The Home - 30. Chapter 30

The next two days, I spent the time getting to know Amalia’s family. Her brother was 18 and interested in America. “When you have a chance, you must come and see me.”

“Tony, don’t be surprised if he wants to go back with you.”

“That would be okay, but doesn’t he have school?”

“He will start at the University next year. Now he works on Grandfather’s goat farm.” That was said in English. I looked at her as if to say, why English. “He’s learning English, so I speak to him in English as much as possible.”

After lunch, Amalia and her brother, Amado, showed me the church and the park. They pointed to significant buildings or historical sites as we walked around the city. Amalia showed me the baker. It was the first floor of a building I took for more apartments. It certainly didn’t look like a bakery back home, with no glass windows or signs. If you didn’t know it was a bakery, you would think it is just part of the building.

While we walked, Amado wanted to know about America and where I lived. “Amado, let’s talk to your parents, and maybe you could come home with me. Then when Amalia comes for Christmas, you can go home with her.”

I looked at Amalia to be sure I hadn’t spoken out turn. “Amo, we will talk to Momma and Papa when we go home.”

The night before we were to leave to go home, I helped Amado to pack. He was excited to be going to America. I made sure he had his passport. Amalia told him to enjoy his stay and to try and learn some English.

The flight home was enjoyable, Amado had many questions, and between Mom and I, we tried to answer them all. We also taught him some words in English. He would say something in Italian, and we would say it in English. I taught him to say, I am sorry, I don’t speak English. He repeated it several times, except I don’t speak English became, I no speak English.

He was an inquisitive young man. He had many questions, and I got the impression he must have made a list when he knew he was coming home with us.

Arriving home, passing through customs, and there were the boys and Dad. Mom went and greeted them while I introduced Amado to the boys and Dad. I chuckled when he said, “Sorry, I no speak English.”

Somehow, we squeezed into the Chevy, and Brad drove us home. Mom and Dad would stay the night and go home in the morning. Arriving at the house, I expected to see Charlie.

“Brad, where is Charlie?”

“He is at Dad’s. Since Dad was spending the last two days with us, Charlie went and stayed at Dad’s place.”

I caught the use of Dad when referring to my dad. It seems the boys have accepted Mom and Dad as theirs. It was Tom who whispered to me that they had adopted new parents. I just smiled.

Arriving at home, I showed Amado his room. The boys had dinner ready, and it was chicken, mixed vegetables, and a salad. I asked who cooked the chicken, and Tom said they did. They cooked the chicken like they cooked the birds they found when they camped.

I smiled and was glad they could be independent. After dinner, I told Mom and Dad to stay, and one of us would run them home in the morning.

I gave Amado a tour, and he noticed the books in the Library. “These are the journals of my ancestors who lived here. They are written in Italian. If you would like to read one, you can, but you must do it in this room.” I got a smile.

Walking into my office, “This is my office, and the painting is of my grandfather who came to America in 1817.”

Amado looks at the painting, and he remarked upon seeing a painting similar to that at a small museum. He looked closely and then he noticed the ring and my ring. “The ring has a crest on it. Do you know whose crest it is?”

“It is the crest of Carignano. Do you know who Carignano’s were?”

“No”

“Maybe while you are here, you can search the books in the Library and find out.”

“He smiled as we headed back to the kitchen where Mom, Dad, and the boys were drinking coffee.”

Mom asked Amado if he was okay. Amado smiled and said he was looking forward to reading the history of this house.

“I’m going to turn in, Mom, Dad, you know where you will be sleeping. Amado, I showed you your bedroom, so I’ll see you in the morning for breakfast.” Saying goodnight, I went to bed.

That night I told my visitors about my trip and bringing Amado home for his first visit to America. Pa smiled, and I got a kiss on the cheek from Nonna. My other grandfathers waved and smiled. I usually don’t see all of them every night, but I do see Nonna and Pa every night.

I was up at my usual time, dressed, I headed for the kitchen. I expected to find Mom, but it was just me. I started the coffee, got the eggs ready to fry, and brought up a couple of strings of sausage. As I was pouring myself a cup of coffee, Mom walked in.

“I expected to find you here when I came down this morning.”

“I think the excitement and the trip wore me out a little.” Saying that, she started to cook the sausages. I began to toast the bread and break the eggs into a bowl for scrambled eggs.

I was never sure what wakes everyone up, but the smells of cooking and coffee seem to announce that breakfast was ready. Tom came in and asked if he could help. I gave him the toast to butter and to make more. Dad and Brad came and got a cup of coffee. Amado struggled in, still a little sleepy.

“Brad can you and Tom take Amado with you this morning and give him a tour while I take Mom and Dad home.” So that was the plan.