"Mario prepare me a cup of coffee." How many times have I heard this phrase, millions. From tomorrow's enough! Finally I can sleep late, will no longer listen to this damn alarm clock at four o'clock in the morning. I can travel, see places where I've never been. Going to the cinema or restaurant. Yes, I have done well to accept the offer: no one will ever do a better proposal for my bar and then now I'm tired , it's time to enjoy life. Yet'll miss them all.
Di Giovanni, for example. Quest'ubriacone is already here waiting to open.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Buona giornata, Mario>> greets me when I see drawled. It's not even stand, but would help to raise the gate and I have not yet figured out why he's doing: he wants to be good or want to be served as soon as possible?
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Not yet gone to dormire?>> I ask.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Mai went to bed before sette>> answer me \u0026lt;\u0026lt;The finer things in life happen to me notte, not want to lose meglio>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;The solito?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Strong coffee. Sleep>>.
have known John for many years, was a good accountant, had a very good job in the bank. People would call him a decent man, then his wife left him - I was never told why, John never speaks of himself, all these things I have known by a Caritas volunteer who attended my bar - has started drinking, he lost his job. He now lives in the street, eat and dress in what he offers the soup kitchen. Never became a violent. Every now and then offers to get me some work. E 'in the leg, the money but spend it all on drink. For me it only takes a coffee, he knows he does not ever give alcohol. I hope that someday decides to quit drinking and remake a life, they deserve it.
I will miss the doctors and nurses who dismantle the night shift. They have faces drawn with fatigue, and unmade, often they are sad because they have seen a life extinguished, because of an accident , mostly. I understand that on the fly when it happens. They go without talking, sit down and ask me if I came pasta still warm, then order a cappuccino and begin to sip , but look only at the cup and shake their heads. Inwardly , wonder if they gave the maximum, if there was something else to groped. They know the answer but they continue to ask themselves that question.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;C'è been a lot of work this notte?>> I kindly ask you to Valerio . Valerio is the most senior surgeon. He knows that is not my curiosity, I ask because I understand that he needs to tell, to talk to someone, to hear that did the job well and should not be disappointed. He need to be told "thank you for what you do."
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;A car against a pillar. The driver spun and hit a light pole in the middle. He was twenty and she was drunk. He was unhurt, the girl who died was sitting at his side. We tried to revive her but there was nothing to do>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;bad thing. It 's always sad to see a young man dying>>. Fortunately does not always go well. There are days when you are happy, then they talk and joke with each other, are satisfied with their job because they managed to save someone. In those moments I like to watch their faces , puts me buon'umore.
I will miss the pair of police officers, Andrew and Teresa, who make the rounds in this neighborhood. They love , everybody knows except their spouses. It 's always the case. It is secluded in some alley and then eat again. Do not judge them for that. They are good in their work. They put back on track so many poor fellows: Instead of arresting them for some theft, ask them to return the stolen goods. "Do not do it anymore. We keep an eye on the next and go in for both theft crimes "they said. They keep the promise. Always.
come here at seven o'clock Loredana Lory, as they call all the clients, my cashier. How many men did lose my head! gentle, affectionate, a little 'flirtatious but faithful to her husband. Some have done crazy things for her. I saw give her diamond rings the size of a hazelnut , but she always refused politely. We know do with people. Many customers I owe to her.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Buongiorno Mario, what a beautiful day prospetta, vero?>> greets me Lory with its bright and cheerful voice, his delicate fragrance of rose, sandalwood and citrus.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Hello Lory. The wind blew all the clouds , it will be sunny and temperatures will be mild: finally a beautiful spring. Customers are waiting for you, for you are in the queue>>. I will miss not seeing her and not listen to it while telling his stories . I will miss his cheerfulness.
At this time the work is hectic: coffee long, narrow stained. Everybody their wishes: they do not want a simple espresso, ask for a coffee especially made for them. They want to be treated as individuals and not mere customers. They are happy when they realize that I know their names, their work, their interests. They smile when I find their usual custom ready .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Buongiorno Avvocato, the solito?>>
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Accountant , gym show its effects, he returned to form. Nice strong black coffee?>>
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Lady Rose, now her face is glowing, cappuccino with whipped cream as usual?>>.
are no unnecessary sentences, simple pretexts to satisfy customers. Expressions are essential to make them feel alive. A nice phrase, although we have heard repeated thousands of times, makes us happy. I do not know if they all come to take a coffee or just to feel good day.
They are not all happy in the early morning. For example, Valerio, the seventy years of age. E 'widowed recently. Not previously attended my bar, it was breakfast at home with his wife. Now he is alone and needs someone to talk to. It takes a coffee, then sits at a table in the back of the room and browse the newspaper. Few have the time to sit quietly and read the newspaper. They all hurry , have to run to work.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Aumenti, aumenti, just as we go on with our poor pensioni>> Valerio says. He expects an answer, my answer since I'm the only one who takes it into account.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;At the end we say enough. The business decreased visibly also save a lot on coffee>> humor him. Valerie is happy to find someone who thinks like him. Sorry I could not speak with Valerio increases and the crisis coming .
I did the right thing to sell the bar. I have several savings and with money from the sale will not have economic problems. Sure , I'll miss moments like this: a group of fans commenting on the match of the night before.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Offside! He was offside, he would have seen a child>>, Alberto yells, the Inter fan . Speak loudly and insulting the referee, we all are to hear, especially Henry, who is in silence because the game has not seen. She was in bed with Marina, the wife of Albert. Every time he plays Inter Alberto comes to the bar to watch the game with friends, Henry waits , then with the excuse that it must get up early, or that the wife is not well, greets and goes from Marina. Now the two do not even fix the next appointment, greet saying: "In the next game."
