A Sea Dog's Tale

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Does Giulia really have to go?

I mean, I know she has to, but... I don't want her to... 

"And you have your lunch for the train?" Massimo asked. "Sì." Giulia answered.

"Sweater? If it gets cold?"

"For the millionth time, sì." Then she hugged her father. "I love you, too, Papà." She pulled away and nodded. "Santa mozzarella, we did it." She said to us. "Well, Giulia, can't wait to race next summer." Alberto's said. "Or we could just have fun." She hugged the two boys. They grinned and returned the hug. "Ciao, Giulia." Luca said.

I was trying my hardest not to cry, but my whines couldn't be prevented. They heard me sniffling. "Cosa c'è che non va (What's wrong), Galileo?" Giulia asked me, concerned. "I... I don't want you to leave..." I trailed off. Understanding, Giulia kneeled down to my level. "Hey, I get it. I don't wanna leave you here... But I'll be back next summer."

"That's too long for me, Giulia." I said, a lump in my throat. "You're my first real human friend, and..." Forget it. I let my tears fall. "I just bonded more with you... Why does that have to end now?"

"Aww, c'mere, buddy." Giulia pulled me in for a hug, rubbing my back as whines shook my body. "I promise, Galileo, I'll be back."

"I hope so." She pulled away from me. I gave her a small dog kiss on her cheek, still crying a little. She gently wiped my tears away, that left yellow and turquoise streaks, and kissed the side of my face. I felt better, but not much.

I still don't want her to leave...

I watched as she got on the train with her bag. "Ciao, ragazzi. A presto." I sniffed one last time, after Alberto's and Giulia shared a wink, I tearfully said "Arrivederci, Giulia." With that, she left to take a seat on the train.

Curse this stazione ferroviaria (train station) for taking my friends away, I thought to myself. I took a deep breath to calm down, as I was still crying some. 

"Well, let's go fix up our Vespa." Luca said, turning away to leave. "Yeah, about that. Uh... It's a crazy thing. I might have sold it." Alberto said, handing Luca a train ticket.

Oh... THAT'S what he wanted to do today... He told me yesterday and I completely forgot about the train ticket he got for him.

"Luca?" 

Daniela, Lorenzo, and Grandma Paguro showed up. Aw crud, here we go... "Mom? What are you all doing here?" Luca asked. Daniela kneeled down. "If you promise to write to us every single day, and be as safe as possible, and I mean safer than safe..." She sighed. "...you can go to school."

Luca gasped. "I can?" Lorenzo handed Luca a bag. "It's all arranged, actually. You'd stay with Giulia and her mom." He said. "Your friends talked them into it. It wasn't easy." Grandma Paguro said, gesturing to Alberto and me. No, it was not.

I felt a bit embarrassed with the look of adoration Luca was giving the two of us. "Luca, do you promise?" Daniela asked Luca. "Yes! Yes, I promise!" He answered, then hugged his family. Wish I knew what that felt like...

"Just remember, we are always here for you. Okay?" Daniela said tearfully. "Hey. Look me in the eye." Luca said, reaching a hand up to her cheek. "You know I love you, right?" He asked. She chuckled softly. "I know." They kissed each other goodbye.

Something's telling me I'm gonna be hearing that more often. From my own lips. To Alberto. That is, if I ever become his. I want to be his, but... 

"Come on, Galileo, Alberto. The train's gonna leave." I winced. Oh boy, how're we gonna tell the kid? "Where's your stuff?" Luca asked. "Yeah, well, you see..." Alberto hesitated in answering.