Adam, One Afternoon
ItaloCalvino
TheNEWgardenersboyhadlonghairwhichhekeptinplacebyapieceofstufftiedroundhisheadwithalittlebow.Hewaswalkingalongthepathwithhiswatering-canfilledtothebrimandhisotherarmstretchedouttobalancetheload.Slowly,carefully,hewateredthenasturtiumsasifpouringoutcoffeeandmilk,untiltheearthatthefootofeachplantdissolvedintoasoftblackpatch;whenitwaslargeandmoistenoughheliftedthewatering-canandpassedontothenextplant.Maria-nunziatawaswatchinghimfromthekitchenwindow,andthinkingwhatanicecalmjobgardeningmustbe.Hewasagrownyouth,shenoticed,thoughhestillworeshortsandthatlonghairmadehimlooklikeagirl.Shestoppedwashingthedishesandtappedonthewindow.
"Hey,boy,"shecalled.
Thegardenersboyraisedhishead,sawMaria-nunziataandsmiled.Shelaughedbackathim,partlybecauseshehadneverseenaboywithsuchlonghairandabowlikethatonhishead.Thegardenersboybeckonedtoherwithonehand,andMaria-nunziatawentonlaughingatthefunnygesturehedmade,andbegangesturingbacktoexplainthatshehadthedishestowash.
Buttheboybeckonedagain,andpointedatthepotsofdahliaswithhisotherhand.Whywashepointingatthosedahlias?Maria-nunziataopenedthewindowandputherheadout.
"Whatsup?"sheasked,andbeganlaughingagain.
"Dyouwanttoseesomethingnice?"
"Whatsthat?"
"Somethingnice.Comeandsee.Quickly."
"Tellmewhat."
"Illgiveyouit.Illgiveyousomethingverynice."
"ButIvethedishestowash,andtheSignorallcomealongandnotfindme."
"Doyouwantitordontyou?Comeon,now."
"Waitasecond,"saidMaria-nunziata,andshutthewindow.
Whenshecameoutthroughthekitchendoorthegardenersboywasstillthere,wateringthenasturtiums.
"Hallo,"saidMaria-nunziata.
Maria-nunziataseemedtallerthanshewasbecauseofherhigh-heeledshoes,whichwereapitytoworkin,butshelovedwearingthem.Herlittlefacelookedlikeachildsamiditsmassofblackcurls,andherlegswerethinandchildliketoo,thoughherbody,underthefoldsofherapron,wasalreadyroundandripe.Shewasalwayslaughing:eitheratwhatothersorsheherselfsaid.
"Hallo,"saidthegardenersboy.Theskinonhisface,neckandchestwasdarkbrown;perhapsbecausehewasalwayshalfnaked,asnow,
"Whatsyourname?"askedMaria-nunziata.
"Libereso,"saidthegardenersboy.
Mafia-nunziatalaughedandrepeated:"LiberesoLiberesowhatafunnyname,Libereso."
"ItsanameinEsperanto,"hesaid."InEsperantoitmeansliberty."
"Esperanto,"saidMaria-nunziata."AreyouEsperanto?"
"Esperantosalanguage,"explainedLibereso."MyfatherspeaksEsperanto."
"ImCalabrian,"exclaimedMaria-nunziata.
"Whatsyourname?"
"Maria-nunziata,"shesaidandlaughed.
"Whyareyoualwayslaughing?"
"WhyareyoucalledEsperanto?"
"NotEsperanto,Libereso."
"Why?"
"WhyareyoucalledMaria-nunziata?"
"ItistheMadonnasname.ImcalledaftertheMadonnaandmybrotherafterSaintJoseph."
"Senjosef?"
Maria-nunziataburstoutlaughing:"Senjosef!SaintJoseph,notSenjosef,Libereso!"
"Mybrother,"saidLibereso,"iscalledGerminalandmysisterOmnia."
"Thatnicethingyoumentioned,"saidMaria-nunziata,"showmeit."
