Enzio
Chapter 13 and Snapshot
Snapshot
Pope Leo, a smart, refreshing man, is directly confronting Trump’s fascist administration. He’s urging Catholics to contact their representatives. Unlike the Pope during World War II, Leo is expressing outrage and condemning the Trump administration. Good for him. He and some news reporters seem to have more courage than the Grand Old Party. What a disgrace the Republicans are.
Enzio
Enzio and Gia were greeted at the Sorento Railroad station by a man in a black coat and tie. Enzio asked Gia whether the man was her father, and she said no. That’s Carlo, our chauffeur. Enzio wondered what he had gotten himself into.
The man helped the couple with their luggage and escorted them to a black Alfa Romeo sedan. Soon, they were climbing the hills above Sorrento, driving along narrow, winding roads. Enzio glanced to his right and saw the ocean spread before him. Large hotels lined the shores of Sereno, and further north, he saw smoke rising from Mount Vesuvius, which overlooked Pompeii. He couldn’t quite believe he was in this car with these people, and he knew he was taking more risks than he ever had back in Revere, Massachusetts.
When Carlo finally brought the Alfa to a stop, they had driven up a wide driveway to a large building that Enzio initially thought was a hotel. He asked Gia what it was called, and she said, “Well, that’s my house. That’s where we live. That’s Villa Orsini.”
Once they exited the car, a handsome couple, probably in their early 50s, descended the front stairs of the house and greeted Enzio and Gia. Gia introduced them as her parents, Nico Orsini and Mariana, her mother. The attractive couple greeted Enzio warmly. Each wore well-tailored Italian clothes. Enzio wondered if he had stepped into an Italian commercial for fashion and architecture. He wasn’t sure.
The Orsini home was comfortable, elegant, and understated. It was a beautiful place, with a clever blend of space and well-designed furniture. Most of the rooms overlooked the ocean, and it was a home where it was impossible not to feel at ease.
Gia instructed one of the staff members to put all their luggage in her bedroom, which certainly caught young Enzio’s attention. He couldn’t believe she was doing this. The parents apparently had no say in the matter. What else could he do but go along with the unfolding plan?
Soon, another staff member brought champagne for the entire family. After a few minutes, they were led into a dining room with a long wooden table and comfortable leather chairs. The sun was setting over the Mediterranean, and Enzio thought he was dreaming. He wasn’t sure whether any of it was real. The champagne was starting to affect him, and he was slipping into a pool of ecstasy.
He felt even better after savoring his host’s delicious minestrone. This was followed by flavorful arrabbiata pasta, homemade Italian bread, and a delightful Sicilian salad of chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta. The local wine was a Costa d’Amalfi Furore Rosso 2023, which Enzio embraced like a thirsty man in the Sahara.