Il Duca

Italy, 1870 - Jack - Thursday, February 14th, 2008 : goo

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Chapter 1:

Pier is born. No small wonder, his parents were locked in an embrace, they sought love and life came out of it. In 1870 one would say that a child is matter-of-factly, a new person to carry on the name and traditions imposed on it by it's parents. So Pier grew and played and studied, he enjoyed reading which meant that he would know many things from many people he did not know.

Then came Maria Domenica de Bari, a lovely girl, from wealthy, aristocratic parents who met Pier in the park reading the same novel. They talked briefly about politics and worldly matters and decided they would continue their meeting another day. Two day's past and they met again at the same park bench, under the same brilliant blue sky and the same exact warming sun, sitting and chatting, discovering each other in every sentence and soon they found themselves in love.

The de Bari family was concerned that their daughter would find happiness with this commoner who seemed to them to be seeking gold instead of a family, how much they wanted their daughter to marry into a family equal to their stature. But as Maria Domenica wanted it, so be it. They married March 7th 1896, she was 18, and Pier was 26. In order for the family to save face they give their new son-in-law a title, Il Duca.

In 1896, Francesco Crispi is Premier who has engaged his country in a war and soon dies in 1901. A young, fervent admirer, Benito Mussolini reveres Crispi as the Father of Facism. The war with Ethiopia is hard on Italy and Pier is trying not to become a soldier, but a facist leutenent's only concern is to bring the college educated Pier under his command. Pier objects and words are flung at each other. Pier has only one thing to do, he must leave with his young wife or fight this soldier.

They fight, a duel is planned and the two meet in the early morning hours and Pier emerges as the victor over the dead body of a facist officer. Pier must run now since duelling had been outlawed and he manages to escape to America, his beautiful Maria Domenica is left behind with her family and so Pier steps off the ship and onto the land of America in 1899. Alone and in Italy a wanted man.

He enters New York City and finds work tutoring children of wealthy Italian immigrants. A secures a position at Columbia University as a language professor and finds an apartment on Mulberry street,and as he stares from his bedroom window onto the streets of little Italy, he thinks about his Maria and when they will be together again.

End of Chapter 1...

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