Читать книгу Prodigy. Roxanne Mitchell’s Diary - Anastasiia Deniz Mitchell - Страница 7

1 August 2012

I’ve got violet eyes. It’s a fact. And long wavy hair. Mum says it suits me perfectly.

Today, it’s the day of our departure. I’ve taken my diary with me, so I’ll be able to write down something interesting.

When Mum and me found our seats, the pilot announced:

«Ladies and gentlemen, we will be showing our safety demonstration and would like a few minutes of your attention. There are several exits on this aircraft. Please take a few moments to locate the exit closest to you…»

Up, up, and up into the sky! It is awesome just to fly and think about nothing.

I want it so much! I wish the plane was flying faster and faster!

«Where are we going, Mummy?»

«To Sicily.»

«Sicily?»

I’ve never been there. Because I’ve been studying at school all that time. Now, it’s time for holidays.

While we were flying, I wrote a few lines about my school in my notebook. Right, apart from the diary, I’ve got a small notebook.

It took us three hours to get at the place.

After some time, the pilot finally announced:

«Ladies and gentlemen, we are now landing at Palermo Airport… It’s a sunny day with a light breeze… Please remain seated until we’re safely parked at the gate. Thank you for flying with us today, and we’re looking forward to seeing you on board in the near future. Have a nice stay!»

It was sunny! And it was great! A light breeze…

We got out of the plane and caught a taxi to arrive at the hotel, a three-star one.

It was hot here indeed. I put on trousers and a pink T-shirt. I like pink. It’s one of my favorite colors. I’m also fond of purple, blue and light-blue.

As we were in the hall, we were introduced to the receptionist, Domenico, and the porter, Luciano. I drew attention to the latter. Luciano turns to be two years older than me. Perfect!

I thought, «at least, I can make friends with him, I guess.»

Luciano literally flew up to us and took our bags to bring them upstairs, smiling. Our room was on the fourth floor.

After Luciano carried our luggage into our room, he asked me:

«What’s your name?»

He had good English, this Luciano.

«Roxy.»

«What a nice name!» he exclaimed. «How old are you?»

«I’m getting fourteen in a few weeks.»

«Wow! And when exactly?»

I thought whether I should tell him the date or not.

«Roxy!» Mum called me. «I’ll be in the room! Don’t get far away from here!»

«Okay, Mummy,» I said. «I promise I won’t!»

When she left, Lucian asked me:

«And where do you study?»

«At London University.»

«What? You’re only thirteen!»

«I’m a wonderchild,» I said proudly. «I’ve entered it this summer.»

«You amaze me!»

«Really?» I smiled.

«Yes, of course!»

«All right,» I thought it was high time I left too. It was rather impolite of me to stay in the hall any longer.

«See you, Roxy! I’m very happy I’ve met you!»

«See you soon!» I answered.

As soon as I entered the room, Mum told me we were going sightseeing. It was just amazing!

8 August 2012

All right, I haven’t kept my diary for a week. (P. S. My dear Diary, I’m so sorry about it! But I’ve got an excuse – Mum and me have been going to the beach every day, along with visiting the sights of Palermo.).

I adore it very much. You can learn about multiple landmarks like Via Vittorio Emanuele – the one between the Norman palace and the cathedral.

Moreover, I’ve made friends with Luciano, as I wanted to. The boy spoke to me when he was at the reception desk. We were talking about things like the weather differences between London and Palermo, the landmarks of the city, and so on. I also asked him why he had chosen the occupation of a porter. «Well,» he answered, «I just like this job, and that’s it.» Let it be.

It seems like I even… No, it’s illogical!

Anyway, today I came up to Mum and said:

«Mum, I want to marry Luciano.»

«But you’re only fourteen!» she said.

«And what? I love him, and he loves me!»

«My dear, I wouldn’t advise you to do something on the spot. You’re still a child. And – you don’t know him that well.»

In the end, I said I loved Luciano…

«My darling,» Mother asked, «why do you think he’s in love with you?»

«He told me I’m beautiful – the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.»

«And that’s it?»

«He also said he loves me!» I exclaimed dreamily.

«My darling,» Mum said, «he might tell a lie. He’s Italian.»

«How come?» I raised my eyebrow. «I want to marry him!»

«Roxy,» she sighed, «according to the law, one cannot get married until he or she turns eighteen.»

«Pity,» I sighed heavily – at least, heavier than Mum. «Okay,» I agreed.

To wait for four years means that I need to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree. Good.

10 August 2012

Luciano and I talk every day, and I think he really loves me. One day, we’ll marry. I have only to get a degree in Spanish, for Luciano to have an educated wife.

