The Coming of Fabrizze: A Novel (Black Squirrel Books) by Raymond Decapite Page A

and power and prospects. He went on to tell a story about a railroad foreman who returned to Italy. Suddenly Lena left the kitchen. Returning, she made a sign for Bassetti to continue. Water was running somewhere in the house.
    â€œHe lived alone,” said Bassetti. “It’s a bad thing.”
    â€œA terrible thing,” said Lena.
    â€œI know what it is to be alone,” said Bassetti. “I’ve been alone for thirty years.”
    â€œPoor soul,” said Lena.
    â€œThis foreman would forget things,” said Bassetti. “One day he wanted to fix some ties on the main line. He had a special way of doing it. His men lifted the track and held it there. Out came the old ties and in went the new. The other men were tamping.”
    â€œGood, good,” said Lena. “Isn’t it?”
    â€œIt was bad,” said Bassetti. “The rail kicked out in the heat. Like an elbow. And here the train was coming. He forgot it.”
    â€œIsn’t it exciting?” said Lena, to Fabrizze.
    â€œHe went to flag the train,” said Bassetti.
    â€œHe forgot the flag,” said Fabrizze.
    â€œHe remembered the flag,” said Bassetti. “But it was too late. The train was wrecked. And no one could find him. And the next thing we heard he was back in Italy.”
    â€œWhat more can you say?” said Lena.
    â€œBut I hear water running,” said Bassetti.
    â€œThis Fabrizze will bring lovely children, eh?” said Lena.
    One of her hands was now resting on his knee.
    â€œI’m filling the tub for you,” she said. “A hot bath.” Bassetti rescued him.
    After two months of this Fabrizze felt sure that Grace Mendone was the only girl he had missed on his round of the neighborhood. He was wrong. Rossi extended an invitation.
    â€œA double surprise,” said Rossi. “First a fine supper for you. I prepared it myself before coming to work. A real delicacy. You must eat nothing all day. And then after supper there’ll be dessert, eh? Your heart will flutter.”
    â€œMy heart will flutter?” said Fabrizze, going numb.
    â€œMy godchild is coming for you,” said Rossi. “But why do you look the other way? You’ve heard of her! What a shy one you are! She’s called Carrie. I’m told she can take fifty-pound sacks of flour under each arm.”
    â€œTake them where?” said Fabrizze, glumly.
    â€œWhere they do the most good!” said Rossi. “She’s a girl of excellent judgment!”
    â€œShe’s coming for me,” said Fabrizze.
    He went to the house of his supervisor. He sat in the chair opposite the big black stove.
    â€œI sent my Nancy away,” said Rossi. “It’s a supper just for the two of us. Guess what we have. Take a little guess. What do you smell?”
    â€œVinegar,” said Fabrizze.
    â€œForget that,” said Rossi. “She roasted vinegar peppers with rice and honey. There’s something else. Guess, guess.”
    â€œVeal breast?”
    â€œNever mind,” said Rossi. “Wait, wait.”
    The kitchen was hot. They drank glass after glass of wine. Fabrizze watched the stove. It began to fascinate him. The wine went straight to his head. He was watching the stove as though something would spring forth into his lap.
    â€œI have plans for you,” said Rossi. “I’m going to make you my assistant and break you in on my job. You’ll be the supervisor when I move into the office. Nothing will stop you, my boy. You have imagination. The fools have been showing you their daughters. You know what’s happened? All their wives are crazy for you. They come down with colds and coughs and fevers. It’s an epidemic! One of them was hearing your name in her sleep. She was saying it!”
    â€œPlease, Rossi, please.”
    â€œI hear that one of them wanted to give you a bath! Admit it! What a triumph! I’m glad I sent my Nancy away!