The Italians at Cleat's Corner Store

by Jo Riccioni

  While my story is entirely fictional, it owes a debt to many people in my family. My thanks go to my uncle and godfather, Luciano Riccioni, who some years ago took the time to record for me his memories of growing up in Italy and migrating to England. Uncle Luci, you have always been such a well of patience and love — thank you for your translation help and for letting me pick your brains with bizarre questions at the oddest of moments. To my dad, Albis, the embodiment of the immigrant work ethic and a great storyteller in his own right, thank you for passing a little of that on to me so I could finish this. You’ve always been a bigger influence than you can imagine. Aunty Angela and Aunty Mary — I loved listening to you, Nonna and Nonno during all those summers in Italy and apologise now for not telling you I was mentally taking notes. To my sister Sylvana, thank you for first putting the idea in my head with that pep talk when I still had nappy brain. ‘You know, you should write,’ you told me, and it was like suddenly being given permission. Thank you Big Sis, Suzanne, for keeping me going with long-distance encouragement and titbits of rural life, not to mention letting me live in Oakdene and introducing me to Watties shop all those years ago — a big influence. And Marcus, thank you for the lesson in hunting etiquette. To my gorgeous Lydia and Henry, thanks for never respecting the closed door and always keeping me grounded in reality — life, after all, is more important than novels. And finally my love and thanks to GJ, for never asking to read it, for never complaining about the 5 a.m. alarm and for never stinting in your quiet, unquestioning support, especially when there seemed no end and no dinner in sight. I couldn’t have done it without you.

  Contents

  About the Author

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Epigraphs

  Part One

  Leyton 1949

  Montelupini 1939

  Leyton 1949

  Montelupini 1939

  Leyton 1949

  Montelupini 1939

  Leyton 1949

  Part Two

  Montelupini 1943

  Leyton 1949

  Montelupini 1943

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1943

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1943

  Part Three

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1943

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1943–1944

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1944

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1944

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1946

  Leyton 1950

  Montelupini 1955

  Acknowledgements