Adam, One Afternoon

    ItaloCalvino

    TheNEWgardenersboyhadlonghairwhichhekeptinplacebyapieceofstufftiedroundhisheadwithalittlebow.Hewaswalkingalongthepathwithhiswatering-canfilledtothebrimandhisotherarmstretchedouttobalancetheload.Slowly,carefully,hewateredthenasturtiumsasifpouringoutcoffeeandmilk,untiltheearthatthefootofeachplantdissolvedintoasoftblackpatch;whenitwaslargeandmoistenoughheliftedthewatering-canandpassedontothenextplant.Maria-nunziatawaswatchinghimfromthekitchenwindow,andthinkingwhatanicecalmjobgardeningmustbe.Hewasagrownyouth,shenoticed,thoughhestillworeshortsandthatlonghairmadehimlooklikeagirl.Shestoppedwashingthedishesandtappedonthewindow.

    "Hey,boy,"shecalled.

    Thegardenersboyraisedhishead,sawMaria-nunziataandsmiled.Shelaughedbackathim,partlybecauseshehadneverseenaboywithsuchlonghairandabowlikethatonhishead.Thegardenersboybeckonedtoherwithonehand,andMaria-nunziatawentonlaughingatthefunnygesturehedmade,andbegangesturingbacktoexplainthatshehadthedishestowash.

    Buttheboybeckonedagain,andpointedatthepotsofdahliaswithhisotherhand.Whywashepointingatthosedahlias?Maria-nunziataopenedthewindowandputherheadout.

    "Whatsup?"sheasked,andbeganlaughingagain.

    "Dyouwanttoseesomethingnice?"

    "Whatsthat?"

    "Somethingnice.Comeandsee.Quickly."

    "Tellmewhat."

    "Illgiveyouit.Illgiveyousomethingverynice."

    "ButIvethedishestowash,andtheSignorallcomealongandnotfindme."

    "Doyouwantitordontyou?Comeon,now."

    "Waitasecond,"saidMaria-nunziata,andshutthewindow.

    Whenshecameoutthroughthekitchendoorthegardenersboywasstillthere,wateringthenasturtiums.

    "Hallo,"saidMaria-nunziata.

    Maria-nunziataseemedtallerthanshewasbecauseofherhigh-heeledshoes,whichwereapitytoworkin,butshelovedwearingthem.Herlittlefacelookedlikeachildsamiditsmassofblackcurls,andherlegswerethinandchildliketoo,thoughherbody,underthefoldsofherapron,wasalreadyroundandripe.Shewasalwayslaughing:eitheratwhatothersorsheherselfsaid.

    "Hallo,"saidthegardenersboy.Theskinonhisface,neckandchestwasdarkbrown;perhapsbecausehewasalwayshalfnaked,asnow,

    "Whatsyourname?"askedMaria-nunziata.

    "Libereso,"saidthegardenersboy.

    Mafia-nunziatalaughedandrepeated:"LiberesoLiberesowhatafunnyname,Libereso."

    "ItsanameinEsperanto,"hesaid."InEsperantoitmeansliberty."

    "Esperanto,"saidMaria-nunziata."AreyouEsperanto?"

    "Esperantosalanguage,"explainedLibereso."MyfatherspeaksEsperanto."

    "ImCalabrian,"exclaimedMaria-nunziata.

    "Whatsyourname?"

    "Maria-nunziata,"shesaidandlaughed.

    "Whyareyoualwayslaughing?"

    "WhyareyoucalledEsperanto?"

    "NotEsperanto,Libereso."

    "Why?"

    "WhyareyoucalledMaria-nunziata?"

    "ItistheMadonnasname.ImcalledaftertheMadonnaandmybrotherafterSaintJoseph."

    "Senjosef?"

    Maria-nunziataburstoutlaughing:"Senjosef!SaintJoseph,notSenjosef,Libereso!"

    "Mybrother,"saidLibereso,"iscalledGerminalandmysisterOmnia."

    "Thatnicethingyoumentioned,"saidMaria-nunziata,"showmeit."

