by S. W. Frank
Selange took a meditative breath. The implication was something Al hadn’t told her could have a direct impact on their family.
“I’m not at home Sophie. Tell me briefly what Alfonzo should have shared.”
“Nicole committed suicide last night. She was despondent after the miscarriage. Geo and Carlo arrived at my home last night. Alfonzo had been present when the suicide occurred.”
“What?” Selange fell back on the rocks, looking up at the sky, her eyes shielded from the sun’s rays by Amelda’s latest fashion accessory. “Oh my god. I can’t believe this. Sophie, those parents are going to be distraught.” Selange moaned. “Were they notified?”
“I called her parents today. They are extremely upset.” Sophie sighed. “They are on their way to Palermo. Aye Selange, I do not like this feeling that they will make trouble.”
“Trouble? Why would they make trouble? Their daughter committed suicide but that’s not Geo or my husband’s fault.”
“The father said he has lost two daughters in Sicily. He says something is not kosher.”
“I agree, that sounds like trouble.”
“With the international media in Treviso covering the terrible behavior of some locals toward the Libyan refugees, Sicily does not need the bad publicity that is certain to trickle south. It is blasphemous that this is occurring near Pontiffs, especially when Italians lived in Libya until Gaddafi’s expulsion. As in any conflict, there will be an influx of refugees flowing to safe borders. I am distressed at the news and see bigotry flaring anew! The northerners bring shame to Italiano!”
Gosh, she was furious, Selange opined. “I hear your empathy for the refugees –”
“Not only the refugees –oppressed people Donna Selange. I'm stricken by the surge of a hateful rhetoric. I scoff. Italy and Japan were former allies of the Reich; perhaps I should not be surprised we are reminded of hate’s ugliness.”
Boy, Sophie’s on a roll, Selange thought as she listened to the woman’s impassioned rant.
“You are Americano. You know of the atrocities when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and the cruelty inflicted in war, like The Bataan Death March….”
Selange read about Pearl Harbor, but she must have dozed in history class when the teacher discussed The Bataan Death March.
“…U.S. and Filipino Troops surrendered and then marched to Luzon, but their barbaric captors, Japanese soldiers tortured and killed many unarmed U.S., and Filipino prisoners along the way. Prior to that, they had invaded China, murdering as well. Never mistakenly refer to a Chinese person as Japanese.”
“I’ll make sure I ask first.” Selange replied, hoping Sophie realized, having knowledge of history is great, but associating an entire group, that weren’t participatory in violent acts or born during the time is a form of reverse prejudice. However, Selange listened because sometimes a person simply needs to vent.
Anyway, her view was only deranged people follow a lunatic. Hitler hated almost every person on earth. He likely had mommy-daddy issues or an extreme inferiority complex. Seriously, he believed he could take over the world, and everybody would look the same –Ew!
Selange couldn’t help but think about a cartoon with a little green alien that threatened to take over the planet. At the onset of every episode, he plotted, yet the result was always an epic fail.
She twirled a strand of her hair, wondering if any of Hitler’s followers considered that in Hitler’s manifesto, there were all these classifications for what he considered subhumans. Yet, the Nazi Party allied with Japan, although allegedly seeking an Aryan race –so wouldn’t the Japanese fit into his subhuman category? Moreover, if he aligned with Japan as a strategic move, did he plan to gas them once he achieved his objective, because slanted eyes and yellow tinged skin isn’t what Hitler liked?
Anyway, she hoped Sophie wrapped up soon. Saving everybody on the planet was Superman’s responsibility with the aid of Wonder Woman and The Fantastic Four –hell all the superheroes. Maybe, fictional characters were the only ones that were able to accomplish the feat, since man was incapable of settling their dumb beefs.
Oh my goodness, I had better stop watching those cartoons with Vincent on Saturday morning. Anybody could suffer a break from reality to avoid dealing with real issues if they started believing unreal shit. Maybe, Nicole had some form of post-partum depression from the miscarriage and didn’t believe she’d ever feel better.
Sophie had yet to lose steam.