"Comeon,then,"saidLibereso.Heputdownthewatering-canandtookherbythehand.
Maria-uunziatahesitated."Tellmewhatitisfirst."
"Youllsee,"hesaid,"butyoumustpromisemetotakecareofit."
"Willyougiveittome?"
"Yes,Illgiveittoyou."Hehadledhertoacornerofthegardenwall.Therethedahliasstandinginpotswereastallasthemselves.
"Itsthere."
"Whatis?"
"Wait."
Maria-nunziatapeepedoverhisshoulder.Liberesobentdowntomoveapot,liftedanotherbythewall,andpointedtotheground.
"There,"hesaid.
"Whatisit?"askedMaria-nunziata.Shecouldnotseeany-thing;thecornerwasinshadow,fullofwetleavesandgardenmould.
"Look,itsmoving,"saidtheboy.Thenshesawsomethingwhichlookedlikeamovingstoneorleaf,somethingwet,witheyesandfeet;atoad.
"Mammamial"
Maria-nunziatawentskippingoffamongthedahliasinherhighheeledshoes.Liberesosquatteddownbythetoadandlaughed,showingthewhiteteethinthemiddleofhisbrownface.
"Areyoufrightened?Itsonlyatoad!Whyareyoufrightened?
"Atoad!"gaspedMaria-nunziata.
"Ofcourseitsatoad.Comehere,"saidLibereso.
Shepointedatitwithatremblingfinger."Killit."
Heputouthishands,asiftoprotectit."Idontwantto.ItsSOnice."
"Anicetoad?"
"Alltoadsarenice.Theyeattheworms."
"Oh!"saidMaria-nunziata,butshedidnotcomeanynearer.
Shewaschewingtheedgeofherapronandtryingtowatchfromthecornerofhereyes.
"Lookhowprettyitis,"saidLiberesoandputahandonit.
Maria-nunziataapproached,nolongerlaughing,andlookedonopenmouthed."No!No!Donttouchit!"
WithonefingerLiheresowasstrokingthetoadsgrey-greenback,whichwascoveredwithshinywarts.
"Areyoumad?Dontyouknowtheyburnwhenyoutouchthem,andmakeyourhandswellup?"
Theboyshowedherhisbigbrownhands,thepalmscoveredwithalayerofyellowcallouses.
"Oh,itwonthurtme,"hesaid."Anditssopretty."
Nowhedtakenthetoadbyfilescruffofthenecklikeacatandputitinthepalmofhisband.Maria-mmziata,stillchewingtheedgeofherapron,camenearerandcroucheddownbesidehim.
"Mammamia!"sheexclaimed.
Theywerebothcrouchingdownbehindthedahlias,andMaria-nunziatasrosykneesweregrazingthebrown,scratchedonesofLibereso.Liberesocuppedhisotherhandoverthebackofthetoad,andcaughtiteverynowandagainasittriedtoslipOut.
"Youstrokeit,Maria-nunziata,"hesaid.
Thegirlhidherhandsinherapron.
"No,"shesaidfirmly.
"What?"hesaid."Youdontwantit?"
Maria-nunziataloweredhereyes,glancedatthetoad,andloweredthemagainquickly.
"No,"shesaid.
"Butitsyours.Imgivingittoyou,"saidLibereso.
Maria-nunziataseyescloudedover.Itwassadtorefuseapresent,nooneevergaveherpresents,butthetoadreallydidrevolther.
"Youcantakeithomeifyoulike.Itllkeepyoucompany."
"No,"shesaid.
Liberesoputthetoadbackonthegroundanditquicklyhoppedoffandsquattedundertheleaves.
"Good-bye,Libereso."
"Waitaminute."
"ButImustgoandfinishwashingthedishes.TileSignoradoesntlikemecomingoutinthegarden."
"Wait.Iwanttogiveyousomething.Somethingreallynice.Comealong."
