. I won’t wake her thus I can lose myself in my thoughts without arousing indiscreet questions.
Back home we all head for our rooms. We have to rest and prepare psychologically ourselves for the beginning of a new week of hard work.
II
The alarm goes off and I jump from the bed watching the time with sleepy eyes. Damn! It’s already time to get up! It’s only Wednesday and I feel tired as if it was already Friday, wearing the weight of a week . I snort, stretch myself on the bed and try to gather my strength to face another long day. Summer is not long over and the city has resumed its rhythm: people running after public transport, drivers who insult each other to the car horn and students of all ages with a backpack and with the indolence that can be seen from their expressions, just like me today. Sooner or later I want to take a day off and lounge in bed all day making me only cradle by idleness.
This traffic light doesn’t want to turn green! While I wait to cross the road I’m bewitched by a celestial vision. There’s a guy in front of me on the other side of the road who’s waiting to cross. He’s handsome to take your breath away, like someone out of a billboard. Brown hair with shades of wheat colour, eyes as blue as the sky in a summer day and he is as tall and mighty as a Greek God: it’s impossible not to notice him. I hope he didn’t perceive my steady gaze. We cross the road in opposite directions and for a moment I meet his eyes. I feel like a fifteen-years-old girl and, overawed by that magnetic look, I blush. I proceed in