Friendship is a precious commodity that - sometimes - is disguised in various forms.
As in this story:
Long live the friendship
On Wednesday, the day free to Cristina, a professor of letters, he was always dedicated to the great cleaning of the beautiful house, with her husband, Umberto, had purchased some years earlier.
The house, a charming cottage situated on a hill overlooking the sea, spread over three floors and requires, in addition to the efforts of the owner, also the help of a maid for some time was used for the most heavy.
One Wednesday in May, Agnes, the placid domestic workers of color, was taken to the shutters of the bedroom on the second floor when someone rang the cancello.Cristina, caparisoned with yellow rubber gloves, scarf-saving set-in-turn, and tank vacuum cleaner in hand, stood near the front door and, without thinking a minute, looked out to see who he was.
A distinguished man, looking oddly familiar, asked politely: "Good morning. I am a friend of Umberto Sideri. E 'in the house? "" With all the wasters, cheaters, crooks in the movement, who is this? "Thought Christina, but all he said only:" No ".
"Excuse me," the man continued, "is very important for me to see Mr. Sideri, I wait? "" I'm an old friend " and continued: "My name is Paul Damari."
"This is the familiar air," said he Cristina.Infatti, her husband often mentioned this friend, whose memory was mixed with disappointment for the many jokes suffered, being - as he said - full of verve and a nerve invidiabile.Conservava still some old snapshots depicting them together, and occasionally looked at his wife. Cristina smiled to himself and listened to respond: "Sir Umberto nun there .. We want you to wait, get away. Can I call him to tilefuno. "" Thank you, I'd be very happy to wait. "The man said and started to enter." Excuse me, Mr. Umberto married. There is not even the lady? "" No. Yes there is but you do not like not be here. Impignata always, always co 'nerves and I always clean, kitchen, wash ... .. I attendant lord .... "
" Do not say that, "said Paul," she takes too many secrets. You do not want me to believe that Mr. Umberto is a carer day and night? "And stressed" night "with a mischievous smile.
Cristina did not know how to stop the drama .... maormai there and might as well complete the prank that Umberto would repay all of those suffered in his youth. "No, I'm not too familiar, and I only really true. I also bado Lord Umberto night. "
Paul looked carefully at the woman." But, "he thought to himself" is a pretty good Donnino, the caregivers day and night. It is good Mr. Umberto ... "" .. and sorry, "he asked rather loudly, smiling," The pay well? "" Pay me? "Cristina's eyes widened and here he had already grown up," He paid me? I pay him. Every month I give him two thousand euros .... "
" He's kidding. ... "Paul said when we entered the room, Agnes, with a silk slip black hand. "Umberto Lord says you always leave your clothes on her bed .... ".
Paul was stunned, but the old verve had the upper hand: "Excuse me, but for only a thousand euros, would not minded to change? "After all friendship is made of small gestures. Like this, in fact.