The door opened and I heard a man's voice behind me, 'Would you like a coffee?'
I turned and did a double take as he entered.
'Are you? Aren't you the man who was in the square this morning?"
'Si,' he smiled. 'Yes, I was there, looking at you, and thinking there is something familiar about you.'
'Huh,' I breathed out. 'Do you live here?' He nodded and shook his head and sat down opposite me. He gestured, 'Go on, please; do not stop eating.'
'I've finished, thank you.'
'I'll get you a famous Napoli coffee, if you like.' I nodded thank you, still in a daze, and he left.
This is weird. I'm outside in the square. There's a guy looking at me. I look for a house. Get chased down a street. End up here. The man from the square enters the room. How weird is that!
I looked around, at the heavy curtains blocking out any noise from the street outside, and giving the room a sombre feel. But that is the south. It keeps the heat out. There were portraits in oils on the walls and I went to look at the people. This family had been well established and respected in the old days and perhaps still is. Hanging on to past glories. Perhaps famous? Then I saw a name, under one of the portraits, Di Franzese, and alarm bells went off inside me. At that moment the young man returned with a small coffee in a white china cup. He smiled as he gave it to me.
'I saw you leave and then I followed you. It was interesting to me that you were heading to this district. As it was riposa, I knew people would not be about. I know the possible dangers for visitors to Naples, especially beautiful ones, so I hurried after you. I came into the street just as I saw you swipe that boy off his Vespa and run. And - you ran into my family's house.'
I stammered, 'I didn't know what else to do. This house was there, the gate was open and I thought, it might give me a chance to get away from them.'
'It's good. Bene. You did the right thing.'
'Is your name Di Franzese?' I asked him.
'Yes, I am Alessandro Di Franzese. I'm known as Sandro, but as I'm in Italy I use my birth name. My parents want to keep the Italian thing alive. I'm not so into it.' I found it difficult to say anything after that, so I stammered on.
'You speak English well, Sandro.'
'Thank you. I grew up in Melbourne, so,’ and he smiled, 'that's how I speak good English. I am Australian, second generation. I went to a local school, they called me a wog for years, but that's all changed now. I don't live here, though. I live in Sydney. I'm just visiting my family before I return tomorrow night, and go over to the States, to hold some workshops.’
‘Oh. What do you do there?’
‘I'm a voice coach. I trained at NIDA in Sydney - the best acting school. I did some stage and screen work after I'd graduated. Then I decided I would like to teach.’
I finished my coffee. ‘That was good.’
‘So what are you doing here in Naples?’ Never thought you'd ask.
'I'm trying to find my grandfather, or find out about him as I learned from my family that he came from Naples.'
'What's his name? Do you know?'
'Salvatore, Di Franzese.'
'Well that's my family name, and I do have a grandfather with that name as well.'
I was gobsmacked. I couldn't say anything. 'So, where is he? Is he in Melbourne?'
'No. He didn't like it and came back here. That was my aunt who let you in. See here,’ and he went over to a photograph and brought it over to me. It was a black and white of a group of Italian immigrants outside a cafe. ‘That's him there, and my grandmother. They started one of the first espresso bars in Melbourne. He couldn't hack the tea and bad coffee, and the food, so they decided to create something they were used to and food they could eat. It's still going, but of course new owners and all.'
I saw it. There it was, the photograph the psychic lady mentioned. It blew me away.
I paused while I collected myself.
'Sandro, I think we might be related!'
'Well, let's find out. He's upstairs. He will be getting up soon.' And Alessandro went out of the room shaking his head.
An elderly gentleman came into the room, leaning on a cane. His daughter stood beside him.
Alessandro said, 'Nonno, this is Carly.' He bowed. He looked at me. Is this Dina? Can it be? Impossible? 'Alessandro mentioned you to me. He said you are looking for your grandfather.’
'I am.'
He sat down and took the small espresso. 'Grazie. Your mother is Italian, yes?'
'She was. She died a while ago.'
'I am sorry to hear that.' He shook his head. She is so like my Dina. 'Tell me, who is in your family that I might know?
I mentioned my great uncle, the one who had citrus groves.
'I heard he'd worked on the Snowy River Dam. Who didn't? We all found work there then. It was good work and we built strong friendships.' He nodded, 'That's Giuseppe. We called him Beppo.'
He nodded. He sighed and took a long deep breath.
'I can't believe it,' looking round at the others. 'I can't believe it. You have to be my granddaughter! You remind me so much of Dina, your grandmother. I lost touch with her. It was after the wartime. Things were bad and run down here in Italy. Many of my friends and family were packing up and heading off to Australia or United States. Australia was a good choice because of the America's Cold War with Russia. There was talk of nuclear war, and Australia was a safer bet than America.'
He shook his head.
I then mentioned my Uncle Vince and Aunt Clara. He nodded, 'He was little when they left; about 4.'
I mentioned that they had become my family after both my parents died. He looked at me and sighed, 'Caro.'
'I returned home to Naples. I missed it. It hasn't changed that much. My son is the local mayor. He studied law in Paris and then came back to run the family business.'
Alessandro just sat back and listened. I think he couldn't quite comprehend it all. He shook his head, and said nothing!