Shebeganfollowinghimalongthegravelpaths,WhatastrangeboythisLiberesowas,withthatlonghair,andpickinguptoadsinhishands.
"Howoldareyou,Libereso?"
"Fifteen.Andyou?"
"Fourteen."
"NOW,oronyournextbirthday?"
"Onmynextbirthday.AssumptionDay."
"Hasthatpassedyet?"
"What,dontyouknowwhenAssumptionDayis?"Shebeganlaughing.
"No."
"AssumptionDay,whentherestheprocession.Dontyougototheprocession?"
"Me?No."
"Backhometherearelovelyprocessions.Itsnotlikehere,backhome.Therearebigfieldsfullofbergamots,nothingbutbergamots,andeveryonepicksbergamotsfrommorningtillnight.Ivefourteenbrothersandsistersandtheyallpickbergamots;fivediedwhentheywerebabies,andthenmymothergottetanus,andwewereinatrainforaweektogotoUncle
Carmelos,andeightofusallsleptinagaragethere.Tellme,whyveyougotsuchlonghair?"
Theyhadstopped.
"Becauseitgrowslikethat.Youvegotlonghairtoo."
"Imagirl.Ifyouwearlonghair,yourelikeagirl."
"Imnotlikeagirl.Youdonttellaboyfromagirlbythehair."
"Notbythehair?"
"No,notbythehair."
"Whynotbythehair?"
"Wouldyoulikemetogiveyousomethingnice?"
"Oh,yes."
Liberesobeganmovingamongthearumlilies,buddingwhitetrumpetssilhouettedagainstthesky.Liberesolookedintoeach,gropedaroundwithtwofingers,andthenhidsomethinginhisfist.Maria-nunziatahadnotgoneintotheflower-bed,andwaswatchinghim,withsilentlaughter.Whatwasheuptonow?
Liberesohadnowlookedintoallthelilies.Hecameuptoherholdingonehandovertheother.
"Openyourhands,"hesaid.Maria-nunziatacuppedherhands,butwasafraidtoputthemunderhis.
"Whathaveyougotinthere?"
"Somethingverynice.Youllsee."
"Showme,first."
Liberesoopenedhishandsandletherlookinside.Hispalmwasfullofmulti-colouredrose-chafers,redandblackandevenpurpleones,butthegreenweretheprettiest.Theywerebuzzingandslitheringovereachotherandwavinglittleblacklegsintheair.Maria-nunziatahidherhandsunderherapron.
"Here,"saidLibereso."Dontyoulikethem?"
"Yes,"saidMaria-nunziatauncertainly,stillkeepingherhandsunderherapron.
"Whenyouholdthemtighttheytickle;wouldyouliketofeel?"
Maria-nunziataheldoutherhandstimidly,andLiberesopouredacascadeofrose-chafersofeverycolourintothem.
"Dontbefrightened,theywontbiteyou."
"Mammamia!"Ithadntoccurredtoherthattheymightbiteher.Sheopenedherhandsandtherose-chafersspreadtheirwingsandthebeautifulcoloursvanishedandtherewasnothing
tobeseenbutaswarmofblackinsectsflyingaboutandsettling.
"Whatapity.Itrytogiveyouapresentandyoudontwantit."
"Imustgoanddothewashingup.TheSignorawillbecrossifshecantfindme."
"Dontyouwantapresent?"
"Whatareyougoingtogivemenow?"
"Comeandsee."
Hetookherhandagainandledherthroughtheflower-beds.
"Imustgetbacktothekitchensoon,Libereso.Theresachickentopluck,too."
"Poof!"
"Whypoof?"
"Wedonteatthefleshofdeadbirdsoranimals."
"Why,areyoualwaysinLent?"
"Whatdoyoumean?"
"Well,whatdoyoueatthen?"
"Oh,allsortsofthings,artichokes,lettuces,tomatoes.Myfatherdoesntlikeustoeatthefleshofdeadanimals.Orcoffeeorsugar,either."
"Whatdyoudowithyoursugarration,then?"
