Just Another Brushstroke

Chapter 14

Angelo's POV

I inhaled the fresh air as we left the airport.

I missed this place.  As much as I loved America, a piece of my heart will always be in Italy.  My brother was walking close behind me and I could feel his nerves radiating off of him.

"I never forget how beautiful this place is." He said and I agreed.

When I was a small child, I called Italy my own Neverland.  All my favorite childhood memories happened to be in Florence.  My family came here every Christmas, and Thanksgiving.  Many times my father would find an excuse to come for the summer.

We got a taxi to take us to Viale Dei Cadorna Street.  My Aunt and Uncle still live here and my parents said we were staying with them for the time being.  

"Damn these streets are to small!" I heard a tourist explain on my left and I laughed.

He was right.

Italy was known for having very small streets.  The streets were always packed with cars and people would weave in and out between them on foot or bikes.  I personally like how tight fitted the city is, it makes me feel secure.

As we drove I looked at the trees and flowers blooming.  This early in February is an odd time for flowers to grow.  Usually it's still to cold, but from the weather it's been lately it's not surprising. 

I smiled as we passes Pizzeria Spera, my favorite pizza place besides my mothers homecooked pizza.  I didn't understand the hype about pizza in Chicago.  It's definitely not Italian.

We arrived at the house as our family members were waiting for us.  The house looks exactly how I remembered.  The arched door and concrete walls.  The arched windows along with an old timey smell.  

The houses here always had a balcony if it was only one of them.  I always loved how it felt to go back in time whenever we came back here, just the culture in itself feels old.  But it a good way.  The flowers growing in the front yard smelled wonderful.

I saw their neighbors waving at us out the window.  The houses were so close together that my Aunt would talk to her best friend through each others windows.  

"It's so amazing to see you." My Aunt Eleanora said in Italian as she hugged me.  She smelled like pasta and rose petals.  All to familiar.

My Uncle Dante gave me a pat on the back.  Eventually it sounded like my entire family was talking all at once as hugs and kisses were exchanged.  I smiled as the rush of Italian words flew out of my families mouth.

We never talked to each other in Italian that much.  However we still enjoyed it when we came to visit the rest of my family.  We knew that my family knew about what Vincent did, but they still welcomed him with open arms.

I heard running down the stairs of the hollow house and knew that my cousin Marcello bounded down the steps.  He opened the thick mahogany door and ran out with excitement.  We had been close friends for our entire lives, he was only a year older then me.

When we were together, many people called us brothers.  We looked almost exactly alike except his hair reached past his shoulders.  He ran over and hugged me.

"How are you doing, we all missed you." He said as he pulled away.

"I'm good, however Vincent isn't doing swell.  Our family is really good besides this whole mess." I said and he nodded.

"You're really the talk of Florence right now.  Our family is famous," he said and I nodded.

Our name was in the paper in Florence and in Chicago.  When someone cheats there way into college then people talk about.  It's even more talked about since no one has cheated their way into this particular school that my brother chose.  Even I'm not sure how he did it.