    "Comeon,then,"saidLibereso.Heputdownthewatering-canandtookherbythehand.

    Maria-uunziatahesitated."Tellmewhatitisfirst."

    "Youllsee,"hesaid,"butyoumustpromisemetotakecareofit."

    "Willyougiveittome?"

    "Yes,Illgiveittoyou."Hehadledhertoacornerofthegardenwall.Therethedahliasstandinginpotswereastallasthemselves.

    "Itsthere."

    "Whatis?"

    "Wait."

    Maria-nunziatapeepedoverhisshoulder.Liberesobentdowntomoveapot,liftedanotherbythewall,andpointedtotheground.

    "There,"hesaid.

    "Whatisit?"askedMaria-nunziata.Shecouldnotseeany-thing;thecornerwasinshadow,fullofwetleavesandgardenmould.

    "Look,itsmoving,"saidtheboy.Thenshesawsomethingwhichlookedlikeamovingstoneorleaf,somethingwet,witheyesandfeet;atoad.

    "Mammamial"

    Maria-nunziatawentskippingoffamongthedahliasinherhighheeledshoes.Liberesosquatteddownbythetoadandlaughed,showingthewhiteteethinthemiddleofhisbrownface.

    "Areyoufrightened?Itsonlyatoad!Whyareyoufrightened?

    "Atoad!"gaspedMaria-nunziata.

    "Ofcourseitsatoad.Comehere,"saidLibereso.

    Shepointedatitwithatremblingfinger."Killit."

    Heputouthishands,asiftoprotectit."Idontwantto.ItsSOnice."

    "Anicetoad?"

    "Alltoadsarenice.Theyeattheworms."

    "Oh!"saidMaria-nunziata,butshedidnotcomeanynearer.

    Shewaschewingtheedgeofherapronandtryingtowatchfromthecornerofhereyes.

    "Lookhowprettyitis,"saidLiberesoandputahandonit.

    Maria-nunziataapproached,nolongerlaughing,andlookedonopenmouthed."No!No!Donttouchit!"

    WithonefingerLiheresowasstrokingthetoadsgrey-greenback,whichwascoveredwithshinywarts.

    "Areyoumad?Dontyouknowtheyburnwhenyoutouchthem,andmakeyourhandswellup?"

    Theboyshowedherhisbigbrownhands,thepalmscoveredwithalayerofyellowcallouses.

    "Oh,itwonthurtme,"hesaid."Anditssopretty."

    Nowhedtakenthetoadbyfilescruffofthenecklikeacatandputitinthepalmofhisband.Maria-mmziata,stillchewingtheedgeofherapron,camenearerandcroucheddownbesidehim.

    "Mammamia!"sheexclaimed.

    Theywerebothcrouchingdownbehindthedahlias,andMaria-nunziatasrosykneesweregrazingthebrown,scratchedonesofLibereso.Liberesocuppedhisotherhandoverthebackofthetoad,andcaughtiteverynowandagainasittriedtoslipOut.

    "Youstrokeit,Maria-nunziata,"hesaid.

    Thegirlhidherhandsinherapron.

    "No,"shesaidfirmly.

    "What?"hesaid."Youdontwantit?"

    Maria-nunziataloweredhereyes,glancedatthetoad,andloweredthemagainquickly.

    "No,"shesaid.

    "Butitsyours.Imgivingittoyou,"saidLibereso.

    Maria-nunziataseyescloudedover.Itwassadtorefuseapresent,nooneevergaveherpresents,butthetoadreallydidrevolther.

    "Youcantakeithomeifyoulike.Itllkeepyoucompany."

    "No,"shesaid.

    Liberesoputthetoadbackonthegroundanditquicklyhoppedoffandsquattedundertheleaves.

    "Good-bye,Libereso."

    "Waitaminute."

    "ButImustgoandfinishwashingthedishes.TileSignoradoesntlikemecomingoutinthegarden."

    "Wait.Iwanttogiveyousomething.Somethingreallynice.Comealong."

