Two Labors
#12 of Roman Life
Back to work for Ale and Luca!
Hey everyone,
I am really on fire these past two weeks, writing a lot and enjoying doing it so much! Maybe because I have a lot of spare time at work :-) But seriously speaking, I'm glad I can do that, and this is my newest chapter! As always, thank you Gritou, for helping me with my stories, and for being at my side, I love you.
"Ale, why did we stay up so late again?" Luca asked before a big yawn erupted from his mouth. It was a fine day again, a blue sky illuminated by the bright sun which, at 8 o'clock in the morning, wasn't as hot as it would get later in the day.
"Dunno, you could have sent your brother away earlier." The rottie replied from the driver's seat, staring grimly at the traffic in front of them. His ears flicked every time someone uselessly honked, like if that sound could magically take away all the other cars.
"I know I know, but I see him so rarely, I wanted to spend a little time with him... Plus, you were the one who ended up playing FIFA until 2 am!" The lupo retorted back, not liking the fact that his friend was giving all the fault of the late evening to him.
"Well, it was a good game, maybe I will buy it too." The black dog mused, then he snorted at the sight of a car being at the center of two lanes, blocking the passage of anyone. He didn't lose his temper, that Luca had to admit, but he was surely very near to the breaking point.
"If you want you should just wait a couple of weeks, surely some kid will be tired of it and sell it back, it will be way cheaper." He suggested. It had been a really good evening, though at first a bit tense, with Valerio and Ale being forcibly happy while eating pasta, like if they were hiding something. It did bug him a bit, but then they loosened up again, so it mustn't have been something serious. Still, he was planning to ask his friend soon what happened during his bath, he was just waiting for them to be more awake.
"Yeah, you are righ-" Ale didn't get to finish what he was saying, since his road was cut by a Smart dribbling in the traffic like it was an agile motorcycle. "'A testa di cazzo1!" He shouted, putting his head out of the window and shaking his arm with all the fingers but one curled in a rude gesture of anger.
"Calm down Ale." The tall canine tried to soothe the rottie, not being touched by the actions of the reckless driver with little brain. Or maybe it was that model of car which made drivers stupid, since, by experience, they were the worst.
"But he fucking almost crashed in my car!" He protested seating down, his fur rising on his neck.
"I know, but you only get angry over something you can change." The lupo explained to him. "Ad incazzarsi fai due fatiche2, my mom says."
"Your mom is right, she is a wise woman, I've always thought that." The rottie agreed, shaking his anger out and letting his fur down again. "Sorry, when I drive I tend to be more .... Irritable."
The other canine laughed at that unnecessary apology. "Don't worry Ale, everyone gets Hulkified in the traffic!"
"Yeah, I hope it will clear soon, we are so near." He snorted. They remained silent for a while, listening to the music that the radio was producing in the background, both looking out and taking the chance of been blocked to observe the outside world. They were on Lungotevere3, just at the beginning of Via della Conciliazione, so they have the rare opportunity to admire San Pietro sitting on the other end of the road. There was a crowd of tourists and pilgrim even at that hour, going from Castel Sant'Angelo toward the Vatican, and there were furs of all sizes and kinds, a feast for Luca since he could watch such a variety without moving from the car.
The silence was broken by Ale after getting some precious meters of road. "So, are you and Valerio going to see each other soon?"
That ripped the lupo from his observing meditation. "Uhm, he said he will call me one of these days so we can take a coffee together, why you ask?"
"Well, because he needs to talk with you, that's why." He simply said, sighing in relief when the traffic seemed to get more fluid.
"He needs to talk? About what? Is he in trouble? Or is it something about me? Please, tell me!" Luca began to panic, his ears moving for the concern.
"Relax buddy, it's nothing serious! I already talked with him. He just has to do the same with you, that's all." The rottie quickly said to stop his friend's mind from conjuring the worst scenarios possible.
"You promise?" The lupo asked, still a bit worried about what he and his brother had to talk about. Maybe something he had done, or maybe related to his sexuality, or maybe just an idea for a gift to their mom, but still, that made him worry.
