Page 2 of Rome for the Holidays
He knew he would find her in Elena’s room.
He walked down the hall to his little sister’s room, knocking on her door when he got there.
“Come in!” Elena yelled, making Vincenzo smile.
He walked in, “I was trying to find Amara.”
He spotted the small kitten sleeping on a pillow on Elena’s bed.
Elena was sitting at her desk, drawing a picture, kicking her small legs back and forth.
She was only four and had all of them wrapped around her finger.
Her black hair was in two long braids with pink ribbons tying off the ends.
She smiled over at him, a small dimple appearing on her cheek, “Vinny!”
He smiled back at her, “Hey Lena.”
“Amara wanted snuggles. So, I held her, and she purred!”
Vincenzo petted the kitten’s small head, “I’m glad. Should I leave her here then?”
Elena nodded, “Yes please.”
Vincenzo petted the kitten one last time and then walked out of Elena’s room before almost running into Elio.
Elio was seven, and Vincenzo knew that Elio wanted to be just like him.
“Checking on Elena?” Elio said, and Vincenzo shook his head, “Just seeing if Amara was in there.”
“Ah. Did you do your homework ma told you to do?”
Vincenzo nodded, “Do you want to play?”
Elio grinned, and the two ran out into their backyard to play soccer.
They played for a few hours before their mother called them inside to have dinner.
“Boys!!! It is time to eat!”
They both groaned, “But ma!” Elio yelled, “We just started playing a new game.”
Their mother put her hands on her hips, and their father came up behind her, kissing her softly, “Let them play. Just for a little longer.”
The boys ran off to play for a little longer, then went inside when their father called them.
They all sat down to eat, and their father asked about their day, listening to each person as they spoke, letting them say what they needed to say.
When they finished eating, the boys cleared the table, helping with the dishes since their mother asked them to, and then went off to their rooms to get ready for bed.
Their dad stopped Vincenzo, “Did you do the assignment your English teacher gave?”
He nodded, making his father smile. “I know English is not really what you want to learn, and I understand, but knowing as much as possible about everything, it is the key to be where we are in this world. If we did not know or were not prepared for every possibility, then our enemies could take us down, couldn’t they?”
Vincenzo nodded, “Yes papa.”
His father, Vincenzo Senior, put his hand on his shoulder, “You will take over for me one day. Your future is already set. It is a big reason I push you so hard. Our family needs a strong successor someday.”
