Notoriously Beautiful

19/20/21/22

The Parents

(Middle of the autumn season)
There comes a day when a woman, or a man has to meet their girlfriend or boyfriend's parents. It's a fact of life, it's a day that some people look forward to, but most do not. I don't know why most people don't want that day to come. All I know about the matter is I took an oath over my dearest Nonna Katerina's body, that I would be involved with many people, and that I would get to know them and learn from them. What would be the difference with the parents?
It's been over a year now, that I've been here, and now Marco has asked me to meet his mom. He's asked before, but something always comes up.
"Rebecca, my mother is so sweet, so gentle," Marco says.
"Marco. I think I just put two and two together!"
"Cosa? (What)"Marco asks.
"Did your mom ever mention Stephania, or Fillipo?"
"Actually, si, yes she has," he answers.
I already have met her. Rebecca, Rebecca, my moms friend is Marco's mom. I don't know what I'm going to call that, a conquincidence, fate, destiny, magic trick, I just don't know. Out of all the people my mom could have introduced me to, who would have thought it would have been Marco's mother.
"My papà passed when I was only 15 years old. So you'll only meet my mamma," Marco tells me.
I also learned that Marco's father had died of cancer. He didn't tell me that, but I remember Rebecca telling us. We both have one mom, and that's it.
"I am so sorry. Let me ask you something Marco, is it better to love a person and have that love be lost, or to never have the chance to love them at all?" I say, referring to his situation and to mine, about both our fathers.
I haven't told Marco yet about my dad, that he took off without leaving a single kiss on my head.
"I think it's better to love, and for it to be lost," he answers.
"Why exactly?" I ask, curious for his response.
"Because, at least you would have another person to care about and spread joy, hope and love to. Even if it can't be for forever," he says.
"Then I guess you should count yourself lucky,"I muster.
"Why?" He questions in confusion.
"I didn't get to have a father at all, at least not for anything close to 15 years. I don't have any good memories of him. He took off too soon. He was a bad guy, I'm sure your father was a great man," I say.
"I guess we've both suffered unfortunate events, but now, I sit here and look at us both, and I see that we are just so strong," he says.
"We are strong, you are right. Throughout 27 years of living I guess I kind of grew a metaphorical layer of muscle, if that makes any sense," I say, laughing.
"29 years and I still don't know what metaphorical means," he says. We both started laughing, so hard.
"It means not literal, a deeper meaning," I say, finally.
"I understand now. Thank you, for teaching me," he says.
This is what life is about. Teaching, respecting, growing, learning, responding, and acting on what you've learned. For without our acquired knowledge, we only rely on innate, premial behaviors.
It is through learning and growing that we become fuller, and happier. I plan on being the fullest, and happiest. Whether it happens or not, I know that I will try. Everything I do, and everything everyone else does is dependent on one thing, which is decision. Whether you make the decision for yourself or someone makes it for you, that makes no difference. If I have control over my decisions I know that I will decide to be the best and do that best that I can do.
***Later on
I have to tell him I met his mother already, I have to.
"What do you know mean, when did you meet my mother?" He says. He sounds a little bit confused, by a little a mean a lot.
"I know it's crazy, but my mom met her and a retired couple at a cafe and now they are all friends, and they read together," I say, chuckling at how strange it had seemed to me and now how strange it must seem to Marco.
"That's so funny, that they met on their own," he says.
"Yes, she is so sweet by the way. She's so kind, I helped her translate what she wanted to say to my mom a few months back," I say.
"We should have lunch all together, us, and our moms," Marco suggests.
"Totally, my mom would love to, and so would I."
So we make plans, Marco insists that we eat at the pizzeria, and I insist I cook something for us. I already know what's coming, yet another toss of a penny.
"Heads I cook, tails we go to the pizzeria," I say..
I watch as the coin flies through the air and then lands back into my hand without looking at it. I flip it on the other hand.
"Tails, pizzeria it is," I say with a frown.
"I don't want you to be upset, are you upset?" He asks.
I don't answer, I just looked at him to see what he would say next.
"We can do whatever you want," he says.
I start laughing hysterically.
"We are like Stephanie and Phillip," I'm almost rolling on the floor.
"Who and who, what are you talking about bella?"
"Nothing, nevermind, it's a long story." I really isn't a long story, but I just don't want to tell it.
"Alright, so I guess whatever you want," he says.
"Tails won, fair is fair." I eyeball our surroundings, we are always sitting right outside my house, no matter what season.
"I'm going in Marco, my moms alone today," I say.
"Ciao, ciao," he kisses my briefly, but with sincerity and content. Sparks fly, every single time.
I tell my mom that Rebecca was actually Marco's mom. I also tell her that Marco wants to have lunch all together.
"He doesn't know you all that well," I say.
"Rebecca is Marco's mom," my moms in disbelief. She looks really surprised.
"Then he must be a nice young man," she says after a few minutes.
"Friday 2:00pm, Pescò Pizzeria, you'll be there right?"
"You're taking me," she says.
With my mom it was never really a question, it was more of a statement that you had to answer to.
"Yes I'm taking you," I say.
"What else does a retired mom have to do on a Friday evening?"
"Love you mom."
"Always and forever Katerina. And don't you forget it."