Page 61 of Vita Mia

“Then point to them.”

Eve pointed north. “That’s Andromeda, and over there is Aquarius.”

Giovanni chuckled. She was right. He taught her the constellations when she was four. His little firefly was very smart. He kissed her cheek. Together they went up the hill with Eve managing to walk better. Giovanni kicked off his shoes so he could do so barefoot like Eve.

“Let’s sit here, Papa.” Eve plopped down.

He sat next to her.

“Lay back Papa, like we used too.”

He did what she asked. Eve put her hands behind her head and stared up at the stars. “I think I seeCetusthe whale.” Eve pointed up and he stared for a minute trying to discern the shape. He smiled.

“Yes, very good,” he told her.

“Grazie,” Eve said.

Giovanni glanced over to her. “Do you remember the talk we had about Belinda. About what happened to her?”

“She’s gone to heaven. She had an accident at the hospital and she’s gone to heaven,” Eve said softly.

“Yes. She was not the only one Eve.”

“I know,” she said softly. “Cecilia is gone to heaven, isn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“And Leo?” she asked.

“He’s gone to heaven too.”

“What about Auntie Rosie? Marietta? Uncle Lo?”

“Rosie is gone to heaven, Marietta and Uncle Lo are gone on a trip. A long trip.”

“Papa?” Eve looked over at him with tears in her eyes. “Papa? Did Boo-Boo go to heaven?”

“She went to heaven. She’s with Belinda now. She’s safe.”

“Oh Papa,” Eve turned to him and cried. She cried her heart out and Giovanni had to fight back his urge to cry as well. He rubbed her back and waited for her to settle down.

“I hurt my Boo-Boo. She was my only friend. I hurt her.”

“You made a mistake. A really bad one. But so did Papa, and so did Mama. We didn’t pay attention Eve, we didn’t know how to listen to you. We do now. I promise. It won’t happen again.”

“I don’t want to belucciola. I don’t want to be a firefly. I don’t want fire, or to play with it.”

Giovanni smiled.

“Then you are mybambina. I won’t call youlucciolaagain. Promise.”

“Can we pray for them? For Cecilia and Belinda. For Boo-Boo and Leo? For Rosie and Rocco?”

“Yes.”

Giovanni helped her sit up and sat next to her. They sat on the hill under the stars. Eve made the sign of the cross before her and then closed her eyes as her hands pressed together in prayer. Giovanni did the same.

“God in heaven. Please take care of Cecilia. She was my best friend and I love her. Please take care of Belinda. She was mean to me but I was mean to her, and I love her. And I’m sorry God for being bad. I love Leo. I love Rosie and Rocco. I love uncle Vito and uncle Santo. I even miss uncle Armando. And I love Boo-Boo. Can you take care of Boo-Boo? She likes to chew on shoes. So tell Leo to let her chew on his. She pees in the bed, but she doesn’t mean too. She is a good puppy. She’s only a puppy so she doesn’t understand. I love her so much. She was my bestest friend. Even more than Cecilia. And I miss her, and I’m sorry I hurt her God. Amen.”

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