When I told this to Mum, however, she began to laugh.

«My child,» she said, «you understand nothing. But, okay, by studying at university, you’ll learn practically everything. Especially if you’re in London, with me.» Mum paused and then said, «At home.»

«At least,» I asked, «can I talk to him when he’s at the reception?»

«Sure thing! But no more.»

«Let it be,» I thought.

I went downstairs.

«Roxy!» Luciano was already there. «I’ve got something for you!»

The boy was holding something in his hand.

«What’s it?» I was surprised.

«Look!»

These were earrings. Imitation jewelry?

«Thank you very much for the gift!» I smiled and took them in my hands, examining the earrings carefully.

The stones were shining like real ones. Like precious gems…

I decided that I would put them on when I was about to leave for London. Mum would be happy for me because I have received these things.

When I got back to the room, I showed them to her.

«What’s that?» Mum asked.

«These are earrings from Luciano. He’s given them to me as a gift.»

«A gift?» she frowned. «Roxy, these are jewels! Precious jewels!»

My mouth fell open.

«Indeed? It means that Luciano has bought me real stones?»

«Roxy! Could you give them to me, please?» Mum started fussing.

«But why?» I couldn’t get it.

«How naïve you are! It seems like he’s stolen these earrings!»

«Why?» I persisted. «Luciano is a good boy!»

Nevertheless, Mum didn’t listen to me. She went to the reception desk. I followed her. Mum asked:

«Where’s that boy?»

«Who?» Domenico said.

«Luciano! Who else? Do you have any other workers?»

«The cooks…»

«Okay,» Mum interrupted. «The one whom I need to talk to now is Luciano.»

«I’ll call him,» Domenico said and left to search for the boy.

After some time, he returned and muttered, «I’m afraid Luciano is ill now, so he’ll be here only the day after tomorrow. Or even later.»

«Exactly. Ill, too!» Mum exclaimed. «He was here half an hour ago! So, when he happens to appear in here, please, be so kind to bring him to our room. Or, no, wait,» she lingered, «just hand them in to him and demand Luciano to get the earrings back to the owner.» Mum held the earrings out and gave them to Domenico.

«What’s it?» the receptionist asked.

«These,» Mum thrust in a word, «are earrings with real jewels!»

«What?» Domenico seemed to be bewildered. «Real jewels?»

He took the earrings in his hands.

«My God! It just can’t be!»

«What can’t be?» I asked, not understanding anything. It turned out that Luciano had stolen the earrings! But why? What for? For what reason?

I entered our room and began to cry. Mum came up to me and hugged me, «Roxy! Please, don’t cry! I understand how you feel now, but he’s just a bad boy. I’m here, with you! You must be thankful that he hasn’t done anything bad to you!»

«Yes, but I love him very much!»

«You’ve got to rethink all that, my darling…» Mum sighed, stroking my hair.

13 August 2012

Today, I asked Mum if I could talk to Luciano, as he was to come to work.

«In no way!» she exclaimed. «Here, in Italy, you’ll have been talking only to me since that day on!»

«But, Mummy…» I muttered.

«Roxy, the world’s full of idiots and dangerous people,» she looked at me. «No, I have no intention to intimidate you! Only to warn you of the people’s ability to be dangerous.»

I said nothing.

«Look,» Mum went on, «you’re only thirteen years old. That’s little, despite the fact that you have already graduated from school.»

«Okay,» I agreed. Well, Mum’s always right.

When we got downstairs, I saw there Domenico, Luciano, and… the police. There were two policemen.

What was going on…?

I know Italian, so that I could sort out what they were talking about.

«Senor Luciano Soriano?» one of the police officers asked in Italian.

«Yes,» Luciano answered.

«We have several questions to ask you. First of all,» he took out the very earrings, «do they belong to you?»

Luciano didn’t say anything.

«Senor Luciano,» the other one said, «do you understand that you’ll get in jail anyway? The European Union law says that everyone who steals must be liable for it.»

Perhaps, the police had just come to the hall.

Domenico intervened in the examination:

«This lady,» he pointed at my Mum, «knows that senor Luciano has stolen them.»

«How does she know?» the first officer asked and then turned to Mum. «Could you, please, explain to us how you came at it?» he asked her in English.

«It’s not a fact,» Mum started, «but only a suggestion. Look – how can a porter, a sixteen-year-old boy, buy these earrings, precious-gemmed ones, with his salary?»

«Indeed,» Domenico agreed, «I wonder how a boy can obtain such a thing.»

