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«Roxy.»
«What a nice name!» he exclaimed. «How old are you?»
«I’m getting fourteen in a few weeks.»
«Wow! And when exactly?»
I thought whether I should tell him the date or not.
«Roxy!» Mum called me. «I’ll be in the room! Don’t get far away from here!»
«Okay, Mummy,» I said. «I promise I won’t!»
When she left, Lucian asked me:
«And where do you study?»
«At London University.»
«What? You’re only thirteen!»
«I’m a wonderchild,» I said proudly. «I’ve entered it this summer.»
«You amaze me!»
«Really?» I smiled.
«Yes, of course!»
«All right,» I thought it was high time I left too. It was rather impolite of me to stay in the hall any longer.
«See you, Roxy! I’m very happy I’ve met you!»
«See you soon!» I answered.
As soon as I entered the room, Mum told me we were going sightseeing. It was just amazing!
8 August 2012
All right, I haven’t kept my diary for a week. (P. S. My dear Diary, I’m so sorry about it! But I’ve got an excuse – Mum and me have been going to the beach every day, along with visiting the sights of Palermo.).
I adore it very much. You can learn about multiple landmarks like Via Vittorio Emanuele – the one between the Norman palace and the cathedral.
Moreover, I’ve made friends with Luciano, as I wanted to. The boy spoke to me when he was at the reception desk. We were talking about things like the weather differences between London and Palermo, the landmarks of the city, and so on. I also asked him why he had chosen the occupation of a porter. «Well,» he answered, «I just like this job, and that’s it.» Let it be.
It seems like I even… No, it’s illogical!
Anyway, today I came up to Mum and said:
«Mum, I want to marry Luciano.»
«But you’re only fourteen!» she said.
«And what? I love him, and he loves me!»
«My dear, I wouldn’t advise you to do something on the spot. You’re still a child. And – you don’t know him that well.»
In the end, I said I loved Luciano…
«My darling,» Mother asked, «why do you think he’s in love with you?»
«He told me I’m beautiful – the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.»
«And that’s it?»
«He also said he loves me!» I exclaimed dreamily.
«My darling,» Mum said, «he might tell a lie. He’s Italian.»
«How come?» I raised my eyebrow. «I want to marry him!»
«Roxy,» she sighed, «according to the law, one cannot get married until he or she turns eighteen.»
«Pity,» I sighed heavily – at least, heavier than Mum. «Okay,» I agreed.
To wait for four years means that I need to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree. Good.
10 August 2012
Luciano and I talk every day, and I think he really loves me. One day, we’ll marry. I have only to get a degree in Spanish, for Luciano to have an educated wife.
When I told this to Mum, however, she began to laugh.
«My child,» she said, «you understand nothing. But, okay, by studying at university, you’ll learn practically everything. Especially if you’re in London, with me.» Mum paused and then said, «At home.»
«At least,» I asked, «can I talk to him when he’s at the reception?»
«Sure thing! But no more.»
«Let it be,» I thought.
I went downstairs.
«Roxy!» Luciano was already there. «I’ve got something for you!»
The boy was holding something in his hand.
«What’s it?» I was surprised.
«Look!»
These were earrings. Imitation jewelry?
«Thank you very much for the gift!» I smiled and took them in my hands, examining the earrings carefully.
The stones were shining like real ones. Like precious gems…
I decided that I would put them on when I was about to leave for London. Mum would be happy for me because I have received these things.
When I got back to the room, I showed them to her.
«What’s that?» Mum asked.
«These are earrings from Luciano. He’s given them to me as a gift.»
«A gift?» she frowned. «Roxy, these are jewels! Precious jewels!»
My mouth fell open.
«Indeed? It means that Luciano has bought me real stones?»
«Roxy! Could you give them to me, please?» Mum started fussing.
«But why?» I couldn’t get it.
«How naïve you are! It seems like he’s stolen these earrings!»
«Why?» I persisted. «Luciano is a good boy!»
Nevertheless, Mum didn’t listen to me. She went to the reception desk. I followed her. Mum asked:
«Where’s that boy?»
«Who?» Domenico said.
«Luciano! Who else? Do you have any other workers?»
«The cooks…»
«Okay,» Mum interrupted. «The one whom I need to talk to now is Luciano.»
«I’ll call him,» Domenico said and left to search for the boy.
After some time, he returned and muttered, «I’m afraid Luciano is ill now, so he’ll be here only the day after tomorrow. Or even later.»
«Exactly. Ill, too!» Mum exclaimed. «He was here half an hour ago! So, when he happens to appear in here, please, be so kind to bring him to our room. Or, no, wait,» she lingered, «just hand them in to him and demand Luciano to get the earrings back to the owner.» Mum held the earrings out and gave them to Domenico.
«What’s it?» the receptionist asked.
«These,» Mum thrust in a word, «are earrings with real jewels!»
«What?» Domenico seemed to be bewildered. «Real jewels?»
He took the earrings in his hands.
«My God! It just can’t be!»
«What can’t be?» I asked, not understanding anything. It turned out that Luciano had stolen the earrings! But why? What for? For what reason?
I entered our room and began to cry. Mum came up to me and hugged me, «Roxy! Please, don’t cry! I understand how you feel now, but he’s just a bad boy. I’m here, with you! You must be thankful that he hasn’t done anything bad to you!»
«Yes, but I love him very much!»
«You’ve got to rethink all that, my darling…» Mum sighed, stroking my hair.
13 August 2012
Today, I asked Mum if I could talk to Luciano, as he was to come to work.
«In no way!» she exclaimed. «Here, in Italy, you’ll have been talking only to me since that day on!»
«But, Mummy…» I muttered.
«Roxy, the world’s full of idiots and dangerous people,» she looked at me. «No, I have no intention to intimidate you! Only to warn you of the people’s ability to be dangerous.»
I said nothing.
«Look,» Mum went on, «you’re only thirteen years old. That’s little, despite the fact that you have already graduated from school.»
«Okay,» I agreed. Well, Mum’s always right.
When we got downstairs, I saw there Domenico, Luciano, and… the police. There were two policemen.
What was going on…?
I know Italian, so that I could sort out what they were talking about.
«Senor Luciano Soriano?» one of the police officers asked in Italian.
«Yes,» Luciano answered.
«We have several questions to ask you. First of all,» he took out the very earrings, «do they belong to you?»
Luciano didn’t say anything.
«Senor Luciano,» the other one said, «do you understand that you’ll get in jail anyway? The European Union law says that everyone who steals must be liable for it.»
Perhaps, the police had just come to the hall.