'Tell me more about yourself.'
‘I’m a flight attendant with Air New Zealand. I travel the world. And love it. I leave for London tonight as I'm flying out tomorrow. I have always known I had a grandfather somewhere, who I thought came from Naples, but had no idea that you were in Australia also.'
'It was one of those things. I met your grandmother, we fell in love and then we were torn apart with all the chaos at the time and I lost touch with her. I had no idea that she was carrying your mother. None at all.'
I turned to Alessandro, 'Why are you in Naples? Just to visit your grandfather too?' I smiled at him. To think I have a half brother!
'What am I doing in Naples? I came to see Gramps of course. Also I wanted to see a performance of the Commedia, Commedia del Arte, local style. I felt that this was the place, the south, where I could see something authentic, in the old tradition. You know, the original Punch and Judy thing you have in Australia. Also I went to see my grandmother, who is living in a small hill village just outside of here.’
'You do look Italian,' said my grandfather, 'with your dark hair and beautiful brown eyes. Una bella ragazza!' He smiled at me. Then he got up and fetched a photo of himself as a young man and showed it to me. The others crowded round to look. They could all see a family resemblance.
'So, Carly or Carlita perhaps? Welcome to the family,' he said and he stood up, the patrician, and motioned me to rise and gave me a wonderful hug. 'Vittorina! I think we need a little celebration.' She nodded and went over to the drinks cabinet and fetched some glasses and placed them on the table before my grandfather. She poured some grappa from a dark bottle for each of us.
He toasted me and we all chinked our glasses.
'What am I to call you, then?' I asked the gentleman, who looked rather severe and challenging.
He smiled, and gestured I don't know with his mouth.
'Dad, they call you nonno, nonnuzzo, or pappi,' said Vittorina, 'but maybe not right for our Carlita?'
'What do you say
in Australia?'
Alessandro answered, 'Gramps, often.'
'Gramps. Hm. Then it is.' And he smiled, 'but not grumps! Is that how you say?' We all laughed.
I looked at the clock and said, 'Oh my gosh, I need to get going as my flight is at 7.00 and I need to check out of my hotel and check in in time.'
'I'll take you to the hotel and airport,' said Alessandro.
'Thank you.’
‘You've got three hours. Should be fine.'
'You must come back and visit us,' said Gramps, taking my hands in his. 'Napoli is a wonderful place. Have you seen Herculaneum? Capri? We have a house there. You'd like it.'
'No,' I replied, 'I haven't seen it. I only had two days free and used them to try and find you.'
‘Well you did. Bene. You come back? Yes?'
'I promise. I will.' I put down my empty glass and took a breath. 'That grappa was something else!'
'It's old,' Gramps said, with a twinkle in his eye.
We got up and they escorted me to the door. A manservant brought a car round from the back. I embraced Gramps and Vittorina and thanked her for the food. 'Pfouf!' she said and gave me a squeeze. Alessandro fussed around me and opened the car door and we were off. I waved to the two figures on the steps.
'Well,' he said, as we parted at the airport. 'It's been wonderful meeting you. If that’s the word! And to know that I have a sister! I don't like the step word.'
'Me neither,' I replied. 'Brother. That feels good.'
'This is all so unbelievable. Like a fairy tale. You, there in the cafe this morning, a stranger, and now, you're my sister!'
'It is. I'm still pinching myself to see if I'm here and you're here.'
'Carly, do call me Sandro. Alessandro is rather formal don't you think?'
'I like it. I'm sure it's all right for here. But I will call you Sandro. What do your friends call you?'
'Sand or Sandy, usually. Anyway they're calling your flight. Here's my mobile number.' I put it into my phone. 'Maybe see you in Sydney?'
‘Of course. Let’s do that. All the best with your workshop!' I kissed him goodbye and went towards the gates.
I felt him watching me. It was different this time.
I flew to London that night, checked into my hotel in Earls Court, met up with the crew at a local pub and we all discussed what we'd been doing.
'How was your time in Naples?’ asked Marc, the Captain. 'Any probs with the locals?'
'No. None at all, apart, well yes there was an incident. I was almost mugged in a street but I managed to get away.'
He raised an eyebrow, 'Like I told you to be careful.'
'Well I was; all the time. Yes, I made the mistake of going out there during their siesta time. But it was like it was meant to be. And you have to believe this guys. I ran into a house to escape my pursuers, and there I met my grandfather, and brother and my other family who I had been tracking for ages!'
'Hey! This calls for another drink.' And they crowded round to listen.
The next morning we headed over to Heathrow and prepared ourselves for the coming flight to LA.
They were calling the flight and passengers were milling around the gates.
I stood by checking boarding passes as they came up. 'Well, fancy meeting you,' I exclaimed with surprise and joy as Sandro came up to the gate.
He stopped. 'I don't believe it,' he said, 'but I have to.' And he smiled at my colleague and me as we welcomed him through with a see you later.
'That's my brother,' I whispered to her. 'The one I told you about.'
She raised her eyebrows. 'Would you believe that! Carly, introduce me. He's fit!'
I smiled. 'Yeah, maybe. Don't forget I've just met him!'
Follow Carly’s next adventure here Carly 2
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