Chapter 14
14
PINOCCHIO
F or the next two days, all I do is pray and cry. My soul is tortured as I wait for Papa to heal from what they’re calling a respiratory infection. Our tiny hospital uptown isn’t advanced by any means, and it’s certainly no place to sleep. Still, I’m not leaving Papa’s side. Not far anyway, as the nurses have firmly asked me to sit outside during most hours when they’re working on Papa. These forty-eight hours have been a blur, but every time they explain it’s in his best interest, I reluctantly move to sit outside on a wooden bench.
I don’t eat. I can barely sleep. When I’m not sobbing, all I do is pray, hoping the heavens hear my wishes upon the stars. I should be taking care of myself or working, but Papa being ill renders me immobile, as if being within the vicinity can will him back to health. But I’m no medical person, and I watch as the nurses and doctors rush in and out to treat him and the other patients. I’m just a foolish carpenter’s son who used to be made of wood.
Each time my body gives out and sleep grabs hold of me, I dream of my childhood. Papa was so happy when I was gifted the chance to become human. It was me, Papa, our cat, our goldfish, and the Cricket, a little family. Then Lampwick came into our lives; he left for ten years, but today, he lives with us. And now Papa’s sick…
I jolt awake at the sound of a table being wheeled away. What appears to be a dead body is under a sheet on the moving table. I panic and scramble to the window to the infirmary. In the distance, Papa is still there, sleeping. His mustache moves up and down as he snores, and my chest sags in relief. I walk two steps back to the bench and nearly collapse. No consistent sleep plus all this stress has me on edge.
“Pinocchio?”
A soft voice has me rubbing my eyes to see better. Giovanna slowly approaches me with a basket in her hands. “Giovanna,” I say with a scratchy voice. I need to brush my teeth and bathe. When was the last time I ate?
“Have you been here this whole time?”
I sigh and look down at my feet. “Yeah.”
“How is Signore Geppetto?” she asks softly. This is the most demure she’s ever been, and right now, I could really use a friend. I hoped Lampwick would be here, but he’s probably packed his bags and left. He kissed me before I ran to the hospital two days ago. Does he genuinely have feelings for me? But we’re both men…
I shake my head and scrub my eyes. “He’s resting. He collapsed at church, the nurses said it was something about an infection. Luckily the other church-goers got him here fast. The doctors gave him this new thing called…antibiotics, I think.” I yawn and close my eyes. “And now it’s a waiting game.”
“Oh, Pinocchio. I’m so sorry,” she says softly. Her sympathetic tone is undeniable, and I don’t even mind when she touches my shoulder. “You need to eat. Here.” She opens her basket to reveal fruit and bread. “Some gifts from me and my dad.”
My appetite comes back in full force, and I take a slice of bread and shove it in my mouth. “Thank you,” I mumble, crumbs flying out.
She snickers. “Someone told me you haven’t been eating.”
“Who? A talking cricket?” I ask while munching on more food. It’s so good, and my body is overjoyed to break my forty-eight-hour fast.
“No. Your friend.”
I freeze and look at her. She gently nods and I gulp the food. “Wha…what?”
“Your friend, Lampwick. I came looking for you. He told me what happened and knew you wouldn’t be eating. He would have come, but he’s tending to the shop.”
He hasn’t left . A small anxious part of my heart loosens and relaxes at the very thought. “He is?”
“Yes. He and Arpeggio miss you and Signore Geppetto very much, but—”
“Heavens, I neglected Arpeggio! I need to go—” I try to stand up, but Giovanna gently holds me down.
“It’s fine!” She chuckles and hands me an apple. “I told you, your friend is taking care of it. He’s feeding Arpeggio and he’s helping to make sales. He’s been so busy, but personally asked me to deliver you some food.”
“He’s…busy?”
She nods. “The whole town is buying up your stock, anything to help Signore Geppetto. We all love him, and no one more so than your best friend.”
I nod and let the words sink in. I may be sleep-deprived, but my heart swells at the clear thought of Lampwick helping out at the shop and feeding Arpeggio. But he said he was leaving…
“You know…” Giovanna plays with her hair and looks away. “Papa always told me that a man needs a good woman to look out for them. I thought over time, maybe that would be me for you.”
I raise my hand to argue but she points to stop me. “But…I see now that you and I aren’t meant for each other.” I relax, and she smiles at me. “I’m just saying that…no matter what happens…I’m glad you have someone in your life to take care of you.”
I gulp. “Papa?”
“No, silly! Lampwick.” My heart pounds in my chest. She can’t possibly know about our kiss, right? “He’s been so supportive of you from afar. You needed to be here for your papa, and Lampwick took on all the responsibilities at home like a hero.” She puts her hand over mine. “That’s what people do when they care for each other. That’s what…life partners do.”
