by Fay Henson
The beer must have been chilling for years, but it was wicked. I couldn’t stop myself from gulping half the glassful in one go; the fizziness hurting my nose and making my eyes water, but I pretended it was nothing. I reckoned that Vico and Lula must have been regular drinkers, and didn’t care about letting it all out, but when I sensed I had a belch rising, I let it reach a certain point that I could just manage to suppress it. I couldn’t quite let myself do it in front of them.
That made me think about Zoe and Em and how sometimes we’d really laugh at that kind of thing. Actually it took me back to a time once, when I remembered that we were trying to belch and talk at the same time like you hear boys do, but it was harder than we realised so we passed it off as boys stuff.
I’d had enough of the bag of peas on my ankle so I got off the settee and went over to the kitchen area to put the peas away and went to where I’d left my bag to get my phone. For a moment my heart thud because I thought I’d put it on the chair close to the kitchen table and I couldn’t see it, but then I saw it hanging by the handles on a chair near the hall door where I must’ve put it.
I sat back down on the settee and put my leg up to rest again as I was determined to give it as much chance as possible to get better before I left in the morning. Lula was still overdoing it on demonstrating their togetherness in front of me which I guessed was entirely for my benefit. I wondered if perhaps he’d been unfaithful to her in the past, and she was making sure I knew he wasn’t up for grabs. It made me feel a tiny bit sorry for her because he wasn’t taking any notice of her at all and instead he was fixated to the game of football on the TV.
I let my phone search for an internet connection, and what luck, there were a couple of possible connections available, albeit unsecure. But the day had been incredibly long and to think that this morning I’d been to see some pigs, well I sort of went, and what with walking and hitching, if you could’ve seen me, I was struggling to keep my eyes open.
How really strange it was waking up in different place again. I laid still on the settee for a few moments whilst I went over some events of yesterday in my mind. I located my phone that I’d slept on, sat upright and checked the time. It was seven fifteen in the morning and I couldn’t hear any sounds within this apartment but I could sense the busyness with scooters outside of the building down in the street below. I wondered where the others were, hoping they were still sleeping.
I really wanted to check WhatsApp and also to send a text message to Mum and Dad as I never got to it last night, but as I was really bursting for a wee I’d have to do it after I’d been to the bathroom. What a relief it was to find that my ankle didn’t feel so tender and the puffiness wasn’t looking as bad as it did last night. I was truly glad about that.
One of the bedroom doors was open a crack enticing me to take a sneaky peek inside the room. I could see Lula and Vico asleep together but not touching, their hair all dishevelled and a single sheet half-on half-off them both. That room was just as scruffy too. The other bedroom door was closed where I assumed the other bloke was sleeping. I was afraid to wake anyone up so I stepped as gently as I could to the bathroom and turned the lock behind me.
I hoped they wouldn’t mind me taking a little bit of their toothpaste to clean my teeth, after which I rinsed my face off under some cold-running water. Wait a minute, I thought. Wasn’t that my No. 7 Boots make-up I could see in the cabinet? Flipping charming.
When I turned off the tap, I wasn’t sure, but I thought I could hear someone speaking. I stood still and held my breath straining really hard to listen. There was nothing except my beating heart and some passing traffic in the street below.
I knew it wasn’t right not to flush the loo even though I’d only had a wee, but I didn’t want to risk waking the sleeping beauties, and so I went back to the kitchen area to try to find the internet connection. I took a quick look through the little gap of their bedroom door again and nobody had moved. Didn’t they need to get up to go to work? I wondered.
Having spent ages trying to find my stuff, including my All Stars which I eventually found outside on a dirty window ledge thick with pigeon poo, if I could get a connection, I wanted to see if Zoe and Em had replied to me yesterday as well as opening a text message which I think came from Mum in reply to mine.
