Your efforts to set the narration in Sicily is geatly appreciated and narration enjoyable. Thanks. Only kindly allow some informative notes for better precision :It was an unusual assignment for Luca and me. But what the Capufamigghia wants, we Capudecinas do. My name is Ambroggiu, but I’m usually called “u curto.”
A socio, an associate of the family, named Stanislao Russo, had been responsible for an amount of money due the Capu, from the sinnacu, the mayor, of our town. Stanislao has disappeared with the money. This was important. The Capu didn’t really care so much about the money. But it was an nsultari, an insult; he would be shamed in the community by the betrayal. Our Capu always punished insults to his authority - severely. To not do so would be to look debbuli, weak.
The Capu asked us to go to Russo’s house and ask his wife where he was. He said we should return with any information she could give. And we were to make her a message to all to show how the Capu rewards disloyalty.
We made our way to the house, which was on the outskirts of town, nicely isolated for any screams. But, we knew la famigghia crest on our car would immediately discourage anyone from the villaggiu from snooping.
Luca and I walked to the door. We don’t bother with a lot of equipment; we’d always found there was plenty in the household items to use for persuasion. Sometimes crude, but always effective. I just carried my shotgun and had a switchblade in my jacket pocket. Luca rarely drew his Beretta, but he had his stiletto in his hand (a gift from his father on his twelfth birthday, that weapon was still razor sharp after having killed over 40 men).
Luca is enormi, 190 cm. and broad, plenty of muscle, 102 Kg. He looks like an animal, but he is actually graceful. Absolutely loyal, I have never doubted that I could count on him for my life. Despite his size, Luca rarely used his fists or his strength. He was a master of the Scherma di stiletto siciliano (Sicilian school of stiletto fighting). He could plunge the stiletto to the hilt and then rapidly twist the blade in several directions to cause the maximum damage before withdrawing and leaving just a small entrance wound.
I’m short, 166, that’s why my nickname, which is Sicilian for “the short one”. I don’t mind; I eserciziu and have all the strength I need. I’m 69 kg. I have my trademark birritta and mustache. I can shoot the eyes out of a colombacci on the wing at thirty paces. Despite that and my size, I prefer getting in close with my fists. The crunch and mashing of flesh and bone is so satisfying that I hate to kill someone fast with a gun. Even if they get in a punch or two, I don’t mind. I’ve always been good at taking a beating!
I pounded on the door. In a moment, Calògira Russo, Cal for short, answered the door.
She was younger than I’d expected, maybe 32. She was bedda (beautiful), marruni hair, medium height – maybe 170 cm, trim corpu. This job could have benefici collaterali, side benefits.
hope the non-Sicilians won't notice and the Sicilians won't care.
I'm not sure what you mean. I think the answer is no.
Story continues Duminica (Sunday).
Divertimentu: A fedda of Sicilian PizzaView attachment 744201 A buttigghia of Sicilian WineView attachment 744202abbunnanzza!
Thank you for correcting my misapprehensions. I look forward to visiting and enjoying your hospitality (renowned far and wide to be much superior to Bedouin hospitality) in the near future!Signore Praetorio,
From my nephew Aldo Albero from the American state of Arkansas, I have been drawn attention to a somewhat insolent story, you have posted on this forum.
Although your story is written and told well, and although it is based on a front cover drawing from some obscure comic pulp strip for adults, I want to inform you that I am all but pleased about the content of the story. It is once more a biased and one-sided depiction of Sicily and its people.
Your story, Signore, suggests that we Sicilians are cruel, rude, violent, brainless brutes, who terrorize their fellow citizens, murder then, molest them, invade other’s homes and even harm their women.
The famigglias of Sicily, Signore Praetorio, are neither gangsters, nor crooks, as you suggest, but proud, hard working people. We grow, manufacture and trade wine, olive oil, grain, cheeses, spices and vegetables, which are all iconic products of the good life of Italian culture! We care about quality and fair commerce! We Sicilians, make the Italian dolce vita come true! Thanks to the competence of our capufammighi, which are among the best, the finest and the most honest businessmen in Italy!
Allegations of so-called ‘mafia’ (cursed be the word) are just false accusations, from our unworthy competitors, who are simply jealous about our achievements, of the quality of our products, and of the wealth our hard work has brought.
Of course, Signore, I shall not deny that, even in this great community of Sicily, there are rotten apples, moochers, looters, thieves, who want to steal the fruits of our proud capufammighia’s hard labour. Therefore, Signore Praetoria, we need to engage a few stout and brave, but honorable men, like Ambroggiu and Luca, in order to protect our works, our goods and our possessions. This is however not because we promote violence above the law. Yet, unfortunately, the corrupt and incompetent regime in faraway Roma simply is not interested in the assets of Sicily, and keeps our local police forces severely undermanned. Therefore, unfortunately, we must take law and order enforcement in our own hands! But I assure you, Signore Praetorio, that such men as you depict in your story, like Ambroggiu and Luca, are in reality men of honour, trustworthy, good, pious Catholics, family men, who will never threaten, molest, tie-up, strip, torture or violate the chastity and honour of an innocent woman like Signora Russo, as you describe in your story! God-fearing Christians as they are, they will definitely never commit the blasphemy to inflict to someone the punishment of crucifixion! They will never even point a finger towards a woman like Signora Russo, leave the point of a dagger! You story is all fake and unbelievably imaginative about that!
