Goodbye to Italia

As they head up into the hills, Iucci can smell the sweet mountain grass and the rich earth. Birds chirp gaily. When the Vespa slows down around the corners, Iucci can see the autumn leaves rustling in the wind. A glimmer of water in a field captures her attention. Pointing to the stream over Eugenio’s shoulder, Iucci sees him nod his head as he slows down and pulls over. Unstrapping the basket from the Vespa, they clamber down off the road into the field and make their way to a shady tree by the stream.

Iucci’s heart fills with a sense of wellbeing and love and she twirls around in her red skirt and lets out a laugh. Eugenio sets down the basket and captures her in his arms and they playfully dance under the sun in the grassy field. They soon fall down breathless and agree to have lunch as they are both starving.

As Iucci shakes out the white tablecloth in the sun, it billows in the wind and flies out of her grasp. With her hands on her hips, she is contemplating how far it will go when she hears a shout from Eugenio. Looking up, she sees him pointing behind her. ‘C’e un toro! There’s a bull!’