Caylin, it’s worrying for us to think of you going off alone. One day when you have your own family you’ll understand exactly what our fears are. Listen, you can call us for anything, and I mean anything. Keep in touch my sweet and no matter what, keep safe. Mum xxx
Well after reading that message Mum had sent yesterday evening, it left me with a bit of a lump in my throat, especially as I hadn’t bothered to try opening it.
I really hoped Zoe and Em had written to me on WhatsApp and given me their approval on what I’d done. Yes, there were three messages waiting for me; I held my breath as I opened the oldest.
Cayeee, well, if twas me I’d stay with my parents & learn all about the farmland & become a country girl (only joking J). Think u need2 leggit!! Hope this message gets 2u b4 your parents come banging on that there door. Let me know what ur up2, take care, Zoeeeee xx
What a relief to have received Zoe’s thumbs up. Now Em.
Hey Cay, I don’t know if you would have seen this message in time, our internet was down so I couldn’t open yours for ages L. Anyway, I know what Zoe would tell you, and I think you’d guess she’d give you her blessing straight away seeing as she’s more brave than I am. And so you’re probably guessing what I think? Well, I don’t think you should go alone, of course I want you to have some fun but you don’t know Italy or the language. I’m really sorry Cay to be a party pooper this time, I think you should stay, and if you do, I’m sure things will liven up a bit more J. Whatever you do, keep in touch and stay well, Em x
I suppose I sort of expected that from Em; got her feet a bit more on the ground. I opened the last message which was from Zoe again.
KKK, 4got 2 say that we did manage to get in2 the disco, but only by a gnat’s whatsit J, the q was so long. Poor old Em was frantic as we had 2 run for the bus – my fault. Twas a good nite but a tad dif without u strutting your stuff on the floor J. Say ciao to Italy from me, Zoeeeee xx
Zoe always made me laugh. I’d decided I’d reply to everyone when I felt a bit more relaxed and away from that Lula and her childish antics.
I took a piece of kitchen towel and found a pen amongst some junk on the side and wrote Grazie and thank you for all your help, then stuck it onto the fridge using one of their magnets hoping that Vico would see it; he was the kindest. At the top of the stairs, I pulled the apartment door shut behind me as gently as I could, and feeling relieved that our paths wouldn’t ever be crossing again, I went down to the main door to the street.
6
Cold sweat
I pulled the external door shut and stepped out onto the narrow street. I was absolutely starving hungry and craving for a cappuccino and something to eat like a bacon butty; maybe there was a coffee bar up along here somewhere.
Now it was daylight I could see just how nice Siena looked and all the pretty window boxes filled with those bright red Geraniums. It must be great living here with everything on your doorstep; Vico and Lula were really lucky as I’d already walked past a takeaway pizza restaurant and some clothes shops.
Every now and again as I strolled along, I had to make sure I stepped in towards the side because of the white delivery vans which bombed along but they weren’t as scary as the scooterists who’d zoom past and swerve round any person or object. And actually, the women were riding as dangerously as the men and nobody seemed to take any notice or shout at them telling them off; they were all obviously used to it here.
Some of the little doors that opened onto the street like the one I came out of had small rubbish bags left outside, so I also had to watch I didn’t trip and hurt my ankle again; where we
re the paths? I wondered, I hadn’t noticed any.
Just a few metres past the takeaway and clothes shops, as I’d hoped, I came across a coffee bar which was opposite a phone shop. Before I could enter though, me and a young woman, who’d propped her bicycle up against the wall, had to wait for a couple of business-type people to step outside and then we could go in to be enveloped in the gorgeous aromas of coffee. I really envied Vico and Lula for living right in the middle of Siena; whenever I needed to go anywhere back home, I had to catch a bus or scrounge a lift.
‘Buongiorno,’ I heard someone say. A girl behind the bar, possibly a bit older than me was waiting to serve me.
‘Bon jorno,’ I replied and feeling pretty amazed I’d said it. I didn’t think for one minute I’d pronounced it the right way though.