"Sellitontheblackmarket."
Theyhadreachedsomeclimbingplants,starredalloverwithredflowers.
"Whatlovelyflowers,"saidMaria-nunziata."Dyoueverpickthem?"
"Whatfor?"
"TotaketotheMadonna.FlowersarefortheMadonna."
"Mesembryanthemum."
"Whatsthat?"
"ThisplantscalledMesembryanthemuminLatin.AllflowershaveLatinnames."
"TheMassisinLatin,too."
"Idontknowaboutthat."
Liberesowasnowpeeringcloselybetweenthewindingbranchesonthewall.
"Thereitis,"hesaid.
"Whatis?"
Itwasalizardgreenwithblackmarkings,baskinginthesun.
"Illcatchit."
"No."
Buthegotclosertothelizard,veryslowly,withbothhandsopen;ajump,andhedcaughtit.Helaughedhappily,showinghiswhiteteeth."Lookout,itsescaping!"Firstastunned-lookinghead,thenatail,slitheredoutbetweenhisclosedfingers.
Maria-nunziatawaslaughingtoo,buteverytimeshesawthelizardsheskippedbackandpulledherskirttightaboutherknees.
"Soyoureallydontwantmetogiveyouanythingatall?"saidLibereso,rathersadly,andverycarefullyheputthelizardbackonthewall;offitshot.Maria-nunziatakepthereyeslowered.
"Comealong,"saidLibereso,andtookherhandagain.
"IdliketohavealipstickandpaintmylipsredonSundaystogooutdancing.AndablackveiltoputonmyheadafterwardsforBenediction."
"OnSundays,"saidLibereso,"Igotothewoodswithmybrotherandwefilltwosackswithpinecones.Then,intheevening,myfatherreadsoutloudfromKropotkin.Mytitherhashair
downtohisshouldersandabeardrightdowntohischest.Andhewearsshortsinsummerandwinter.AndIdodrawingsfortheAnarchistFederationwindows.Thefiguresintophatsarebusinessmen,thoseincapsaregenerals,andthoseinroundhatsarepriests;thenIpainttheminwatercolours."
Theycametoapondwithroundwater-lilyleavesfloatingonit.
"Quiet,now,"commandedLibereso.
Underthewaterafrogcouldbeseenswimmingupwithsharplittlestrokesofitsgreenarmsandlegs.Itsuddenlysurfaced,jumpedontoawater-lilyleafandsatdowninthemiddle.
"There,"criedLiberesoandputoutahandtocatchit,butMaria-nunziataletoutacry,"Ut!"andthefrogjumpedbackintothewater.Liberesobegansearchingforit,hisnosealmosttouchingthesurface.
"Thereitis."
Hethrustinahandandpulleditoutinhisclosedfist.
"Twoofthemtogether,"hecried."Look.Twoofthem,ontopofeachother."
"Why?"askedMaria-nunziata.
"Maleandfemalestucktogether,"saidLibereso."Lookwhattheyaredoing."AndhetriedtoputthefrogsintoMaria-nunziatashand.Maria-nunziatawasntsureifshewasfrightenedbecausetheywerefrogs,orbecausetheyweremaleandfemalestucktogether.
"Leavethemalone,"shesaid."Youmustnttouchthem."
"Maleandfemale,"repeatedLibereso."Theyremakingtadpoles."Acloudpassedoverthesun.SuddenlyMaria-nunziatabegantofeelanxious.
"Itslate.TheSignorassuretobelookingforme."
Butshedidnotgo.Insteadtheywentonwanderingaroundthoughthesundidnotcomeoutagain.Andthenhefoundasnake:itwasatinylittlesnakebehindahedgeofbamboo.Liberesowounditroundhisarmandstrokeditshead.
"OnceIusedtotrainsnakes.Ihadadozenofthem,onewaslongandyellow,awatersnake.Butitsheditsskinandescaped.Lookatthisoneopeningitsmouth,lookhowitstongueisforked.Strokeit,itwontbite."
