The Fishmonger's DaughterA Flash Fiction Piece by F. Poj ...

The Fishmonger's DaughterA Flash Fiction Piece by F. Poj

Theriver turned golden as the sun rose behind Alessio's back. He steered the boatas he approached Ponte Vecchio at the heart of Florence. The bridge was rebuiltabout a century earlier, after the flood of 1333. The road over the bridge was linedwith houses and stores. He tied the boat to the abutment and called Filippafrom under the bridge.Filippa,the daughter of Benvenuto Bronzino, the fish merchant, opened her window toreceive Alessio's catch.
"Goodmorning, King of the Arno!" said Filippa."Goodmorning to you, Queen of Ponte Vecchio.""Whatbrings you this morning to the crossing of our kingdoms?""Icome to offer you the riches of my realm.""Andwhat could that be, sweet Alessio?""Browntrout, in quantity and quality.""Isee, but are they fresh?""Morethan fresh, fair Filippa, alive I towed them in the net behind myvessel...still in water.""BravoAlessio! Wait for my bucket."Fiveminutes later she was lowering the bucket from the pulley of the first floorwindow.Asthe first bucket came up she noticed the fish frantically shaking their tails."Trulyalive, I see!"
Whenthe last load was ready, Alessio stood on the bucket and hoisted himself up tothe window."Whatare you doing, my king?" asked Filippa as she placed a trout on the weightscale."Icome for a kiss, no less.""Butyou must go, Guidobaldo Malatesta is coming soon with his father to discuss awedding date with my father. They will kill you if they find you up here.""Whatis this Filippa, a wedding?""Ohmy sweet Alessio, will you take me away? Steal me from this bridge, from thisnightmare, from those butchers.""Ihave enough savings. Will you come with me to Sorrento?""Sorrento,by the sea. Yes! But when?""Afteryour father goes to bed tonight, come and meet me. I'll be under the bridgewith the boys by the right abutment.""Iwill, I promise."Shesaid these last words as she pressed her lips firmly on his. When Alessioopened his eyes, he saw Guidobaldo coming through the front door."Whatis this?!" screamed the butcher's son as he saw them kissing. "Youstinking fish boy!"Hegrabbed a knife from the gutting board and pushed Filippa against the wall.Alessio saw that Guidobaldo was ready to give him death so he took a largetrout from the bucket and slapped the man's face, then immediately let himselffall into the river below. The butcher boy saw Alessio get on his boat and runacross the store and out to the street only to bump into Signora de Rossi, thewidow of the hen merchant next door.Thebasket of eggs was crushed between their chests."Outof my way!" he yelled.Hestormed into his father's shop and jumped right out of the window to fall intothe river missing Alessio's boat by 2 hairs of a fruit fly."IfI see you touching Filippa again, I'll kill you fish boy!""Youcan kiss my trout, Malatesta!" screamed Alessio with a fish between hislegs.
Thatevening, Filippa wrote a short letter to her sleeping father, and walked out.Guidobaldowas spying on her from his window across the street. He made his way downstairsand out into the street. He saw Filippa turn the corner at the end of thebridge and ran for her exactly when Signora de Rossi opened her front door onhis face."Aaah!It's you again! You broke my nose you old bag of fat!""OhI am so sorry my boy.""Move,old bag, I have a score to settle."
Alessioand Filippa were sitting hand in hand under the bridge, by the right bank ofthe river. Piero Baldovinetti, Alessio's best friend, was singing old songs,while Father Barbarigo was grilling a trout.AsFilippa finished her wine amidst giggles she saw a familiar figure approachclumsily down the embankment."Martinella,is that you?""Ohmy dear, I found you!" answered Signora de Rossi."Howdid you know we were here?""Nothinghappens on or under Ponte Vecchio that I don't know of, my dear.""Well,I'm glad you came. We were just...""Mydear Filippa, there is no time. That butcher's son is looking for you andAlessio, and he carries a knife. You two should run far and fast.""FatherBarbarigo, we must hurry, would you do us the honor?" begged Filippa."Nothingwould pleaaaase me more, child. Off we go. Piero, Signora... we need you aswetnessessss' said a rather inebriated priest.Asthe group walked into the cathedral, Guidobaldo spotted them from across thepiazza."Ihad a drunk too many...a drink too many I mean" said father Barbarigo,"On with the baptism...no...the wedding...rrrrright...holy mrathremony."They all burst in laughter.
"AlesssssioMarrrfggghrmonti, do youuuu take Filrrhhippa Brronzinahh as yourrr..." FatherBarbarigo attempted the speech while suddenly; loud knocking was heard from themain door of the cathedral."Openthis damn door right away, you miserable scoundrels!" yelled Guidobaldo."Quickfather", said Alessio, "I do! I do!""Oh...allwwrrright. And you, fair Filfffhippa Brrronzinaaahhh, take AlesssioMarrrggh...""Ido! Father, for the love of Jesus, I do!"Thethumping on the door was louder and louder."Iprreneunce yeh...hussband and wwwrife. Yeh may kissss thee bridghhh."Filippaand Alessio kissed each other's smiles.BANG!Guidobaldo broke through the door and BANG again, a bronze crucifix fell on hishead. Guidobaldo hit the floor unconscious as Signora de Rossi stood by him.
Filippaand Alessio were riding South on Pietro's horse when the sun broke the day onthe horizon."HaveI told you about the size of the octopuses we used to catch in Sorrento?""No,my love, you haven't" answered Filippa."Tenpounds and more, I swear.""Tellme more, my king, tell me more."