‘A cappuccino please, grazie.’
I had a quick look to see what other people were eating. Just cakes. She said something to me but I hadn’t any idea what it was, so I sort of ignored it and went along the counter to look at what there was to eat. She put my cappuccino on top of the counter and followed me. I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed as there weren’t any bacon butties; just cakes.
‘This one please.’
I pointed to one I chose that looked like a croissant which seemed to be what most people were eating. She held it inside a paper serviette and handed it to me over the counter just like that, without a plate, but when I looked, nobody had tea plates.
I wasn’t feeling very switched on this morning, and instead of making life easier for myself and doing a couple of trips to a table I fancied sitting at, I struggled awkwardly holding my croissant, cappuccino and bag and feeling a tad pathetic. Then I thought I shouldn’t have walked away without paying and went to stand up to go over, but the coffee bar assistant didn’t appear worried about it; she was serving the woman I’d walked in with.
Having just about made myself comfortable at the table I was sure that I could see a WiFi notice near the bar so I went back to see; it sure was. I copied the code onto my phone and went back to my table and whilst I sipped my cappuccino chose to reply to Mum’s message first.
Hi Mum, I’m sorry for not replying sooner, but everything is absolutely fine, I’m fine. I had a lift yesterday evening with some nice Italians all the way to Siena and I stayed overnight with them. They were all very kind to me, so please stop worrying about me. I’ve said goodbye to them now because I’d like to find a B&B. At the mo I’m sitting in a nice coffee bar with free WiFi, drinking a cappuccino and eating a croissant! Scrummy! J This coffee bar seems to like horses (tell Dad), there’s photos of them everywhere with orange and white flags. Can’t wait to explore. I’ll write again soon, love you both, Caylin xxx
I hoped that would put their minds at rest. The coffee bar was getting more and more busy, and another thing I noticed was that most of the people who came in, ordered an espresso of some sort and a croissant, scoffed it while standing at the bar, paid and went. I think if it were me going off to work, I’d still prefer to sit for a while instead of rushing it. I heard a message arrive.
Well hello Caylin at last! We’re so pleased to hear you’re OK and you’ve met some nice Italians already, that’s good. However Caylin, we’d still prefer you to be with us. But I don’t really think there’s much hope of that! I’ll try to relax, but never forget we’re here if you need us OK? As you know we’ve got a trip arranged today to a place where they produce sheep’s cheese, never tried it so looking forward to that, especially now I know you’re happy up there in Siena. (Between you and I though, Dad’s not been very easy to deal with because he’s angry that you didn’t return like he told you to. You know how he gets, anyway, hopefully they’ll offer red wine with the cheese at lunchtime, and he’ll calm down.) Got to go now to get ready, we love you too, Mum xxx
Poor Mum, well hopefully they’d enjoy their trip and maybe forget about me for a while. I continued eating the croissant I’d chosen and was taken by surprise when I bit into jam, apricot I thought; nice, especially as I was expecting a plain one.
Hey guys, I’ve only just been able to find internet again, but here I am, safe and alive in sunny (hot) Siena J. Firstly though, thanks Em for your message, I really appreciated your thoughts and your care, but I think I’d regret staying with my parents, and don’t worry, I’ve been in touch with them. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I hitched a lift to Siena with some Italians and ended up staying at their place. They were sort of OK but I think the girl had it in her head that I was interested in her boyfriend. I don’t think so, and if you saw him you’d agree with me too. Anyway, she was dead jealous because he helped me ice my ankle I twisted (still a bit puffy), and you’ll never guess, this morning I found my make up in their bathroom. The cheeky cow had been in my bag. Soon took that back! Oh, and you know my All Stars, I found them covered in pigeon s..t, ‘cause someone (had to be her) had put them on the filthy windowsill. L Anyway, just so you can see who I’m speaking about, take a look at the photo of her I’m sending next. Having a cappuccino and croissant in a coffee bar for brekky (great start to the day)and going in search for a B&B. Catch up soon, love Cay xx PS., wish you were here!!