    Shebeganfollowinghimalongthegravelpaths,WhatastrangeboythisLiberesowas,withthatlonghair,andpickinguptoadsinhishands.

    "Howoldareyou,Libereso?"

    "Fifteen.Andyou?"

    "Fourteen."

    "NOW,oronyournextbirthday?"

    "Onmynextbirthday.AssumptionDay."

    "Hasthatpassedyet?"

    "What,dontyouknowwhenAssumptionDayis?"Shebeganlaughing.

    "No."

    "AssumptionDay,whentherestheprocession.Dontyougototheprocession?"

    "Me?No."

    "Backhometherearelovelyprocessions.Itsnotlikehere,backhome.Therearebigfieldsfullofbergamots,nothingbutbergamots,andeveryonepicksbergamotsfrommorningtillnight.Ivefourteenbrothersandsistersandtheyallpickbergamots;fivediedwhentheywerebabies,andthenmymothergottetanus,andwewereinatrainforaweektogotoUncle

    Carmelos,andeightofusallsleptinagaragethere.Tellme,whyveyougotsuchlonghair?"

    Theyhadstopped.

    "Becauseitgrowslikethat.Youvegotlonghairtoo."

    "Imagirl.Ifyouwearlonghair,yourelikeagirl."

    "Imnotlikeagirl.Youdonttellaboyfromagirlbythehair."

    "Notbythehair?"

    "No,notbythehair."

    "Whynotbythehair?"

    "Wouldyoulikemetogiveyousomethingnice?"

    "Oh,yes."

    Liberesobeganmovingamongthearumlilies,buddingwhitetrumpetssilhouettedagainstthesky.Liberesolookedintoeach,gropedaroundwithtwofingers,andthenhidsomethinginhisfist.Maria-nunziatahadnotgoneintotheflower-bed,andwaswatchinghim,withsilentlaughter.Whatwasheuptonow?

    Liberesohadnowlookedintoallthelilies.Hecameuptoherholdingonehandovertheother.

    "Openyourhands,"hesaid.Maria-nunziatacuppedherhands,butwasafraidtoputthemunderhis.

    "Whathaveyougotinthere?"

    "Somethingverynice.Youllsee."

    "Showme,first."

    Liberesoopenedhishandsandletherlookinside.Hispalmwasfullofmulti-colouredrose-chafers,redandblackandevenpurpleones,butthegreenweretheprettiest.Theywerebuzzingandslitheringovereachotherandwavinglittleblacklegsintheair.Maria-nunziatahidherhandsunderherapron.

    "Here,"saidLibereso."Dontyoulikethem?"

    "Yes,"saidMaria-nunziatauncertainly,stillkeepingherhandsunderherapron.

    "Whenyouholdthemtighttheytickle;wouldyouliketofeel?"

    Maria-nunziataheldoutherhandstimidly,andLiberesopouredacascadeofrose-chafersofeverycolourintothem.

    "Dontbefrightened,theywontbiteyou."

    "Mammamia!"Ithadntoccurredtoherthattheymightbiteher.Sheopenedherhandsandtherose-chafersspreadtheirwingsandthebeautifulcoloursvanishedandtherewasnothing

    tobeseenbutaswarmofblackinsectsflyingaboutandsettling.

    "Whatapity.Itrytogiveyouapresentandyoudontwantit."

    "Imustgoanddothewashingup.TheSignorawillbecrossifshecantfindme."

    "Dontyouwantapresent?"

    "Whatareyougoingtogivemenow?"

    "Comeandsee."

    Hetookherhandagainandledherthroughtheflower-beds.

    "Imustgetbacktothekitchensoon,Libereso.Theresachickentopluck,too."

    "Poof!"

    "Whypoof?"

    "Wedonteatthefleshofdeadbirdsoranimals."

    "Why,areyoualwaysinLent?"

    "Whatdoyoumean?"

    "Well,whatdoyoueatthen?"

    "Oh,allsortsofthings,artichokes,lettuces,tomatoes.Myfatherdoesntlikeustoeatthefleshofdeadanimals.Orcoffeeorsugar,either."

