The Patron Saint of Second Chances

by Christine Simon

He lay on a moss-covered stone the size of a helicopter launchpad and stared up at the crisscrossing canopy of branches and leaves and sky.

“In a world where crime has taken over… where you can trust no one, and especially not the police… there is one man who fights back! Meet… Ratman!” He dropped his hands and resumed his normal speaking voice. “Is kind of like Batman, boss, but he dresses like a muskrat.”

A stubborn ninety-three-year-old was just an ordinary stubborn person who had been practicing being stubborn for nearly a hundred years.

Signor Speranza balked and scanned the surroundings, noting as he did the high prevalence of Maestro spawn.

“I’m coming with you for that, Nonno,” Carlotta announced firmly, twirling her spaghetti. “I want to go to all the doors.”

“We’re going to see if the Rossis want to buy some of my mother’s crocchette di patate,” she said, lifting the basket of samples and giggling. “We’re raising money for the movie.”

Gemma and Ernesto having lagged behind by several yards, talking.

And yet there had been no calls regarding vacuum cleaner repair. Wasn’t that typical of the current generation? All flash, no substance.

Dante Rinaldi, internationally renowned movie-star-turned-cardboard-cutout.

nibbling at her piece of toast with Nutella and jelly as Nonno Guido, that incorrigible opportunist, kept watch below.