Father Salvatore Crispi in Rome

Part 2

Main characters:

Marco Dotti Italian Intelligence officer

Lea Barre Police Officer in Ajaccio, Corsica

Mason Davies IT expert on Corsica 

Zoe Groot Past last of the night and current girlfriend of Mason Davies

Sal Crispi Priest in Rome

Rene Bouchard Friend of Mason Davies

Crispi met with the Bishop, whom he couldn’t stand. A pompous, nonstop talker, Bishop Melo was a self-centered bore. Crispi had no choice but to put up with him. Father Crispi liked teaching school, but once his talents became apparent, the Bishop selected him to reinvigorate a deteriorating parish in the Trastevere section of Rome. Quickly, Melo made it clear that he would “supervise closely” Crispi’s every move. 

Over coffee and biscotti at Cafe Madia Drogheria, Crispi  laid out his cards. “ Either you let me run this church my way, or I am out” The Bishop’s response was humorous, “ Where will you go, my dear boy. I am in charge of any transfers.” Crispi told him he would leave the priesthood but not before he filed complaints against Melo. 

Now the Bishop had a problem. If Crispi left, it would be like losing Renaldo from the Portuguese National Soccer Team. People would blame the Bishop. Melo knew he had lost, and he looked at Crispi with a mixture of scorn and respect.

Not long after this meeting, Father Crispi met Marco Dotti, and his life was about to take a new trajectory. Dotti wasn’t a religious man, but he was a spiritual man who had suffered numerous losses in his life. They felt like brothers after sharing their stories, and Crispi became an unofficial spiritual advisor to Marco Dotti, the fast-rising officer in the Italian Intelligence department.

Crispi had been an outstanding teacher, modeling himself after his mentor, Father Cardarelli. He happily could have stayed at his school, but at the same time, he liked the challenge of bringing back to life a failing parish. First, he built a bocce ball court on the church grounds and started a league for locals. Bingo on Thursdays came next, and then the development of a teen rock band named I Tromper di Trastevere. With a donation from Dotti, Father Sal was able to buy sound equipment and a van. Local teens gradually became interested, particularly after talking to the persuasive Crispi. Other programs followed, and suddenly masses filled up, and the church was buzzing with activity.

Crispi reflected. He enjoyed some parts of the priesthood, like the challenge and excitement of developing programs. Crispi felt alive and creative at those times. However, he hated the church's bureaucracy, which was constantly throwing up barriers to his plans. He was smart enough to get around many of the roadblocks, but it was such a waste of time. In addition, it was clear to Crispi that Italy's most talented youth weren't wearing cassocks. 

He stopped his reverie when the clock struck noon, as he was to meet Dotti in 30 minutes at Nannarella Ristorante,  a locals' favorite in Trastevere. As usual, Dotti was on time. Both men ordered cacio e peppe to start. Dotti then selected pollo alla romana while Crispi preferred the lamb dish, abbacchio al forno con petate. For wine, Dotti recommended Sangiovese Volpala Toscana, an excellent red from Tuscany. They skipped dessert but ordered strong Espresso coffee. 

Towards the end of the meal, Dotti said to Crispi, "I am going on holiday for a week to Corsica. Why don't you join me, even for a few days?" Crispi, who hadn't had a day off in months, thought for a moment and said," Count me in."

The flight from Rome to Ajaccio took three and a half hours. Lea Barre picked up Dotti and Crispi from the airport and took them to the nearby Hotel Les Mouettes. That evening Barre, her boyfriend Santo, Crispi, Mason Davies, and Zoe Groot would dine together. Dotti wasn't sure, but he thought Lea Barre had given an extra look at the handsome Crispi.

Dinner was full of laughter and stories. Mason Davies was enjoying himself listening to Dotti and Lea talk about their adventures in law enforcement. Zoe Groot was comfortable, and father Sal Crispi felt at home. The perceptive Dotti noticed that the padre and Lea had numerous interchanges that ended in laughter.

(to be continued)