Chapter 3: My Italian Family

Lia was in their family house. A magnificent house in the middle of Algrios. She had been born here and knew no other home.

Hers was a loving wealthy Italian family. Her father went to work while her mother stayed back to care for the children and handle other family matters.

Lorenzo her elder brother had later joined their father in the family business. He had graduated from a university at the age of twenty-two in America and had been summoned home to come work in their family’s company.

At first, he had complained and grumbled asking why he had to go to School to study Engineering just to be asked to come work for his father who was into exportation of goods.

“You are my only son Lorenzo. I took over this business from my father and my father took over from his own father. This business has witnessed four generations. Surely you do not expect me to let you break that chain, a family tradition. Do you?” Papa had asked.

“No Papa. But then maybe I should have just gone ahead to study Business Administration, Economics or Finance.” Lorenzo has responded.

He was becoming a man now and his father had begun according him some level of respect. In the past he dare not question his father.

His mum who they also referred to as ‘Mama’ was seated sipping tea. Whatever her husband said was what was good for the family. She and her clique of friends revered their husbands after all they lacked nothing.

He had looked at her direction for support, but she only met his gaze and looked away.

“Mama say something.” Lorenzo had begged.

“Your dad is right Lorenzo. We can’t be the one to break that chain. You’re the only son we have. The family business is also a flourishing business.” Mama replied. At that moment Lorenzo knew he had been defeated. He excused himself and walked off to his bedroom.

Mr. Fellano was a very strict man. He made all the rules in the family and his wife and children were made to abide by those rules. But in all, he was a doting father and very loving husband. He ensured that they lacked nothing.

As long as Lia could remember, they had always had bodyguards and when “Papa” which she and her brother fondly called him went to work, it was always in a convoy. Three cars trooping out in the morning and three cars trooping in every evening.

First, Papa comes out of the house with Mama at his heels. He gives her a goodbye kiss and all the ‘boys’ as Papa calls them start falling out from everywhere. They were always on suits. Black suits. Sometimes only Papa wore white, grey or ash grey. One of them always opened the middle car’s back seat door for Papa to get in and closed it once he was settled in. Each car had four men each by the time they drove off.

She loved watching the ritual and always went to her bedroom window to get a good undisturbed view. At first Lorenzo had joined her in the mornings when they both shared a room but he had quickly outgrown it by the time he turned ten years old. His love for comic books and martial arts always seemed to amuse her. However, by the time he turned fourteen and started hanging out with other boys, he had found a new hobby. Girls.

At the age of eighteen, Lorenzo had come back home for Christmas. She had forgotten to close her door and he had walked in on her seating by the window and watching her dad leave for work as usual.

“Lia!” Don’t tell me you still do this every day?” Lorenzo had asked wondering when she would outgrow it herself.

“You should always try to knock when entering my room. You startled me.” Lia replied ignoring his question.

“I met the door open, so I did not really think it necessary to knock. However, you’re right next time I’ll try to remember to knock still.” Lorenzo had responded placing his hands on her head and giving it a bit of a ruffle. It had always been his favorite way of greeting his baby sister.

They had both watched the ritual that morning together.

“So you still do this every morning?” Lorenzo asked once more.

“Often.” Lia responded.

“Hope there is no more to this Lia.” Lorenzo said giving his sister a funny look. “Hope you are not falling for one of Papa’s boys.”

“What! That has never even crossed my mind.” Lia said holding herself from screaming.

“I was just thinking the other day that I have not been introduced to your boyfriend yet.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend!” Lia had quickly shot at him.

“That’s rather queer for a girl your age. Don’t you think?” Lorenzo pressed on.

“Well that’s my business. Can we discuss something else?” Lia demanded hating where this conversation was leading to.

“Something like what?” Lorenzo asked seeing his sister was not in the mood but making it a point within himself to bring it up again.

“Like how was school and your studies? How is America?” Lia asked with relief.

He had gone on to tell her how the school session went and how many celebrities he was lucky to come across. He knew she loved hearing that. She was always awed that he had the opportunity to meet one celebrity or the other in person.

Just as Lorenzo was leaving the room, Lia’s question came to him unexpectedly.

“Do you believe in love, Lorenzo? She asked

“Well yes.” Lorenzo responded wondering what his sister was getting at. You just need to look at Papa and Mama to know that love actually exists.

Lia smiled. He was right. The bond between their parents couldn’t be described.

“If it does exist then I haven’t found it yet.” Lia said turning back to look outside. Papa and his convoy by now had left. The driveway was empty and peaceful.

Lorenzo searched for what to say in response but found nothing. He had always thought his sister was quite queer. At eighteen he hadn’t heard her talk about any boy in her life. So unlike his friends’ sisters.

He walked out of her bedroom hoping that it would happen soon.