    "Whatdyoudowithyoursugarration,then?"

    "Sellitontheblackmarket."

    Theyhadreachedsomeclimbingplants,starredalloverwithredflowers.

    "Whatlovelyflowers,"saidMaria-nunziata."Dyoueverpickthem?"

    "Whatfor?"

    "TotaketotheMadonna.FlowersarefortheMadonna."

    "Mesembryanthemum."

    "Whatsthat?"

    "ThisplantscalledMesembryanthemuminLatin.AllflowershaveLatinnames."

    "TheMassisinLatin,too."

    "Idontknowaboutthat."

    Liberesowasnowpeeringcloselybetweenthewindingbranchesonthewall.

    "Thereitis,"hesaid.

    "Whatis?"

    Itwasalizardgreenwithblackmarkings,baskinginthesun.

    "Illcatchit."

    "No."

    Buthegotclosertothelizard,veryslowly,withbothhandsopen;ajump,andhedcaughtit.Helaughedhappily,showinghiswhiteteeth."Lookout,itsescaping!"Firstastunned-lookinghead,thenatail,slitheredoutbetweenhisclosedfingers.

    Maria-nunziatawaslaughingtoo,buteverytimeshesawthelizardsheskippedbackandpulledherskirttightaboutherknees.

    "Soyoureallydontwantmetogiveyouanythingatall?"saidLibereso,rathersadly,andverycarefullyheputthelizardbackonthewall;offitshot.Maria-nunziatakepthereyeslowered.

    "Comealong,"saidLibereso,andtookherhandagain.

    "IdliketohavealipstickandpaintmylipsredonSundaystogooutdancing.AndablackveiltoputonmyheadafterwardsforBenediction."

    "OnSundays,"saidLibereso,"Igotothewoodswithmybrotherandwefilltwosackswithpinecones.Then,intheevening,myfatherreadsoutloudfromKropotkin.Mytitherhashair

    downtohisshouldersandabeardrightdowntohischest.Andhewearsshortsinsummerandwinter.AndIdodrawingsfortheAnarchistFederationwindows.Thefiguresintophatsarebusinessmen,thoseincapsaregenerals,andthoseinroundhatsarepriests;thenIpainttheminwatercolours."

    Theycametoapondwithroundwater-lilyleavesfloatingonit.

    "Quiet,now,"commandedLibereso.

    Underthewaterafrogcouldbeseenswimmingupwithsharplittlestrokesofitsgreenarmsandlegs.Itsuddenlysurfaced,jumpedontoawater-lilyleafandsatdowninthemiddle.

    "There,"criedLiberesoandputoutahandtocatchit,butMaria-nunziataletoutacry,"Ut!"andthefrogjumpedbackintothewater.Liberesobegansearchingforit,hisnosealmosttouchingthesurface.

    "Thereitis."

    Hethrustinahandandpulleditoutinhisclosedfist.

    "Twoofthemtogether,"hecried."Look.Twoofthem,ontopofeachother."

    "Why?"askedMaria-nunziata.

    "Maleandfemalestucktogether,"saidLibereso."Lookwhattheyaredoing."AndhetriedtoputthefrogsintoMaria-nunziatashand.Maria-nunziatawasntsureifshewasfrightenedbecausetheywerefrogs,orbecausetheyweremaleandfemalestucktogether.

    "Leavethemalone,"shesaid."Youmustnttouchthem."

    "Maleandfemale,"repeatedLibereso."Theyremakingtadpoles."Acloudpassedoverthesun.SuddenlyMaria-nunziatabegantofeelanxious.

    "Itslate.TheSignorassuretobelookingforme."

    Butshedidnotgo.Insteadtheywentonwanderingaroundthoughthesundidnotcomeoutagain.Andthenhefoundasnake:itwasatinylittlesnakebehindahedgeofbamboo.Liberesowounditroundhisarmandstrokeditshead.

    "OnceIusedtotrainsnakes.Ihadadozenofthem,onewaslongandyellow,awatersnake.Butitsheditsskinandescaped.Lookatthisoneopeningitsmouth,lookhowitstongueisforked.Strokeit,itwontbite."

