Part 4
Part 3
Part 2
He stayed for a long time on the deserted
beach watching the sea—the slow and rhythmic breaking of the waves.
The sky was clear and a light warm wind flowed from the sea bringing
its flavor. Two fishing boats, returning from their work, were
docking at the port. The silence was muffled by the noise coming
from the nearby hills and the train just a few steps from the beach.
He was facing the waves with his eyes half-closed, when he heard the voice of someone who came silently beside him.
“Do you want to buy a book?” he whispered.
Venanzio opened his eyes. The character was leaning toward him—looking at him and smiling.
“It’s not a new book” the man continued, pointing at it. “But it’s very interesting. If you pay attention, this book can talk to you.”
Venanzio smiled at the man but, above all, at his unusual presentation of the book.
“Who is the author?” he asked to stand up to control it.
“The author is not relevant” continued the man. “If this book is able to speak to you, it’s not important who the story comes from.”
Venanzio smiled in disbelief. How do you buy a book if you do not know the author or even the title.
The man noticed his uncertainty and tried to insist. “This book wants you. You have no reason not to buy it.”
Venanzio understood he had to grant his wish if he wanted to continue to look at the sea in peace.
“It’s not a stolen book” clarified the man. “I would not sell it to anyone but you.”
“Why ever?” Venanzio asked amused. He was expressing an exaggerated strategy in order to sell that book.
“I told you” he replied angrily. “This book wants you and no one else. I am only a vessel.” The man always seemed about to laugh at his own strategy. “Then do you buy it?” he asked decisively.
Venanzio nodded. The man asked for a few euros and took them in his pocket. He turned to leave but turned back.
“You made a good purchase. I’m sorry if I insisted but I needed this money.”
Venanzio smiled and nodded his consent, dismissing the strange salesman.
He was facing the waves with his eyes half-closed, when he heard the voice of someone who came silently beside him.
“Do you want to buy a book?” he whispered.
Venanzio opened his eyes. The character was leaning toward him—looking at him and smiling.
“It’s not a new book” the man continued, pointing at it. “But it’s very interesting. If you pay attention, this book can talk to you.”
Venanzio smiled at the man but, above all, at his unusual presentation of the book.
“Who is the author?” he asked to stand up to control it.
“The author is not relevant” continued the man. “If this book is able to speak to you, it’s not important who the story comes from.”
Venanzio smiled in disbelief. How do you buy a book if you do not know the author or even the title.
The man noticed his uncertainty and tried to insist. “This book wants you. You have no reason not to buy it.”
Venanzio understood he had to grant his wish if he wanted to continue to look at the sea in peace.
“It’s not a stolen book” clarified the man. “I would not sell it to anyone but you.”
“Why ever?” Venanzio asked amused. He was expressing an exaggerated strategy in order to sell that book.
“I told you” he replied angrily. “This book wants you and no one else. I am only a vessel.” The man always seemed about to laugh at his own strategy. “Then do you buy it?” he asked decisively.
Venanzio nodded. The man asked for a few euros and took them in his pocket. He turned to leave but turned back.
“You made a good purchase. I’m sorry if I insisted but I needed this money.”
Venanzio smiled and nodded his consent, dismissing the strange salesman.
Juanita - Incipit
Our Madness
Part 1
Available to be published
Fairy Tales
Poems
Novels
Our Madness
