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closed my mouth with his hand and dragged me into the guest toilet, had remained with me listening for a very long time while I was almost suffocating, when he then abruptly pushed me out hissing: 'Get lost!' all without even explaining to me that he was playing hide and seek with my brothers.

Over the years Guido had transformed into a young man who enchanted all women. I met him often and every time I was pleased to see him again, but since the only words he uttered were invariably: "How is Gianfranco?" or "Where is Gianfranco?" over time I had begun to find his conversation rather monotonous.

And so one day, while we were crossing each other on the San Moise bridge, at the "Gianfranco is fine" ritual, I added: "Hemingway with whom I had breakfast is fine too." 

"Ah," said Guido and stopped. "Do you know Hemingway? What's he like?" I was glad to see that, for the first time, he was looking at me as a human being and not just as my brother's medical bulletin.

"Nice." 

"What did he talk to you about?" Guido asked, going back a few steps. 

"Of many things..." I said, since it was true. 

"For example? Come on, tell me!" He seemed so genuinely interested that I didn't feel like letting him down. 

"He asked me for a favor." 

"A favor... from you? What favor?"

I remained uncertain. Maybe I had talked too much. "It's still premature. I'll tell you another time. You know that Gianfranco found a job in Cuba..."

But this time Guido didn't seem interested in my brother: "What favor did Hemingway ask... of you?" Now not only was he by my side but he had even taken me by the arm. "Don't be precious, tell."