"I promise, it isn't anything serious or big." The black canine said in his best calming voice.
"Can you tell me at least what will be the subject?" The reassured lupine asked, still wondering about that.
"Nope, it's something related to Valerio, can't talk about it since it doesn't concern me." He answered while finally driving at a bearable speed. "I just gave him some feedback and advices, but the big part should be done between you two."
"You know, you are making me really curious about that." Luca said, then quickly added once he saw the annoyed expression on Ale's muzzle. "But I'm not going to pester you with that, I promise."
"Good. Now, stop talking and look for a free parking spot, we are close to the basilica." The rottie ordered, already scanning for that elusive dream that is finding a good parking.
"I will finish by saying that it's funny how we passed from me calming you to the other way around in a few minutes." Luca chuckled.
"Sì, divertente4. Now shut up and do your work." The rottie dismissed the funny remark. And they just did that, watching out for places to park, gasping every time it seemed they had found one and grimaced when they saw that it was occupied by a Smart or other small cars. Luca was slowly losing hope to be at the chapel for 10 o'clock when his phone ringed. He quickly picked it up from its usual resting place and answered it while Ale was mumbling curses under his breath.
"Pronto5?"
"Ei Luca, it's Sara. Are you and Ale parked or still searching for a parcheggio6?" The cheerful voice of the squirrel echoed from the device.
"We are still on our hopeless quest, why? Is the professore complaining about our lateness?" He asked, even though he knew the professor wouldn't be mad about them being late, since the old badger knew how driving and finding a spot to park into were very hard task in Roma.
"I'm not even at the basilica so I don't know. I was calling because I found two free spots in Viale Trastevere, I'm holding one for you!" The merciful angel in the form of a brown, petite rodent granted the coveted desire.
"You are a life saver, I will kiss once I see you!" The relieved lupo said. "Ale, Sara says she has found a parking spot in viale Trastevere, turn there!"
"Eheheheh, don't bother with that, I'm not your type." The squirrel giggled in the tall ear, although her giggling was drowned by the happy shouting of the rottie, which increased in volume once he saw her waiting and with her phone held at her ear.
"I saw you, you were quick to arrive!" She concluded before turning off the call while weaving her free paw at them. Only three minutes more and they were all together on the curb, paying the parking.
"Thank you Sara, we have been searching for fifteen minutes!" Ale thanked her, his tail wagging madly for the lucky catch.
"You're welcome, I was really lucky since I found this spot and a new one was freed immediately, I was glad to give it to you guys!" She exclaimed while feeding Euros to the machine.
"We restorers must band together!" The other wagging canine said, still very much happy to not have wasted more time on the road.
"Yes, we have. It's just a shame that our respective neighborhoods are so badly serviced by the public transport." She lamented, shaking her head to that injustice.
"I know, we don't have the Metro and the buses are so slow that it's better to take the car." Luca agreed, with Ale nodding at that pearl of wisdom while taking his turn before the machine.
"It's not like that in Milan, there we have that wonderful Metro system ..." Sara sighed, her feet taking her back to her car to deposit the piece of paper that made her immune to fine. The canines followed her to do the same, and Luca felt the need to defend his city.
"But remember, Milan isn't as big as Roma, plus excavating tunnels is hellish here, since you can't dig a hole without founding archeological finds."
"You are right." The rodent shouted her agreement from her car.
"You two should stop lamenting about that, we can't do anything after all." The emerging figure of muscled dog said. "Besides, you know that there is a project for creating a Metro line in our part of town."
"We know, but it will take so many years, we might not live there anymore!" Luca protested.
"I could be a grannie once they'll finish the work!" Sara cried, having come back from her car...
"Don't exaggerate, it won't take that much time!" The rottie replied.
"Maybe, but it will take at least ten years." Luca concluded grimly. "We should get going and not stand here chatting, don't we?"