«It’s simple,» Mum added. «And when he gives them to a thirteen-year-old girl…»

«It’s strange,» the second police officer caught up. «If he’s her boyfriend, he must buy only affordable gifts.»

Suddenly, a middle-aged man flew in the hall.

«Here he is!» he exclaimed in Italian. «This thief!»

«What thief?» the first police officer became curious. «Isn’t it him?» he pointed at Luciano.

The man stared at the boy.

«Exactly!» he exclaimed. «How have you found him? I’ve been searching for him around the whole quarter!»

«I’m sorry,» Mum said in English, «do you speak English? Who are you?»

«Of course, I can! I’m an owner of a jewelry shop!»

Mum and me looked at each other.

«A jewelry shop?» the second policeman asked. «Interesting, interesting.» He started writing all the details down in his notebook.

«And when did you see this boy?» the first one asked the owner.

«Three days ago!» he exclaimed. «He’s stolen a pair of earrings from me!»

«Bah!» Domenico said. «Aren’t they the ones?» he showed the earrings he had in his hands to the man.

«Absolutely!»

«Luciano,» Domenico asked, «how could you?»

«I’m sorry,» Luciano started speaking. «I’m really sorry. I just wanted to make a present for Roxy. She deserves the best of the best,» he looked at me. «But I didn’t have money. I’m sorry, Roxy…»

The boy looked down.

«Indeed!» the shop owner started shouting in English. «That’s what you study at school, ah? For a girl, you must buy things that are not too expensive for your pocketbook!»

I wonder who called the police…

«My boy,» the man went on speaking, «no matter what the motive is, you must absolutely be in charge for your actions according to the law anyway!»

«Please,» I begged in Italian, «let Luciano go!»

«Roxy!» Mum took me up short. «Don’t poke around in other people’s business!»

«No, no,» Luciano said, «it’s only my fault! I admit it!»

«I’m sorry,» Mum said, «but may I ask who called the police?»

«It’s me,» Domenico said. «I’m afraid I didn’t understand anything in this situation, so I decided it’d be better for me to clear everything up.»

«You may go now,» the first police officer said to Mum and me in English. «Thank you very much, and have a nice day! Ciao!»

We went out as fast as we could.

«It would be just our luck to get in trouble,» Mum said when we were in the street. «I told you that you must stay away from him!»

I didn’t say anything.

«You’re so naïve, Roxy! You’re a child!» Mum went on. «Although you’re a wunderkind, you’re still a kid, and you’re so naïve!»

Mum always wears glasses. She’s got short fair hair and green eyes.

«And I’m saying it not because I want to blame you for something. I want to save you from a very big mistake.»

«I know, Mummy.»

When we got back to the hotel, Domenico said Luciano was placed under two week’s house arrest, because he himself had admitted his guilt, but the jewelry shop owner had been insisting on Luciano’s being arrested.

«I wanted to marry him, Mummy!» I cried when we entered our room.

Unexpectedly for me, Mum began to laugh.

«Roxy, I repeat once again – you’re still a child! I understand all your feelings perfectly – but he’s not for you.»

14 August 2012

The day of our departure. It was a pity for me to leave Sicily. But what else did I have to do? In two weeks, I’ll become a part of a big University community. It’s more than just great, taking into account the fact that you’re only turning fourteen!

I need to prepare a speech, because the Head of the University has personally asked me to make it.

To be honest, I’ve got only fond memories of Italy, despite everything that has happened to us so far.

Therefore, when our plane took off, I whispered to the land remaining below us: «Grazie, Italia! Ti amo!3»

2 September 2012

Fourteen years old today! I feel like an adult. Although I have four years left before I turn eighteen…

17 September 2012

Today, it’s my convocation ceremony. I’ve made a speech. It wasn’t that long, for the people not to become tired. However, it’s not short either. One hundred words approximately. One hundred and thirty-three words sharply. To tell the truth, I tried to make my speech as friendly (and comprehensible!) as possible.

Now, I’m ready to walk through these doors.

The Head personally met me and asked to proceed to the stage, from where I was to deliver my speech.

I began speaking:

«Hello, everyone! I am happy to see all of you here, within the walls of London University! I’m here with you, although – imagine! – I turned fourteen just yesterday! But I feel like an adult despite my age! I am really happy to study here with you, hoping to make a lot of friends in London University! For each of you, dear students, dear freshmen, this is a moment that you will remember for a long time. Therefore, let me be one of the first, along with the President, to greet and congratulate you as you embark on this amazing adventure. You all have worked hard to get here; but it’s also your parents, grandparents, your other family members, and teachers, who have supported you on your road here. So, I wish you good luck! Thank you!»

Everyone present applauded me.