    ButMaria-nunziatawasfrightenedofsnakestoo.Thentheywenttotherockpool.Firstheshowedherthefountains,andopenedallthejets,whichpleasedherverymuch.Thenheshowedherthegoldfish.Itwasalonelyoldgoldfish,anditsscaleswerealreadywhitening.Atlast;Maria-nunziatalikedthegoldfish.Liberesobegantomovehishandsroundinthewatertocatchit;itwasverydifficult,butwhenhedcaughtitMaria-nunziatacouldputitinabowlandkeepitinthekitchen.Hemanagedtocatchit,butdidnttakeitoutofthewaterincaseitsuffocated.

    "Putyourhandsclownhere,strokeit,"saidLibereso."Youcanfeelitbreathing;ithasfinslikepaperandscalesthatprickle.notmuchthough."

    ButMaria-nunziatadidnotwanttostrokethefisheither.

    Inthepetuniabedtheearthwasverysoft,andLiberesodugaboutwithhisfingersandpulledoutsomelong,softworms.

    ButMaria-nunziataranawaywithlittleshrieks.

    "Putyourhandhere,"saidLibereso,pointingtothetrunkofanoldpeachtree.Maria-nunziatadidnotunderstandwhy,butsheputherhandthere;thenshescreamedandrantodipitinthepool.Forwhenshehadpulledherhandawayitwascoveredwithants.Thepeachtreewasamassofthem,tinyblack"Argentine"ants.

    "Look,"saidLiberesoandputahandonthetrunk.Theantscouldbeseencrawlingoverhishandbuthedidntbrushthemoff.

    "Why?"askedMaria-nuuziata."Whyareyoulettingyourselfgetcoveredwithants?"

    Hishandwasnowquiteblack,andtheywerecrawlinguphiswrist.

    "Takeyourhandaway,"moanedMaria-nunziata."Youllgetthemalloveryou."

    Theantswerecrawlinguphisnakedarm,andhadalreadyreachedhiselbow.

    Nowhiswholearmwascoveredwithaveilofmovingblackdots;theyreachedhisarmpitbuthedidnotbrushthemoff.

    "Getridofthem,Libereso.Putyourarminwater!"

    Liberesolaughed,someantsnowevencrawlingfromhisneckontohisface.

    "Libereso!Illdowhateveryoulike!Illacceptallthosepresentsyougaveme."

    Shethrewherarmsroundhisneckandstartedtobrushofftheants.

    Smilinghisbrownandwhitesmile,Liberesotookhishandawayfromthetreeandbegannonchalantlydustinghisarm.Buthewasobviouslytouched.

    "Verywell,then,Illgiveyouareallybigpresent,Ivedecided.ThebiggestpresentIcan."

    "Whatsthat?"

    "Ahedgehog."

    "Mammamia!TheSignora!TheSignorascallingme!"

    Maria-nunziatahadjustfinishedwashingthedisheswhensheheardapebblebeatagainstthewindow.UnderneathstoodLiberesowithalargebasket.

    "Maria-nunziata,letmein.Iwanttogiveyouasurprise."

    "No,youcantcomeup.Whathaveyougotthere?"

    ButatthatmomenttheSignorarangthebell,andMaria-nunziatavanished.

    Whenshereturnedtothekitchen,Liberesowasnolongertobeseen.Neitherinsidethekitchenorunderneaththewindow.Maria-nunziatawentuptothesink.Thenshesawthesurprise.

    Oneveryplateshehadlefttodrytherewasacrouctfingfrog;asnakewascoiledupinsideasaucepan,therewasasoupbowlfulloflizards,andslimysnailsweremakingiridescentstreaksallovertheglasses.Inthebasinfullofwaterswamthelonelyoldgoldfish.

    Maria-nunziatasteppedback,butbetweenherfeetshesawagreatbigtoad.Andbehinditwerefivelittletoadsinaline,takinglittlehopstowardsheracrosstheblackandwhitetiledfloor.