Fans, strange people. S'insultano friends who like kids. Some people skip breakfast in order not to be scoffed at by other fans when their team loses. As for noise, sometimes I want to shout: "Just stop it , I broke his head." Yet I will miss, no comment of a journalist is an opinion given by a fan on Monday morning with a cup of coffee in hand.
certainly remember with affection Paolo and Francesca, the university students. There they sat at opposite ends of the room. Francesca, blonde with green eyes, is sitting at the window and absorbed in thought. And 'strangely alone, it is usually surrounded by kids ready to ask her out to dinner, dancing. She politely refuses forever. Someone muttered that is a lesbian. Who said it does not know her, she just waits for that one proposal that would make it really happy.
Paul looks hard but lacks the courage to approach. Need little , Francesca does not wait for this. It 's a good guy Paul. One can see that he loves her seriously. Would be happy either. Maybe now I can do something for them .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Good morning, Miss Frances, this rose is for you! You see that guy sitting over there? And 'he who sent it. It would be nice to thank him. It 's a good guy, I know him well, with my head straight. You are majoring in engineering. In my opinion you will have many things in common>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Grazie Mario>> answer me, gets up and comes close to Paul. Thank you, shows up and sits down. Paul is a bit 'surprised he does not know what to say. He knows that it was not him to send her a rose but says nothing and takes the credit. She looks at me and understands everything, with my eyes thank you. They are now happy and so am I..
In the afternoon the work slows down and I can breathe. Two lines with Loredana:
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Stanca?>> , I ask you, \u0026lt;\u0026lt;What told you so funny Massimo?>> . I answered something funny, laugh together, eat a sandwich and then resume our work .
Enter the twins Mark and Valerie five years with from their mother Rosa. All hell broke loose: they run, they steal the toys, chase each other. Rosaria yells back:
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Without children, do not touch anything! - Then goes and whispers - make me mad>. E 'tired to take them back, be careful of their every moment , to grow and educate them, but in the end is happy. I understand how the eyes sparkle. Rosaria sits down and orders a coffee, sip with his eyes fixed on those two frugoletti that run throughout the bar. I call them and offer him a candy. I thank you forever, now I know. When I see them go out and greet with their chubby little hands, my heart is enlarged, the energy return.
In the afternoon there came a couple, are not husband and wife tell by their attitude, she is well dressed and made up but keep at a distance. He is wearing a jacket and tie. Are mature but still young. We are just met and this is their first date. Thesis and are not yet at ease. I imagine that both have experienced other moments like this that never led to anything or ended with a disappointment. It 'hard to be open to the love of a certain age. The wounds of life remain in your heart.
Suddenly she smiles and that's always a positive sign, he gives her a gift, she discards it and find a book. The dough gently, reads the dedication that he wrote. She blushes, but like it. It 's time to go to their table and take orders.
After an hour they get up, he approaches the cashier and paid the bill. But this time she takes him by the hand. Maybe we can do it. It 'difficult. It happens rarely. But sometimes the case, Cupid, luck or call it what you like means that two people know something that will frame and connected life.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Buonasera>> I say, then I add while on the door:
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;L'amore is something stupenda>>. They turn and greet me, but they are both surprised to realize that the wish I made a very nice and appreciate it. Maybe tomorrow will be back together, who knows but I will not be here to watch.
The multinational that has made me the offer will transform the bar into a coffee shop, fashion and luxury, open at all hours of day and night. It will be run by kids hired on temporary contracts, with timetables absurd, without any rights. I knew nothing about how to make a coffee , will only push a button. Customers do not say "Mario prepare me a coffee along" but will say: "Give me five sugar-free." Nobody will be able to sit down, meet people and talk. They will have to order and then exit. From tomorrow the group of elders who play cards all afternoon will have to find another place to go.
are four of them, sitting on the table outside the bar on the main square of the country, playing for several hours: scopone science, I think. When passing someone, young or old, man or woman, look at him and then begin making comments. Rumors, rumors. Sometimes if you invent things from scratch. Often laugh and make jokes at the expense of some man or the fool betrayed the country. They have a good heart , though. I was amazed once when they learned that Marino had lost his job and he could not pay the last installment of the mortgage of the house. We have been busy. They made up a collection and raised enough money. All day up and down the country, from house to house, they have come a long way. They handed me the money collected. They knew that Marino would not accept money: too proud to do so. I had an excuse: I said he had won in a lottery organized in my bar. He was incredulous: "I have never participated," he said. "But you look at the log, seventy-seven number that corresponds to your name and then this is not your address and your phone number? Seventy-seven is your lucky number? You always say, "I answered. He accepted the money with difficulty, but that will not lose the house. Now he is back to work and to give thanks every day. "It 'was just luck," I say.
It 's time to close, there is nobody at the bar. Loredana closed and greeted me, we have not said anything. Down with the shutters and here John , the drunkard , ready to help.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Pronto to start living the notte?>> ask.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Pronti vivere> to> respond.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;a drink and then there are many people around, prostitutes, people sleepless. Friends, men like me. I am never alone>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;No would be better to have a house and a bed to sleep?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Not for me. Mario goodnight, see you tomorrow morning?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Sì John , reopen tomorrow at five in the point as bar, solito>>.
END
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