Symmetry only lasts one minute

6. Hialmar

Early 2000s. They couldn't have been more different. He was tall, with an agile body. Blond, with Mediterranean amber skin, strong-willed face and lively eyes. A thousand friends and a thousand interests. Intriguing, curious, self-confident. Very courted. Danish name.

Petite, slouching, she. Dark brown hair, Nordic white skin, round funny face with freckles. Extremely selective in friendships. Endowed with a certain grace, according to many. Totally insignificant, according to others. Very shy. Greek name.

"Your eyes are very similar," Regina said (and when Regina said something, it was hard to resist). Thus it was that Hialmar and Eleusi found themselves eye to eye, a beautiful October morning, which was preparing to be his first day at university - and yet another boring high school morning for the two girls. Eleusi would have liked to argue to Regina, her best friend, that Hialmar's eyes, although large and brown like hers, were turned upwards and were more mischievous. But it immediately seemed to her, well founded, an observation that was not too timely. In fact she stayed silent. So Hialmar, but he smiled.

Regina and the young man continued their brilliant dialogue, made up of scholastic anecdotes, while Eleusi devoted herself to attentive listening, the activity that always succeeded her best. Almost invisible by now, while Hialmar told the funniest aspects of his final exams, Eleusi was destined to return forcefully, albeit kindly, to the scene. The three were, in fact, in the smoking room of the Caffè Spartivento in Leonvalle - whose owner, a former unsolved medical student, was nicknamed "Il Trigemino" . So it was that the boy took out a cigarette. 

- Then comes the turn of Loi, called "Criadura" for his child's face - he continued to tell, after turning it on - << Speak to me, Loi >> says Professor Demontis << about the motion of the earth's revolution >>. That guy is dazed lost, in a panic. <<Have courage>> the teacher insists. <<You certainly know that the Earth revolves around the Sun ... >> The other teachers almost give each other elbow, while we all laugh too as we assist. General hilarity certainly does not help poor Loi ... 

-Meanwhile Hialmar was waving that cigarette, which was consumed, risking to scatter its ashes everywhere. - Demontis almost gets impatient: << Well, tell me what makes the Earth rotate around the Sun! >> Loi looks everywhere for help that doesn't come. At the end, in one breath he exclaims: << Jesus! >> -

Regina began to laugh convulsively. Eleusi, unseen while grabbing an ashtray from a nearby table, brought it to Hialmar, who suddenly remembered about her. The young man, impressed, said: - What a thoughtful girl! -

And again they looked into each other's eyes. Eleusi, by now, was bewitched. His feelings remained indecipherable.

"He came into my life ..." is the incipit of Fred Uhlman's Reunion, which marks Konradin's fatal entry into the life of Hans, who had been dull until then. The same words rang in the head of Eleusi, who adored that book (she had read it in English), for days and days, in the free moments in which she devoted herself to the thought of Hialmar. But she realized that other words, difficult to translate into Italian, were also perfect for describing what he was feeling. "You blow my mind". The same effect that Bowie had for decades on the world art scene and on the public. The same effect that Ashtar Sheran, perhaps the famous "Starman waiting in the sky", fears he would have on us earthlings, if only he came into contact with us.

From that moment on, Eleusi realized that she was going to church with less enthusiasm, no longer seeing there an indispensable moment of meditation, a breath of fresh air, an engine for her future.

Future? What future? - You don't want to be a nun anymore! Regina exclaimed, dismayed, putting the DVD of the film they were supposed to see together on the coffee table.- Is it my fault? - she continued - Did I influence you with my teasing? I did not mean to! I swear! -

How to explain her? - asked herself the former aspiring postulant - What can I say?- Don Fancellu's sermon seemed really stupid to me yesterday - Eleusi confessed to her friend.- And it's not the first time I've felt this way -- Is that all? - the friend insisted - There must be more ... -But Eleusi would not have admitted her feelings even under torture!