Her wide eyes seem to be telling me something, but of what, I’m not sure. The stress and lack of sleep are getting to me. All I know is how grateful I am that my best friend, the one person tethered to my very soul, hasn’t left town yet. “I’m…lucky to have a friend like him.”
Her smile dims, then she nods and stands up. “Yes, well, he told me to implore you to come home. He knew you wouldn’t be sleeping. Once the nurses fix up your papa, he’s going to want you to be strong and well-rested. You’ll need to take care of him at home of course.”
I take a deep breath and nod. “You’re probably right. Thank you, Giovanna.”
“Trust in the heavens that all will be well.” She hands me another piece of bread and I’m grateful she doesn’t hate me after the Autumn Festival. “You can’t change the outcome by worrying. Please go home and get some sleep.”
With that, she’s gone, and I go back to eating. While the nourishment is good for my stomach, I know I need to rest. My bones ache, my skin itches, and I desperately need a bath and my own bed. So, after praying for a few minutes more, I head home.
It’s dark by the time I unlock the front door and walk in. I’m surprised to see Lampwick sitting in the living room. The candles are lit, and apparently he and Arpeggio have been reading. He’s dressed in sleeping clothes, and his orange hair glows in an almost ethereal way.
“Pinocchio!” He puts down the massive book in his hands and strides up to me. “ Dio mio , you’re back.” He hugs me and I luxuriate in the touch. After not long enough, he steps back, almost embarrassed for hugging me. “How is Signore Geppetto?”
“Slowly recovering,” I reply with a scratchy voice. “They said the infection is going down, but he needs lots of rest under the careful watch of the nurses.” I walk over and pet Arpeggio. She purrs in contentment as if she understood what I said. “How’s this little lady been?”
“She missed you, but she’s been well fed.” My friend grins at me, and it makes the tension in my back subside. Dressed in his pajamas, he looks comfy and adorable. It may be the lack of sleep, but I want to bury myself in his arms. “Don’t worry about anything. I collected two days’ worth of earnings, and they’re in the safe. I’ll be carving some more marionettes because they’re flying off the shelves. Everyone really wants to buy your wares to support your dad.”
I smile at him as I pet Arpeggio. He’s so endearing, hard-working, and generous. I don’t want him to leave. “Thank you, Lampo. Um, I thought you were…moving away.”
“No,” he replies quickly. “You and Geppetto need me, I’m here.” Hearing that makes my heart swell with gratitude. “Don’t worry about that. We can forget…” He gulps and carefully focuses on Arpeggio in between us. “Forget everything I said. We’re a team, best friends for life. You need me, I’m here, end of story.”
I don’t want to forget it all . The words almost escape my mouth, but I bite my lip instead; another day I’ll say it, perhaps. I’m just so strung out; Lampwick and I can have a serious talk about that surprise kiss some other time.
“Thank you. I’m going to go…take a bath and dress for bed.”
“Sounds good.” He takes Arpeggio and beams at me.
I gather my clothes in my room and notice his floor bed untouched. When I walk to the living room, I take in the scene again: Lampwick is reading a children’s book by candlelight and Arpeggio is listening intently. He’s struggling with the words, but I’m touched to see he’s really trying. I’m struck with a wild thought, a clear vision of coming home to him reading every night for the rest of my days. He’s comfort and solace to me.
I shake my head. “Hey, Lampo?”
“Yeah?” He looks up from the book.
“I…I think I’ll sleep out here on the floor with you two tonight?”
“Um, okay. If you’d like that?”
I take off my shirt and walk towards the backdoor, the night air cool on my chest. “I would. If you don’t mind.”
“Uh…n-n-no…” I don’t miss the way his voice wavers, and for some reason, it makes me smile.
* * *
Two days later, my wishes to the stars are answered; Papa is home, and harmony in my life is restored. His infection is clear, and several townsfolk have cooked him stew to help with his recovery. He’s walking with a cane now, but he gets to sleep in his own bed, which is joyous for all of us.
Well, not everything is back to normal. The stubborn old man claims he can still work, but Lampwick and I put our feet down. We tell him that for now, he is on strict bedrest, and even Arpeggio agrees, curling up in a ball on his stomach. I have explicit instructions from the nurses, and I’m determined to keep him healthy no matter what.
On the second day of Papa being home, I finish heating up stew with sofrito at our tiny stove. The hearty aroma of peppers fills the house as I pour a serving into a bowl. Placing it on a tray with a spoon, I walk the short trek to Papa’s room.
