Lessons Learned, Healing Hearts

A New Day, A New Dawn (Chapter 8)

Waiting for the guys to come down, Marlow leaned back against the driver's seat, staring out the front windshield. The predawn sky stretched vast above her—a silent canvas painted deep indigo. A defiant crescent moon claimed its place above the earth. If she looked hard enough, she could make out the faint outline of grey that completed the orb. Two days of relentless storm clouds had finally surrendered to the night, and today promised to be glorious.

The car door opened with a soft click, snapping her from her thoughts.

"Buongiorno," Marlow said confidently as Gianluca and Ignazio slid into the back seat.

Only Gianluca responded. "Buongiorno."

"Ciao, Bella. Come stai?" Piero greeted as he took his place in the front seat.

Marlow caught the familiar words, the ones she was sure everyone on the planet understood. But what did come stai mean? Taking a gamble, she answered, "Good."

The immediate chorus of "Hey!" from the guys made her grin.

"So, come stai is, how are you, in Italian?" she clarified.

"It is," Piero confirmed, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

"Cool. Teach me something else."

Piero perked up. "Are you wanting to learn Italian?"

Marlow shrugged. "Since we spend a lot of time in the car, why not?"

Two eager teachers leaned forward in their seats while the other stared out the side window.

"Good for you," Piero said, squeezing her shoulder.

"Lesson number one," Gianluca launched straight in. "Thank you is grazie.

"Grazie."

"Almost. Listen again." Ever, the patient teacher he exaggerated the pronunciation, rolling the first syllable, "Grr-azi-ay."

"Grazi-ay," Marlow repeated, pulling out onto the highway.

"Grr, grr," he coached, trying to coax the trill into her tongue.

Marlow tried. And tried again. But no matter how hard she focused, her tongue refused to cooperate. Giggling at her own struggle, she shook her head in defeat. Then, finally, it happened.

"Grazie."

There was a beat of silence, then twin exclamations of "Brava!" from Gianluca and Piero.

Marlow bounced in her seat, pride swelling in her chest.

The impromptu language lesson continued, the car filling with laughter and exaggerated syllables. Eventually, Marlow asked, "So, if you say 'come stai' to me, how would I say, 'Good, thank you. How are you?'"

"Tutto bene, grazie, e tu," Piero instructed.

Marlow let out an involuntary laugh. "Slower."

Piero smirked. "Tu...tto..."

"Not that slow!" she complained, playfully swatting at his leg.

Mumbling the phrase under her breath like a mantra, Marlow was determined to get it right. After a few more attempts, she straightened, ready for the test. "Okay, Piero, ask me again."

Enjoying her enthusiasm, he obliged. "Ciao, Bella. Come stai?"

"Tutto bene, grazie, e tu?"

Piero's grin widened, and he raised a hand for a high five. "Sono fantastico,"

"Fantastico means fantastic?" she asked.

"Sì, fantastic!"

"Brava, Marlow! Brava," Gianluca praised, beaming at his student.