Hialmar appeared one morning at the top of the steps of the classical high school, in front of the entrance. He argued with friends and smiled. It was break time for high school students. Suddenly, he saw Eleusi come out and he stopped. He motioned for her to come closer and held out his hand, which she took in hers. She did not have the courage to stay long and ran to buy herself a snack, but she walked on the clouds. Oh, really, there was no longer any Lavinia, with her rants and her grotesque glares, for a long, long time! Seeing Eleusi smile so openly in the days to follow was disconcerting for her schoolmates. Lavinia tried in vain to investigate the reasons, giving voice to who knows what conjectures.

Eleusi soon discovered that she liked hearing the sax playing.Guess why.If a person who is right to consider a friend plays live, there is really no disco club that matters. In any case, Eleusi always preferred concerts to discos. Hialmar, on the other hand, discovered that Eleusi was forming an unsuspected musical culture, which Regina undoubtedly invited her to deepen. Apart from Bowie's discography, which she knew almost entirely, she knew how to quote several valid rock bands, not yet well known or at their debut.

- So you know Interpol!- the boy was amazed, widening his eyes so much.- "Turn on the bright lights" is a really good first record - she replied.- I bet you are obsessed with Obstacle 1 - Hialmar smiled.- Of course! It is poetic, especially when it speaks of "logical harm" and of a "bad woman who can read"! The numerous friends of Hialmar, however, were silent en masse with a touch of demonstration when Eleusi spoke. Alternative and foul-mouthed, they were said to be groupies. - Could you make room for me, please? - Eleusi asked the diners, during an Easter Monday lunch, set up in the best possible way in a garage of friends of friends.Regina covered her face with her hands. Hialmar laughed out loud, causing his beautiful deep vocal timbre to thin out, infecting everyone present: - In these cases - he instructed her - we just say "Move!" -

- Why don't you come running with me on Thursday? - he asked her out, suddenly, a cigarette between his fingers, in a moment of post - prandial relaxation. Nobody, inside, paid attention to them: there were those who sang, badly, Ava Adore, transmitted loud by a small stereo, those who tried in vain to follow her chords on the guitar; who prepared the table and already thought of the teams to play Taboo. The scorching sun of that April threatened to devour even the small trace of shadow in which the two boys sought refuge. But it was not the sun that made Eleusi face burgundy for a few moments. - Do I look like I need it? She played down.- Do I look like a personal trainer? - he held his own. Regina, unseen, had looked out to observe them. - Why not a little bike ride instead? - Eleusi proposed.- Done deal! - Hialmar cut short, winking one eye.

And the game began. Regina was an ace with her short, focused, turns of phrase. Hialmar understood her on the fly, almost Eleusi too. Eleusi's turn came as foreman. She could feel the ironic eyes of all the so-called groupies on her. Eleusi, having read the "word taboo", launched into a pindaric flight, not too convinced. - Er ... do you remember how privileges were granted to the pope Pius IX? -Everyone's eyes widened, taken aback, including Regina. Hialmar smiled at the foreman.- Come on guys! - Eleusi insisted - "Guarentigia" is the ancient version of this word! -The groupies nudged each other, laughing convulsively.- Eleusi, pass! Take the next card... - Regina advised, rolling her eyes.The foreman was about to obey her, surrendered.- Warranty! Hialmar exclaimed resolutely, without stopping smiling. General silence of the grave. The team had won.

- Why didn't you tell me? -Regina's tone was calm, but it betrayed regret. The friend was a guest at her house for the night, they talked sitting on the beds.- What? - Eleusi asked, even if she sensed.- Now I know why you "lost your vocation"! - and here she underlined the incision with gestures, mimicking the quotation marks - I saw you two today ... What did he propose to you? -And the friend, blushing again, spat the toad.

Regina did not rejoice, on the contrary she seemed worried. - Eleusi, listen ... - and took her hands.- Hialmar is good ... - he continued - certainly not a saint, I would say, but ... Well, sometimes he has sudden outbursts of affection, which can be misunderstood! You do understand, don't you? - Eleusi nodded, but did not understand at all.