Chapter 3 – Good Morning
The next day, Riccardo woke up in the darkness of his room, with the alarm on his phone ringing. He tiredly turned it off, then looked at the time: 6:30. He turned off the phone and sighed, then sat down with a thoughtful expression.
—
Riccardo was about to leave school when the vice principal approached him.
"Aliberti, I have something to tell you."
Riccardo stopped and looked at him.
"What do you need?"
"Well, have you already chosen the club to join? You can always change your mind..."
Riccardo interrupted the vice principal.
"Yes, I'm sure of it. I've been practicing this sport since I was a child... I'll start tomorrow."
The vice principal smiled at Riccardo's confident attitude.
"So you don't know anything..."
Riccardo was heading for the exit, but when he heard the vice principal's words, he stopped.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing to worry about... I see you're confident, you don't need advice. Have a good evening!"
The vice principal walked away and Riccardo looked at him, doubtful.
—
What did he mean?
Riccardo got up from the bed and opened the automatic outside shutter to let some light in. Outside, he saw a park with people walking down the street, dressed professionally for work. Then he looked up at the sky, which was clear.
At least the weather reminds me of home...
Riccardo left the room and went to the kitchen. The living room and kitchen shared the same open space, separated only by a central island with stools. The cream-colored walls created a modern contrast with the bright red sofa and black kitchen. There were also many decorations, such as paintings, vases, and lamps.
Riccardo stopped to look around.
This doesn't remind me of home at all...
"Buongiorno!"
Riccardo looked toward the balcony as a woman entered.
"Buongiorno, mamma" Riccardo said in Italian.
His mother was about 1.65 meters tall, with medium-length dark hair. It was obvious that she kept herself in shape; her lean body and determined movements showed it.
Riccardo walked over to the island.
"Have you made breakfast yet?"
"Yes, get the plates."
Riccardo walked over to a cabinet and opened it.
"Okay."
He took two plates and placed them on the island, then looked at his mother, who was finishing making pancakes.
"Claudia?"
"No, your sister has already eaten."
Riccardo closed the cabinet and took the plates he had set down.
"She woke up early..."
His mother took the pan of pancakes and walked over to the island.
"She said she wanted to come down early to see if he remembered the way to her school."
Riccardo and his mother sat down on the stools, ready to eat.
"So, how was your first day of school?"
"It couldn't have been worse..."
His mother looked at Riccardo's slightly sad face.
"They didn't take well to the fact that you came with a recommendation?"
"P' nient'" Riccardo said in Neapolitan. — Neapolitan is a dialect of Italian, used specifically in the southern Italian region of Campania. — (Not at all.)
"Your father told you last night, he doesn't even know how he did it... he tried to talk to the principal of this school, given your passion... after three days they asked you to take the written test."
Riccardo finished eating, stood up and put his plate and cutlery in the sink.
"It doesn't matter, I'll manage somehow... as usual."
Riccardo headed for a door.
"I'm going to get ready."