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approach and accompany a wave that slips into the narrow passage.

The Tin Kid approached the Pilar. Mary and El Monstruo helped me up. I found my clothes ready to change. Mom and Dad arrived. We hugged. Poor mother, my frail mother who waited for hours on the rain and wind battered coast, lantern in hand. Papa filled a glass of rum.

"All right," he said. 

My hand trembled as I took the glass. As soon as it was empty, Papa filled it up again and again I swallowed the rum in one gulp and finally I felt some warmth inside me. I leaned my head against a pillow: "It was beautiful" I sighed with satisfaction. 

"Not for us," my mother said.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Actually it was terrible for us too. But it was worth it... what a fantastic show!" 

"A fantastic Norte" giggled Roberto. 

"A really strong Norte," said Mary. 

"I would have feared not to see you again, if I hadn't known you were with Gregorio," said Papa. "But luckily you were with Gregorio."

Ah, I thought. Back then I wasn't entirely wrong in being afraid. I mean, strangely, I wasn't afraid. He had only thought it was the end, a beautiful end in a certain way, celebrated by the launch of fireworks, before silence. A shiver ran through my back. I held out the glass to Papa so that he could fill it for me.

"Don't overdo it." Mom said.

"Internal heating," I thought and saw a massive man handing me a flask covered in red leather. I would never have imagined, then, that from that Buick that ran through the streets of the Veneto I would have passed to the Pilar on the Caribbean Sea. "I'm happy." I said and Papa smiled at me, happy that I was.