"Yeah, you are right, lead the way." Ale consented. The three of them started their final part of the pilgrimage to Santa Maria in Trastevere, doing that silently. The streets of the rione7 were almost silent, only the noises of the traffic were heard on the background, and few furs were on the road. That wasn't surprising since the neighborhood was more populated during the night, being it one of the hot spots of the Movida Romana8, but that was just fine for the restorers.
They reached the piazza in no time, and the sight of the local bar9 gave an idea to Luca.
"Since it's still kinda early, what do you think if we go and have a coffee before work?" He proposed.
"I have nothing against it, the more awake I am, the better." Ale agreed, just showing how much he needed the black beverage with a big yawn.
"For me it's the same, let's go!" Sara echoed. They didn't waste time in crossing the piazza and get in the bar, where they were welcomed by the bartender.
"Good day dottori10, the usual morning coffee?"
"Good morning Renato, and yes, the usual, thank you!" Sara ordered.
"We really need that coffee!" The lupo said to the Neapolitan Mastiff deep in the preparation of the hot drinks.
"I've been dreaming about your caffè Renato!" Ale joked.
"Don't be silly, I know it's good but not that good!" The mastiff rumbled before putting three small cups in front of them. "There you go, and don't bother with the money, you can pay later!"
"Thanks Renato!" Luca said, followed by the other two restorers. They drank their coffee, almost purring for that despite not being felines, since it was such a pleasure to have a strong, aromatic caffè in the morning.
"So, did you really have a chore for your mom yesterday?" Sara asked, interrupting the perfect moment but not managing to make the two canines choke. The flickering ears were the only sign of dirty conscience. "I would understand if it was an excuse, after all I know Lidia can be bothersome at times."
They looked at each other, discussing what to do with their eyes, then Luca, as the most level-headed, reluctantly started to talk.
"Well, uhm, it was an excuse, but it was true that I had to do a chore."
"So, what was that chore about? I'm curious." The petite squirrel smiled.
"Well, I had to buy a videogame for my brother." The lupine blushed heavily. The redness became more apparent once Renato the Mastiff roared a laugh.
"Ahahahahahah, you dumped Sara and her friend to go and buy a videogame for your baby brother, ahahaahaha!"
"Shut up Renato, you would have jump on any chance to get out of that tigress' claws!" Ale responded to the clerk.
"Ei, that's my friend you are talking about!" Sara rebuked the rottie indignantly, along with giving his a jab in the ribs.
"Ouch!" He snorted. "Why do you always do that!?"
"Because you are a bad dog who needs to be disciplined." She retorted back.
Luca initially stayed out of that, being amused by that charade. It was incredible how the small squirrel always managed to put a worthy fight with the bigger Rottweiler. Since he didn't like to see Ale being mistreated for too long, he did what a good friend should do and entered the heated verbal arena.
"Come on you two, stop acting like lovebirds!" They turned to stare at him, with such outraged faces that he couldn't resist but laugh, followed close behind by Renato.
"Not funny." Ale tried to weakly retort, but then gave in and joined the laughing canines, leaving Sara staring at them in female disbelief, which in turn made them laugh even harder. It took several minutes for them to gain their wits back, but in the end they did.
"Do you feel fine after this, ragazzi11?" She asked, showing how irritated by the little scene she was.
"Oh yes, we sure do!" Ale exclaimed, his tail moving languidly behind him.
"We are sorry for leaving you out Sara, how can we make up to you?" Luca asked, wiping out some tears from his eyes.
"Uhm, maybe one of you going on a date with Lidia can, maybe in a disco." She proposed innocently, then she burst into giggles. "Sorry, I'm kidding, I couldn't ask you that!"
"However much I love to have you in my bar11, don't you guys have a chapel to work on?" The barista intruded their conversation with a playful tone.
"Oh, yeah, you are right. See you at lunch Renato!" Luca bid goodbye.
"Later Renato!" Sara said at the same time Ale shouted his "Have a good day!" The Mastiff only waived his paw, then resumed his work.
