Chapter 31

New Year

Upon awakening my first thought was: "It's January 4th." My birthday. How nice to enter my new year with a little family, true friends, in this beautiful corner of this beautiful place. How nice you met and danced with that nice Cuban named Juan, on New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve, however, Papa was not happy.

I had asked Mary where Papa was, to greet him before leaving. "In his room. Go ahead, but be careful: he's not in a good mood." 

I found him lying on the bed. "I came to tell you good night and happy new year."

"Good night and good fun to everyone," he said, looking up at the ceiling. "I'm here, alone..." and even if I hadn't seen the bottle on the floor, next to the bed, I would still have known that he had been drinking. 

"But Papa, it was you who decided not to go out with us this evening..."

"Go ahead. And don't forget to take Gianfranco with you too." 

I moved a chair next to his bed. "Would you like me to go out alone on a night like this? Of course I'm going with Gianfranco, after all he's my brother."