But, I understand, Signore Praetorio, you have written your story rather by ignorance about the real Sicily. You have been surfing on the popular misconceptions, on fake myths, about our great island and the proud people that live on it. I will assume that, rather than acting on purpose to harm or insult us, you simply are badly informed. So, I shall forgive you all the nonsense you spread about the community of Sicily, and reconciliate.
Yours Truly,
Don Loxuru,
Capufammighia,
Corleone, Sicily
PS please find, as a traditional Sicilian sign of reconciliation, the head of your favourite racing horse in the enclosed package.
And you are always welcome to visit the real Sicily. Just give me a sign and I shall dispatch Ambroggiu and Luca to pick you up at the airport.
Signore Praetorio,
From my nephew Aldo Albero from the American state of Arkansas, I have been drawn attention to a somewhat insolent story, you have posted on this forum.
Although your story is written and told well, and although it is based on a front cover drawing from some obscure comic pulp strip for adults, I want to inform you that I am all but pleased about the content of the story. It is once more a biased and one-sided depiction of Sicily and its people.
Your story, Signore, suggests that we Sicilians are cruel, rude, violent, brainless brutes, who terrorize their fellow citizens, murder then, molest them, invade other’s homes and even harm their women.
I am reading your passionate defense of Sicily and its people with a certain emotion being directly concerned.Thank you wholeheartedly. Like a multitude of persons travelling to Sicily and/or living in it we are well aware on how matters stand and we give proof of this every day. Nevertheless I consider Praefectus Praetorius' accountSignore Praetorio,
From my nephew Aldo Albero from the American state of Arkansas, I have been drawn attention to a somewhat insolent story, you have posted on this forum.
Although your story is written and told well, and although it is based on a front cover drawing from some obscure comic pulp strip for adults, I want to inform you that I am all but pleased about the content of the story. It is once more a biased and one-sided depiction of Sicily and its people.
Your story, Signore, suggests that we Sicilians are cruel, rude, violent, brainless brutes, who terrorize their fellow citizens, murder then, molest them, invade other’s homes and even harm their women.
The famigglias of Sicily, Signore Praetorio, are neither gangsters, nor crooks, as you suggest, but proud, hard working people. We grow, manufacture and trade wine, olive oil, grain, cheeses, spices and vegetables, which are all iconic products of the good life of Italian culture! We care about quality and fair commerce! We Sicilians, make the Italian dolce vita come true! Thanks to the competence of our capufammighi, which are among the best, the finest and the most honest businessmen in Italy!
Allegations of so-called ‘mafia’ (cursed be the word) are just false accusations, from our unworthy competitors, who are simply jealous about our achievements, of the quality of our products, and of the wealth our hard work has brought.
Of course, Signore, I shall not deny that, even in this great community of Sicily, there are rotten apples, moochers, looters, thieves, who want to steal the fruits of our proud capufammighia’s hard labour. Therefore, Signore Praetoria, we need to engage a few stout and brave, but honorable men, like Ambroggiu and Luca, in order to protect our works, our goods and our possessions. This is however not because we promote violence above the law. Yet, unfortunately, the corrupt and incompetent regime in faraway Roma simply is not interested in the assets of Sicily, and keeps our local police forces severely undermanned. Therefore, unfortunately, we must take law and order enforcement in our own hands! But I assure you, Signore Praetorio, that such men as you depict in your story, like Ambroggiu and Luca, are in reality men of honour, trustworthy, good, pious Catholics, family men, who will never threaten, molest, tie-up, strip, torture or violate the chastity and honour of an innocent woman like Signora Russo, as you describe in your story! God-fearing Christians as they are, they will definitely never commit the blasphemy to inflict to someone the punishment of crucifixion! They will never even point a finger towards a woman like Signora Russo, leave the point of a dagger! You story is all fake and unbelievably imaginative about that!
But, I understand, Signore Praetorio, you have written your story rather by ignorance about the real Sicily. You have been surfing on the popular misconceptions, on fake myths, about our great island and the proud people that live on it. I will assume that, rather than acting on purpose to harm or insult us, you simply are badly informed. So, I shall forgive you all the nonsense you spread about the community of Sicily, and reconciliate.
Yours Truly,
Don Loxuru,
Capufammighia,
Corleone, Sicily
PS please find, as a traditional Sicilian sign of reconciliation, the head of your favourite racing horse in the enclosed package.
And you are always welcome to visit the real Sicily. Just give me a sign and I shall dispatch Ambroggiu and Luca to pick you up at the airport.