“The atrocities by the Nazi’s and their affiliates are infamous. I fear the sentiment toward the Libyan refugees reignites old tensions that southerners have toward the northerners when they disparage us in Sicily. You know Selange, there are rumors that during the war, the Nazi sympathizers took part in democide and ethnic cleansing of not only darker pigmented Italians and Sicilians, but also Roman-Catholics, gays, disabled, even the rich, and burned books. Aye!”
Sophie let loose with a string of profanity in Sicilianu and Selange’s eyes widened as the usually composed woman denounced the actions of burning the scant possessions of the Libyan refugees, recanting the news reports of their racial epithets. Selange was aware of Sophie’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement because she had shared the horrid details, which included the death of her friend. Sophie was violently opposed to bigotry.
Selange’s heart squeezed for Sophie, the amazing Sicilian she adored appeared spiritually in pain for humanity intent on self-destruction. Sophie’s oratory belied that fear.
The financial instability of Greece, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the killings by religious fanatics, the genocides on every continent and the rise in Aryan ideology was a sign that war was imminent. Real or imagined, the trauma of a young woman breathed in the voice of the aged. Someone as loving as Sophie required affirmation that tyrannical rule by lunatics would not happen and she was safe.
“It’s terrible what is happening. You may issue a warning to our affiliates that anyone participating in the inhumane treatment of the refugees will face immediate economic reprisal!”
“That is exactly what I hoped you might say.” Sophie sighed. “Sometimes I am uncertain whether you might deem me pazzu or perhaps be silent to keep peace like many celebrities have.”
“I’m not a frightened celebrity or give a damn about maintaining an image solely for money. I have a vested interest in the state of global affairs and I’ll be damned if I pretend shit’s hunky-dory and live inside a bubble.” Selange quipped. “I want a better world for my children and these crazy people need to get treatment. They’re always stirring up –damn nonsense. They obviously have mental issues.”
“Aye! You are the Prima Mafia Donna.”
“Coming from you Mama Sophie, I am honored. Por favor, call a meeting of the women. There is something I need to say.” Selange redirected the conversation before she forgot.
“How soon?”
“Two weeks from now. I suspect I’ll be in New York next week.”
“Certainly!”
“Good. Grazie Sophie.” Selange frowned. The omens screamed for her to go home. “We’ll talk later then. Ciao.”
“Oh wait Selange, do not forget, the christening nears and the priest wishes to meet with you and your husband before Friday. As Godparents he must assure you will raise Sofia in the Roman-Catholic faith.”
“I’m not Roman-Catholic.”
“It is only a formality.”
“Tell Amelda that with her sister-in-law’s passing it’s in poor taste to have a christening. I suggest she postpone the event until after the funeral…a month or so is respectful.”
“She will be upset with you.”
“I’m not in a festive mood. If she cares about Giuseppe, she’ll do it. How is it going to look to Nicole’s family if we’re going on with business as usual?”
Sophie sobered. “You are right…sí…I will tell her to postpone it.”
“Okay, bye Sophie.”
“Ciao.”
Selange hadn’t budged after the c
onversation, blowing whistles of frustration while prone. Sophie was an enigma, lovable and frightening.
An annoying gnat landed on one side of her tinted lens. She let it be, reeling in disbelief that Nicole committed suicide. Giuseppe was a jerk, but he’d never instigate violence near Carlo. Her eyes narrowed, Alfonzo had been present, sheesh, she thought, there’s more to the story and now this mission of Sophie’s to right the world’s wrongs. A heavy task, when people such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Bhutto, and many others have attempted, only to die by a hater’s bullet.
Another call came in and this time it was Sal.
“Mom, where are you? I asked dad if I could go to the mall with Aaron. I wanted to buy the latest sneakers. Aaron and I watched the kids all morning while Allie was in her room doing nothing. But dad said no.”
“Are you near your father?”
“No, I’m outside with Aaron.”
“The bodyguards must escort you Sal, that’s non-negotiable.”
“No problema, I’m cool with that.”
Selange jumped to her feet and rushed to the bungalow to collect her purse. “I’m on my way. You have my permission to go to the mall. I’ll speak with your father!”
