Letters From My Heart, to Yours

September 5th, 1971

Sept. 5, 1971

Caro Alberto,

Genova is amazing, you would love it here. There's so many gelato places here, and so many new flavours that I know you would love to try. And Giulia's mother is very nice, but her pasta isn't nearly as good as Massimo's. But really, she is a saint for letting me stay with her. I got my own room, and she even bought me a new book! It's about biology, she said it would be helpful for me since I'm only used to marine animals right now. It would be pretty embarrassing for me to start school and not know the name of a common land animal, wouldn't it? Like did you know that humans have herd animals too? They have cows, sheep, and goats. And the milk that the gelato is made of? That comes from cows! I'm not really sure how yet, but I'm going to find out when I read the rest of my book.

Speaking of school and learning and all that, I start school tomorrow! Giulia says we'll be walking there, so I hope it won't rain. Don't really want to show everyone my fish face on the first day of school. Seriously though, my first day of school! I'm so excited, but I'm also kinda freaking out. Bruno is extra loud today, but I think I can shut him up. Thanks to you, I can. It would be easier if you were here, though. I miss you. I wish you came to Genova with me and Giulia, we would have so much fun. We could explore the city together, it's so much bigger that Portorosso. Giulia said it's 20 times bigger, isn't that so cool? 20 times more places to see, more places for adventures. One day we'll explore Genova on our Vespa- Giulia said that if I do well in school I can get a really good job, so I can make money to help you buy the Vespa! So of course, I need to study a lot to make sure that happens. And if I'm going to be awake in tomorrow's lessons I'm going to need some sleep. So goodnight Alberto :)

— Luca

Luca folded up the letter and slid it into an envelope, sealing it with a goldfish-shaped sticker. He then wrote Massimo's - now also Alberto's - address on the envelope and added the stamp that Giulia's mother gave him. The letter was ready to send. He stuck the letter in his school bag to post it on the way to school the next morning. Yawning, he looked out the window and realized how dark it had gotten. It had still been light out when he started writing. He'd been so focused on his letter that he hadn't realized it was almost 10:30. He quickly changed into his pyjamas then got in bed, sure that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep with all his excitement about starting school. But of course, excitement is tiring, and Luca fell asleep with ease.

The next morning Giulia woke him with her usual trumpet impression... but this time it wasn't an impression. She really had a trumpet.

"Giulia? You can actually play that thing?" She laughed.

"Of course I can! At our school we have to pick one of the arts to do, and I chose music! I'm in the school band and this is my instrument."

"So... I have to take an art too?"

"Yup! Music, visual arts, or drama."

"Oh... that's a hard decision." Mostly because I suck at art, Luca thought.

"Well today's your lucky day! Since you joined the school so late, your choice was made for you by the school. You're taking drama!"

Drama. Definitely the worst one; at least with drawing and stuff you can hide your failures. And if you're playing in a band, no one will even notice that you messed up. But drama? You have to act in front of everyone and be the centre of attention. Luca did not want that.

"Oh... great. Sounds fun." He attempted a smile, but by Giulia's reaction he could tell it didn't look sincere. She put her arm around his shoulders and gave him a reassuring smile.

"It won't be so bad, don't worry about it. It's just school, not a real stage or anything." Luca nodded.

"Now c'mon, we need to eat before school. Mama always makes a crostata for breakfast on the first day of school, and it's really good. I wonder what kind she made this year." Giulia said as she gently pushed Luca towards the kitchen. Her mother was at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee. She smiled as they came in.

"Buongiorno, ragazzi."

"Ciao mama."

"Buongiorno, Senora Marcovaldo." Luca and Giulia sat down and immediately dug into their warm slices of plum crostata.

"Oh Luca, you don't need to be so formal with me. Bianca is fine."

"Oh... okay... um... thanks, Senora Bianca." She sighed and exchanged a look with Giulia. She was quickly learning what Luca was like, and so far he seemed like a pretty good kid. Shy and nervous, but good. Polite. Respectful. She put her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands.

"So kids, excited for your first day of school?" Giulia cheered, and Luca smiled. He wasn't loud like Giulia, but his joy was just as obvious.

"Speaking of, we'd better get going if we're going to be early enough to choose our seats, Luca." Luca nodded and took his and Giulia's plate to the sink before rushing off to his room to grab his school things. Notebooks? Check. Pencils? Check. Eraser? Check. Letter for Alberto? Check. Time to go. He went to the front door to find Giulia's mother there waiting to see them off, but no Giulia.

"She'll just be a minute, she forgot something. Something she needed to mail, I think." Luca nodded. He didn't mind waiting. "You know, I'm glad that you're friends with Giulia; you might calm her down a bit. But more importantly, you seem to make her pretty happy. She likes having you around very much." Luca blushed.

"Oh, um, thank you. I'm glad to be friends with her too." Bianca smiled. She didn't know how someone mellow and quiet like Luca had befriended her fiery Giulia, but it was good that he did.

Giulia finally arrived at the front door, hopping on one foot in an attempt to tug her shoe on while walking.

"Luca! Ready to go?"

"Yeah, lead the way."

Giulia pulled him out the door as they said their goodbyes, and her mother wished them luck for their first day of 9th grade. She led him down a few side streets - secret shortcuts, she called them- pointing out the mailbox for him to drop his letter into. As he did, she posted her letter too.