ButMaria-nunziatawasfrightenedofsnakestoo.Thentheywenttotherockpool.Firstheshowedherthefountains,andopenedallthejets,whichpleasedherverymuch.Thenheshowedherthegoldfish.Itwasalonelyoldgoldfish,anditsscaleswerealreadywhitening.Atlast;Maria-nunziatalikedthegoldfish.Liberesobegantomovehishandsroundinthewatertocatchit;itwasverydifficult,butwhenhedcaughtitMaria-nunziatacouldputitinabowlandkeepitinthekitchen.Hemanagedtocatchit,butdidnttakeitoutofthewaterincaseitsuffocated.
"Putyourhandsclownhere,strokeit,"saidLibereso."Youcanfeelitbreathing;ithasfinslikepaperandscalesthatprickle.notmuchthough."
ButMaria-nunziatadidnotwanttostrokethefisheither.
Inthepetuniabedtheearthwasverysoft,andLiberesodugaboutwithhisfingersandpulledoutsomelong,softworms.
ButMaria-nunziataranawaywithlittleshrieks.
"Putyourhandhere,"saidLibereso,pointingtothetrunkofanoldpeachtree.Maria-nunziatadidnotunderstandwhy,butsheputherhandthere;thenshescreamedandrantodipitinthepool.Forwhenshehadpulledherhandawayitwascoveredwithants.Thepeachtreewasamassofthem,tinyblack"Argentine"ants.
"Look,"saidLiberesoandputahandonthetrunk.Theantscouldbeseencrawlingoverhishandbuthedidntbrushthemoff.
"Why?"askedMaria-nuuziata."Whyareyoulettingyourselfgetcoveredwithants?"
Hishandwasnowquiteblack,andtheywerecrawlinguphiswrist.
"Takeyourhandaway,"moanedMaria-nunziata."Youllgetthemalloveryou."
Theantswerecrawlinguphisnakedarm,andhadalreadyreachedhiselbow.
Nowhiswholearmwascoveredwithaveilofmovingblackdots;theyreachedhisarmpitbuthedidnotbrushthemoff.
"Getridofthem,Libereso.Putyourarminwater!"
Liberesolaughed,someantsnowevencrawlingfromhisneckontohisface.
"Libereso!Illdowhateveryoulike!Illacceptallthosepresentsyougaveme."
Shethrewherarmsroundhisneckandstartedtobrushofftheants.
Smilinghisbrownandwhitesmile,Liberesotookhishandawayfromthetreeandbegannonchalantlydustinghisarm.Buthewasobviouslytouched.
"Verywell,then,Illgiveyouareallybigpresent,Ivedecided.ThebiggestpresentIcan."
"Whatsthat?"
"Ahedgehog."
"Mammamia!TheSignora!TheSignorascallingme!"
Maria-nunziatahadjustfinishedwashingthedisheswhensheheardapebblebeatagainstthewindow.UnderneathstoodLiberesowithalargebasket.
"Maria-nunziata,letmein.Iwanttogiveyouasurprise."
"No,youcantcomeup.Whathaveyougotthere?"
ButatthatmomenttheSignorarangthebell,andMaria-nunziatavanished.
Whenshereturnedtothekitchen,Liberesowasnolongertobeseen.Neitherinsidethekitchenorunderneaththewindow.Maria-nunziatawentuptothesink.Thenshesawthesurprise.
Oneveryplateshehadlefttodrytherewasacrouctfingfrog;asnakewascoiledupinsideasaucepan,therewasasoupbowlfulloflizards,andslimysnailsweremakingiridescentstreaksallovertheglasses.Inthebasinfullofwaterswamthelonelyoldgoldfish.
Maria-nunziatasteppedback,butbetweenherfeetshesawagreatbigtoad.Andbehinditwerefivelittletoadsinaline,takinglittlehopstowardsheracrosstheblackandwhitetiledfloor.