“Okay, thanks mom.”
“Don’t get into any trouble at the mall. I swear you better not make me regret this because I will ground you for life!” She locked the door and carefully navigated the rocks in a step formation to the boat anchored at the pier, calling Julia’s mom along the way.
“Buongiorno Signora Fellini, this is Signora Diaz. Sí, Allie is attending tonight. Please let Julia know, my daughter’s phone was damaged, but she’ll be there. Grazie.”
After she took care of that, she contacted her husband, stopping on the reinforced plank, surveying the horizon until he answered.
“Hola Mami is everything alright?” Her husband asked.
“Yes. I wanted to check on the children. Are they behaving?”
“Everybody’s behaving. We’re here chilling, you know –reading.”
“Yeah reading?” Selange played along. “Well, I miss you guys. Maybe, I should come home.”
“Nah, I have everything under control.”
The bodyguard lounging with his magazine topside, shot to attention when she boarded, swatting at the cloud of gnats that seemed intent on displaying why they were pests. “Oh, by the way, Allie has a pajama party to attend at eight and Sal had my permission to go to the mall today. I forgot to tell you. Is that okay?”
“Yeah…sí…no sweat. They can go.”
“Are you sure?”
“I said they could go, didn’t I?”
“All right. Love you honey. Talk to you later.”
“Love you too. Hasta luego.”
She shoved her phone away and addressed the bodyguard. “Tell the Captain I need to leave –right now. Then call and request a chopper to meet me in Calabria, pronto!”
“Si, Signora Diaz.” He nodded and then disappeared below deck to do her bidding.
Chapter Five
“Hey, mija, can I come in?” Alfonzo asked his daughter from the other side of the locked door.
He’d given Nico permission to take his children along to the states tomorrow, a break from the kids seemed fitting in light of his earlier behavior. He wasn’t as mentally fit as he thought. The last thing he ever wanted was discourse with the people he loved the most. Frustrating or not, Allie was an angel of love.
He sniffed his armpits, debating whether to change clothes once again. After he lost his cool with his daughter, he’d thrown off his suit in the workout room, donned a T-shirt that fit like a muscle top and jogging pants with a hem kissing his Adidas Adizero F50. He’d taken the kids outdoors to kick around a soccer ball in an effort to defuse his frustration. Exercise, usually alleviated the stress and from the scene he arrived home to, the children did, too.
Nico had purposely bumped him in the doorway of the patio, slapped a cell on his chest with a less than subtle suggestion about how to make amends with Allie. “I thought you might need this, it’s the brand new prototype the company sent me. I’ve input Allie’s data; set up the necessary security features…you get the picture.”
He studied Nico. For a second he swore Alberti got resurrected –fucking wise guy could never mind his business, either.
“Thanks,” Alfonzo mumbled, shoved the phone in his pocket and absently tapped his foot during the wait for Allie to decide if she should let him in or not.
The bedroom door clicked.
“What do you want meanie?”
Alfonzo’s eyes descended to the chica’s head as she peered at him through a crack in the door. She had gained inches, seemingly transformed overnight into an adolescent from what he recall being the sweetest baby. Maybe, he’d been too hard on her earlier, he thought; perhaps, he could make amends as Nico hinted.
“Cold words. How you gonna’ treat me like that, eh hija?”
“Now you know how it feels when someone’s mean to you –for no reason.”
Touché.
His eyebrow rose. She wasn’t going to make this easy, he rumored. “Anita told me you pitched in with the little ones while I was gone.” He smiled. “She said you were good with the babies and helped put them to sleep.”
“Well, tell that to Aunt Ari ‘cause when she went to the hospital, mom or I mostly watched the crybabies until she came back. That’s probably why mom’s been tired. Ooooh Aunt Ari makes me angry!”
Yeah, me, too, especially dipping out on her responsibility and taking you all for granted, he silently fumed.
Alfonzo scratched his itching fingers. He was getting either antsy or about to receive money. Whenever his splints were removed, he’d likely need scar repair ointment to reverse the damage he caused by clawing at his hands.