“You haven’t told me how things are going,” he says the moment I walk in. Arpeggio is sitting at the edge of the bed rubbing her back on Papa’s foot. “How is our inventory? Have we had many sales?”
“Lampwick is taking care of everything.” I place the soup on a tiny table near his bed next to his medicines. “I told you don’t fret.”
“I’m a small business owner and a father.” He sits up and swings his legs over, and our cat scuttles away. “My only directive is to fret.”
“Your goal should be to get better.” I point at the pills, and he frowns.
“You’re almost as bossy as the nurses.”
I’m thrilled he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. “ Perfetto . Now eat.” I hand him a spoon, and he frowns. I sit next to him and smile as he digs in. I can tell he’s been restless and bored, so I want to entertain him the best I can.
“Do you want me to read to you?”
“I’ve read them all.” He takes his medications and slurps some soup. “So, Lampwick is really running the show?”
I snicker. “He sure is. When you were in the hospital, the whole town came in to purchase our wares in support. He took care of it all.”
“He’s a good boy,” he says, staring at the soup. “I trust him with my life.”
“I do too,” I say wistfully. With the worst of the illness resolved, I have the clarity to remember the heated conversation before I ran to the hospital. Lampwick forced a kiss on me…
I must be obviously lost in thought, because Papa has stopped to study me. “What’s up?”
“You and he are quite close, no?”
I grin and shrug. “He’s my best friend.”
“I’ve never seen you that happy with any of your other friends over the years. Not even Giovanna.”
“My other classmates didn’t want to get close to me. And Giovanna and I are just—”
“Friends, I know, you told me.” He waves his hand and sips more soup. “You know, we all need help sometimes. I might not be around forever, so you should consider someone to…spend your life with. Heaven knows I wish I had that again.”
My smile falls. He doesn’t talk too much about his deceased wife from decades ago. “Maybe one day I’ll have someone like you had Angela.”
He shakes his head. “I loved Angela, yes, but she wasn’t my first love.” I quirk an eyebrow at him. He studies me and says, “I had someone else when I was about your age. I haven’t talked about them in many, many years.”
I sit up straight. “What?”
He looks at the ceiling and smiles fondly. “Years before Angela, I met someone who made me smile more than anyone else. I fell in love with my best friend right after graduation. We spent a whole summer exploring the woods and reveling in the deep connection we had. We even made love.”
I grimace briefly then shake my head. “Papa, why haven’t you told me about this?”
“The world doesn’t look fondly on two boys falling in love.”
What . There’s no way I heard that right. “You heard me, Piccolo,” he says with a smile. “His name was Bruno. He was my best friend for years. After several long talks and walks, he kissed me, and the rest, as they say, was history.”
My throat feels parched as I take in Papa’s shocking confession. “You…you’re… um, what happened to him?”
“He went to the war. I took up my apprenticeship. He never came back, most likely being one of the many unknown soldiers lost in battle.” Papa’s eyes dull. I don’t want to upset him, but even my heart clenches at his story. “Of course, I mourned him, but I didn’t want to stay lonely forever. Years later, I fell for Angela. We had a great ten years together before she too, passed away, from illness this time. Two chances of love in my life gone much too early.”
I place my hand on his shoulder. “Papa.”
“It’s fine.” He waves his hand and smiles. He eats for two more minutes, and I watch him closely. “To be honest, I consider myself lucky. I’ve had two great loves of my life, one a secret, and one I got to walk down the aisle with. Plus, I’ve managed to escape death’s clutches so far!” He laughs, and I chuckle uncomfortably.
“Let’s not joke about that.”
“You have to learn to laugh, son. It’ll keep you young!” He pushes the now empty bowl at me and lies back. “I think that’s enough shocking confessionals for one day.”
“I’d say so.” Before I can stand up, Papa lifts up his hand. “Hm?”
“Pinocchio, listen to me when I tell you this: let yourself feel what you need to feel.”
His eyes bore into my very soul, and I’m not sure what he’s implying. “What?”
“Two men falling in love is still love. And I’ll support you no matter what. As long as you find the person who will cherish you, care for you, and make you feel whole, that’s all that matters. I won’t be here forever. So if you find the one who completes you, hold onto them, son.”
My heart hammers in my chest as I nod, taking in his words. I walk to the kitchen and place the bowl in the sink. Papa was…a sexual deviant? He was a homosexual, a sodomite, at least for a little bit? But his heart has always been pure. So much of what I’ve been afraid to face has been with Papa this whole time.
And Lampwick is just like him. He kissed me, we pleasured ourselves together, and none of that felt…sinful. When I think of a future where someone is by my side, supporting me, I don’t see any girl. All I can see is the one person who continues to make me the happiest—my best friend.