I am very happy to have entered this exact university because it was located in London.

The President thanked me and said that I should start getting along with the students right away, especially if I’m a Londoner, despite my quite young age. I told him that I wouldn’t let him and the University down.

A new group, a new atmosphere… It was all lovely!

2 September 2014

Dear Diary,

I’m sorry I haven’t written anything here for quite a long time. And what time! Two years!

No, my sixteenth birthday is not the reason why I’m writing something today. Just… I’ve had nothing to say!

Everything has been more or less the same. Studies, studies, studies… Sometimes, you begin to think that at sixteen, you’ve got to attend lectures and seminars and try to express your opinion in a most concise way. Right – if I start speaking, it’s going to last forever. But a class’s duration is only an hour and a half…

Being a junior student means that you are familiar not only with the language itself, but also with its system, concepts, and elements. You need to grasp its every sparkle, every special feature that a person who doesn’t study Spanish has no notion of.

I almost forgot (and completely forgave) Luciano. What about Maximilian? To be honest, I want him to appear in my dreams again!

15 September 2014

Today, an Italian exchange student is to come to our university for a year. I think it’s a perfect opportunity for me to practice Italian. Why not…? I mustn’t forget any language I speak just because I study full-time and don’t actually have much of a chance of practicing all of them!

As a person who speaks Italian, I am sent to meet the student in a delegation. As it turns out, the boy’s name is Fabio. He’s a Biology student.

When meeting Fabio, we asked him all about life in Italy. But first, we greeted him cordially, of course.

I said in Italian:

«Buongiorno!4 We are happy to see you here, in our University. My name is Roxy, you can call me anytime. This is Clare,» I introduced my groupmate who knew Italian, «and this is Max, who will help you when needed.» Max was the Head of our Student Government.

«Buongiorno!» Fabio smiled. «I hope you’re all doing well too! It’s very nice for me to come here to study in London. Thank you very much, all of you! Grazie!»

Then, he looked at me for a long time…

«Now,» Fabio looked away, «could you show me where my room is, please?»

«Sure thing!» Clare said.

We took the boy to his room.

«Amazing accommodation!» Fabio exclaimed. «This is where I will feel at home!»

We clapped our hands happily.

«Now, I think you can be free. I will have some rest after my journey,» Fabio said to us. «Thanks again!»

When we left the room and began to drift out, I heard Fabio’s voice calling me:

«Roxy!»

I turned back.

«Roxy, could you help me with something, please?»

«Of course! How can I help you, Fabio?» I asked.

«Is there a singing club or something like that in the university?»

«Well,» I said, «actually, there is…»

The boy smiled, came up to me and looked right into my eyes.

«It’s amazing! Let’s sing together!»

«Sing together?» I raised my eyebrow.

«Yes. A girl like you must adore singing!»

«Right,» I muttered, «but I’m afraid I study full-time…»

«So what? It’s not an excuse!» Fabio chuckled.

«Fabio,» I said, «studying Spanish requires a lot of efforts. And if you’re planning to be an A-student…»

«Are you?» the boy snorted. «Don’t be a nerd! Even if you are, you must appear before the footlights at least once!»

Perhaps, Fabio was right…

«Okay,» I agreed. «Let’s try.»

«Of course!» he graced me with a smile. «And remember – you only live once!»

«I know,» I smiled back.

«Roxy?» Fabio said.

«Yes?» I answered. «I’m here!»

«First of all, you have a good sense of humor.»

«Thank you very much!» I was pleased.

«And second, your smile is so charming!»

That was more than a compliment…

«Thanks again!» I decided that I couldn’t think of a better answer.

We were still standing in the hall.

«Will you show me where the club is based, then?» Fabio suggested.

I looked at him, but said nothing.

«Yeah. Let’s go.»

Helping one is my duty, so I couldn’t refuse to show the club to Fabio.

While we were walking to the club, Fabio and me fell into talk.

«So, Roxy,» the boy started the conversation, «you look so young. I understand it’s impolite to ask about it, but, anyway how old are you?»

How did he guess…?

To answer or not to answer how old I really was…?

«Okay,» I decided to tell the truth. «I’m sixteen.»

«What?» his answer followed.

«All right,» I said.

«You’re a liar!» Fabio didn’t believe me.

I didn’t move a muscle.

«What?» the boy asked. «Why such a reaction?»

I began to laugh.

«Because I’m sixteen indeed!» I said.

Fabio’s jaw dropped.

«So, you mean to say you entered here when you were fourteen?»

«Yes. I’m a wunderkind.»

«And now, you’re a third-year student?» Fabio wondered.