The groom's name was Sam Scopia.
The bride's name was Mary Dolorosso.
And it all began in the 1950’s in a real place called Da Bronx, New York.
And this is how it is today:
Sam owns and is head chef for the O Solo Mio Italian Restaurant in Athens, Georgia. When Sol left the shop to Sam, the first thing he did was sell it. With Mary, they swore they would get three-tankfuls of gas away from Da Bronx, and this is where the taxi coughed dead. There isn’t a tenement with a fire escape, a trolley car, a subway train or pool room within 30 miles in any direction.
They say if you're ever near there, stop in, hear? I recommend the gnocchi a la carbonnaro.
Mary and he have children. In honor of Sol they have no quota. Last count was fifteen and naming.
ATTEST:
s Lou Harness
Lou Harness, Author
Da Bronx, 1953
#
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
My profound gratitude to Charlie Wilkinson--
the only reader of this experimental manuscript
form--who did not once need to use a dictionary,
even caught a misspelling or two, and made
sagacious, perspicacious, and meaningful
editorial observations. I am forever indebted to
his gracious generosity that offered his brilliant,
lengthy, in-depth critique and analysis.
- 0 -
PAUL ARGENTINI is a Random House bestselling author and prize-winning playwright. He and his bride, Vera, live in Florida. They have two grown daughters, Lisa and Mona.
A Matter of Love in da Bronx Page 48