I thought I’d probably been sat too long looking through Facebook instead of getting amongst the people of Siena, so I put my phone away and got out my purse. I knew that I had a five euro note which will cover the cost for my croissant and cappuccino, but I couldn’t find it, nor the ten. I found the twenties that I’d folded back together again and put away in one of the bag’s zipped pockets with my phone charger, but that was it. So I took one of those with a promise to remind myself that I’d have a proper look a bit later; the five and ten must be in my bag there somewhere.
I went to the till and put the twenty on a little dish and waited for my change. The guy at the till knew exactly what I’d had; how they kept track on what every person ate or drank amazed me. He really quickly replaced the twenty with some change and a receipt, then served a man next to me; all done efficiently with a smile. I liked that bar and if I lived there, I’d go to that bar every day.
Back in Bristol I knew of some guys who wouldn’t have gone back to the till and paid, they would have sneaked out and done a runner. That’s something I couldn’t do and anyway if I had, I was the type of person who’d bodge it up somehow and get caught. And then what? My dad would probably make me run round the block twenty times, send me into detention and I’d lose all of my privileges. My Dad could be scary.
Saying that, I reckoned that I’ve gone and blown it anyhow and it was very probable that he would already be planning my punishment for when I got back.
I’d strolled a few more metres after the coffee bar and noticed that interestingly, the flags along the buildings and above the shops were different now. Here, they were burgundy and in the middle there was an elephant with a tower, I was starting to become curious about the significance of them.
My ankle was beginning to ache and cheese me off as I could feel it becoming tight again which was worrying me a bit as I really didn’t want to be hindered. Just up on my right past a stationery shop I could see there was a turning so I decided to go and look and see if there was somewhere I could sit down a while.
It led to a type of square, with a building in the middle; actually it was more like a long ancient roof with pillars holding it up in between other tall buildings. And most pleasingly, there were seats one of which I made a direct aim for. It was just great to be able to sit down in the shade and rest my bones, as my gran used to say.
There seemed to be more and more people milling around now, loads whizzing by on scooters and every available parking space was being taken within a really short time. To my right there was a large fancy building with pillars and arched windows and behind that, peeping out at the top was a very tall tower.
I got my phone out and checked the time although it wasn’t that important as it wa
sn’t like I had an appointment or something, except I supposed it was just a habit. Gotta stop that, I told myself, after all you’re on holiday. Yes, that was absolutely true. I was on holiday. But I still couldn’t stop myself from looking at the time though; it was already a quarter to ten.
Something was niggling me at the back of my mind. It was the money. The notes were definitely inside my bag and now I couldn’t find them. Then it suddenly occurred to me; it had to be Lula even though I knew I’d no proof. Weren’t you brave enough to take the lot then? I asked her as if she could hear me. I guessed she wasn’t.
From where I was sitting, I could see shoppers and tourists going through an opening to the left of the fancy building and I wanted to see what was there so I got my things together and followed. The opening took me into another ancient narrow street filled with shops, and when I turned right, the street led into a humongous square with a sign Piazza del Campo. It was so open and bright, I was totally mesmerised at its hugeness, and the people, oodles of them sitting down on the ground.
It seemed like that was the thing to do; actually, there didn’t seem to be much choice as I couldn’t see any seats except for the ones outside of the coffee bars surrounding the square; the ones where you’d have to buy something, no doubt at a ridiculous price just because of where it was. It’s like when you stop for a drink or something to eat at a nice hotel open to non-residents on a promenade or somewhere back home. I’d done that a couple of times in the past with Mum and Dad; you pay for the view. So I plonked myself down onto the brick patterned ground along with everyone else. I was more or less forced to face inwards because it slanted a bit downwards towards, which then I realised, what was the front of the fancy building and tower of which I was sitting behind only a few moments ago.