While crossing the piazza again, a thought crossed the lupo's mind, and he externalized it right away.
"Sorry for not asking it before Sara, but how was your evening yesterday? I hope your boyfriend liked what you prepared!"
"Oh, yes, thank you for asking!" She said, seeming pleased that the canine was interested in it. "It went pretty fine, Franco was so surprised to see the romantic dinner, even if he was tired! He licked his chops for all the delicious things I prepared him, and the music was perfect, and we danced and laughed and ...." She sighed, really content of how the evening unfolded, with her eyes lost in the recent memories she had made with her boyfriend.
"I'm happy it was Sara." Luca said.
"And thank you for stopping your tale there too." The rottie smirked from the other side, snapping the rodent out of her waking dream.
"Of course I stopped, the rest is a private matter between me and Franco." She simply put, a faint red appearing through her cheek furs. "How was your evening?"
"Good, we had Valerio for dinner and stayed up until late with him." The tall canine summed up.
"How is he doing? And his studies?" The squirrel asked while they reached the Basilica's colonnade and then stopped there.
"He is fine, he is with his head deep in the books since he has the exams now, and he is doing great with them!" He answered, pride for his brother's achievement showing on his muzzle and in his voice.
"I'm happy for that, he seemed to be a serious boy when I met him Luca." She told him, to better stroke his brotherly pride.
"Everyone is proud of him, even me!" Ale said with a big smile.
"It's always like that when you see a kid you know growing up well." She agreed with him, obviously speaking for experience.
"Of course, and I know him since he was still in middle school." The black canine recalled. "He was just a cute little pup back then..."
"He is still a cute little pup." Luca said fondly.
"Not so little and not so pup, I'm sure he already got his first tail long ago...." The rottie mused, eliciting a disgusted reaction from Luca.
"Ewwwwww, I can't think of him having .... Having sex!"
"No one can, dear, no one." Sara consoled him while patting his arm with her paw, then she seemed to remember something. "Speaking of young men, my mom told me when Stanley is coming in Roma!"
Hearing that name made a lupine hear miss a beat, but he quickly crushed whatever illogical thought about the lynx and put a smile on his muzzle. "Ohh? When did she tell you?"
"Yesterday, just before Franco came back home. She was lucky, I was about to turn off any device that could have bothered us."
"So, when does Luca have to be the chaperone of the young husky?" Ale asked, being the curious dog he was.
"Oh, sure, he will come next week, so if you can be available for the next Saturday? Not the one is coming, of course." She temptingly asked. "I know I didn't warn you with much advance, and if you can't that day there is always another-"
"Sara, stop." The lupine interrupted here with a raised paw. "You don't have to worry, I don't have anything planned for that Saturday, I agreed to do this favor for you and I'm glad I can do it."
"Oh great, thank you Luca!" She cried before hugging him.
"Di niente Sara, di niente12!" He hugged her back before separating. "I'm sure it will be a wonderful day!"
"If you assistants have finished with hugs and shouts, you should get to work." They turned toward the fur who said that and saw the professor standing in the middle of the port of entry to the basilica. That was followed by embarrassed "Ah, good morning professor", "Yes professor, we are going", "Sorry about that professor".
Luca repressed a yawn while entering, and so did Ale.
"This is going to be a long day." The rottie said to his friend.
Translation:
1) Dick head.
2) To be pissed off you make two labors. Actually, "incazzarsi" is a swear word, but I didn't find anything as strong in English.
3) Lungotevere are the wide roads at the sides of the Tiber, hence the name (lungo=along, Tevere=Tiber).
4) Yes, funny.
5) Hello?
6) Parking spot.
7) Old Roma was divided in areas called Rioni, which aren't exactly neighborhoods since they are pretty big.
8) Roman nightlife. The term movida is Spanish, and it has entered the Italian language recently.
9) In Italy bars aren't places where you drink alcohol but café.
10) Doctors. Not sure if they really are, but since they should have a degree, the title should be implied to them.
11) Boys
12) You're welcome. Close to the French "de rien".