“Mirar, how about we take a spin to the ice cream shop?” he asked to break the impasse with the stubborn preteen.
She stared him in the eye. Ah man, identical to the way he glared at Nico.
“Just us?” she inquired.
“Sólo nosotros, hija.”
“Nobody else and I mean nobody, gimme your word.”
“Word, nobody else.”
She pivoted on her toes, twisted her mouth exaggeratedly and he nearly laughed as she deliberated.
“But, are you able to drive with messed up hands?”
Alfonzo wiggled his fingers. There wasn’t any pain, a minor discomfort, but nothing debilitating. “Sí. We’ll cruise, like we’re in el barrio on a hot summer day, music blasting, hija con Papí.”
She rolled her eyes at his enthusiasm, but he got a smile out the girl and that’s really, what he wanted. If she agreed, he’d pretend to retrieve his wallet and notify security to send a car ahead and have another vehicle discreetly trail.
“Can we take the black Ferrari and will you buy me new pajamas. I’m going to need dark ones because I have my period and I don’t want to be embarrassed tonight.” She whispered conspiratorially. “A girl at school had a stain on her butt and some kids were making jokes. I don’t want anybody to make fun of me.”
Alfonzo’s face flushed, he remained impassive, although internally he groaned ‘TMI hija –TMI.’
This was his wife’s territory and he improvised. “Yeah, well, um about your menstrual cycle, you know that–”
“OMG, dad. Who says menstrual cycle?” She covered her ears while talking. “Mom spoke to me all ready. She covered everything. I can tell your version is going to hurt my ears.”
Alfonzo grinned. “Good –okay I’m glad.”
Allie’s hands dropped to her side. She frowned when Ari suddenly appeared beside her father.
“Al I hope you’ve grounded her for cursing at Darren and sassing me!”
Only Alfonzo’s head moved. It was a slight turn. His eyes descended over his shoulder to view Ari’s profile. The subtle flare of a nostril and further elevation of his brow reflected his irritancy at Ari’s interruption. He didn’t want
to go there and might not have if the bitterness in his mouth was from food. He’d met many Arianna Matheson’s, very professional women, wanting daily thrills. He’d fucked a few, and left them sleeping after a thuggish screw. For Nico, ah man, for that dude, he tried to be cool. However, she embezzled from Selange and that was playing a death game she would ultimately lose if she tried that shit again, he opined.
Strike two.
He kept a close eye on her and she didn’t even know it, neither did Nico’s ass.
Words with a machine gunfire delivery emitted from his sensual mouth in Spanish and what he said wasn’t sexy. “Never advise me on what the punishment should be for my daughter. Save the concern for your kids. A matter-of-fact where are they? Do you even know chica?”
“Chica, this maricón!” Ari seethed and then sauntered down the hall, flashing him the peace sign, although he suspected she meant kiss my ass. Yeah, she possessed an undeniable asset.
“What did you say to Tia Ari, hija?” he asked when the crooked lawyer was out of earshot.
“Only that she’s not the boss of me, that’s all I said daddy.”
“That’s all?” Alfonzo sniffed skeptically. Well, his daughter wasn’t lying. “Even still, you’re going to apologize before we leave. Don’t disrespect adults. If you have a problem with an adult, you come to me or your mom and we’ll handle things.”
“Okay. But, she’s bossy and lazy.”
“Cut the fresh talk before I change my mind.”
“Sorry!”
Alfonzo sighed. Ari was family, flaws and all; sometimes he had to remind himself of that, too.
He withdrew the phone from his pocket. “Tio Nico salvaged your data. You’ll have the same number except an upgraded top of the line phone. It’s like mine unbreakable. Lo siento mija. Perdóname Papa’s actions…I lose my head sometimes... por favore.”
She hugged his waist and put her cheek on his stomach. “Yeah I’m sorry –tambien. I love you dad, I just don’t like you when you’re mad like that.”
“Then I must work on my anger, eh?”
She laughed. “Yup! I helped Uncle Geo find a nice wife and he’s happy. I guess I can help you, too.”