"Yeah, you don't. But Elio does. He needs to change air." added Carlo.
"I knew it!" she blurted out. "It's because of Elio! Then why can't he go to Aunt Ida on his own?"
"We don't want him to go all alone." insisted Giulia.
"I am not his nanny!"
"But you are his big sister. Why aren't you saying anything, Elio?" asked Carlo.
Elio didn't say a word. He only shrugged his shoulders, which blew up Gaia's mind.
"So? Nothing? Nothing matters to you. Come on, tell mum and dad that you won't be doing anything in the country-side either."
Elio nodded and agreed with her.
"Stop it, Gaia! Stop doing this! We have already made up our minds. Your cousin Libero will pick you up from the station" Carlo shut down the conversation.
Gaia ran away, visibly disappointed and upset.
"She'll get over it." said Giulia, knowing her daughter's joie de vivre.
Elio went back to his room unnoticed.
Carlo was surprised. However, he was sure that their decision had been the best in years.
Friday came by quickly. Carlo picked up his nephew from the station and was overjoyed at the thought of hugging him again.
Libero was a joyous, easy going and unconventional boy. He was tall and slim, yet he wasn't boney. His face was tanned by the sun, his hands were big and used to working in the family's farm. His green eyes stood out on his skin, and his short brown hair were side parted like a man from the 50's. He hugged his uncle tightly and since then he never stopped talking.
Carlo was staring at him amazed. He perfectly remembered the time Libero had been sick, indifferent and easily ill-tempered. Although Libero was not particularly brilliant, the humble life he was leading made him happy. And Carlo would have wanted Elio to embrace his cousin's positivity. In the meantime, Libero was pushing his nose up against the car window and was asking questions about everything he was seeing along the way.
Everyone at home was waiting for him.
Giulia was nervous whilst she was packing up the last things. The time had come and she was asking herself if things would turn out for the best. After all she was their mother and couldn't help but worry.
Gaia, on the other hand, had already come to terms with the idea. She was chasing her mother around the house with thousands of questions: what could she see? what could she do around the farm?
Elio and she had not been to the farm since they were kids and their grandparents were still alive. They did not have any memory of that place, except for some vague memories: the fields, or the perfume of the trees behind which they would play hide and seek.
After her husband passed away, Aunt Ida struggled to get her life back together. Thus, she decided to move with her kids to her parents abandoned old farm.
As soon as she heard the sound of the keys turning inside the lock, Gaia ran towards her cousin, who lifted her up and spun her around like in a carousel. Gaia smiled as she did not expect such display of affection.
"Hi, Libero. How have you been?" she warmly asked her cousin, whom she had not seen in a very long time.
"Well, honey." replied Libero.
At the same moment, Giulia joined them and Libero greeted her like a gentleman, giving her two quick kisses on both cheeks.
"How was the journey?" thoughtfully asked Giulia.
“Very well, the "steel cow" is very fast and comfortable when you need to travel; and the city is full of interesting things to see. I'm happy to be here!"
"Please, sit down. You must be tired. Would you like some ice-cream?" asked Giulia.
"Yes, thank you, Auntie." Libero accepted gladly. "Where's Elio?"
"Elio is in his room. He'll be here in a minute." replied Carlo. He was mad because his son would not even bother to come and greet his cousin, who had travelled a long way just to pick him up. As he started walking towards Elio's room,
Libero began to speak:"Don't worry, uncle Carlo. I'll go. I want to surprise him. Just tell me which one is his room."
As soon as Carlo pointed out Elio's room, Libero threw himself towards the door. Libero’s cry of happiness could be heard from the corridor whilst he was greeting his cousin.
Not even Elio, despite his usual coldness, could avoid Libero's spinning hug.
Gaia looked at her mother and whispered:
"I did not remember that he was that gullible!"
"Don't say that." promptly scolded her Giulia. "He's a good boy. And he's very kind too."
"Yeah, but... Are you sure he'll drive us safely to the farm." Gaia uncertainly asked.
"Of course, that he will!" Carlo reassured her. "Do not underestimate him. He and his mother keep the farm going. He's strong and smart."
Dinner time came by and was spent cheerfully. In fact, Libero had brought with him all the festivity and liveliness of the countryside, which was very much appreciated by everyone but Elio.
"I'm really looking forward to showing you around." finished up Libero after he had described the farm to his cousin.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for a couple of days before you leave again?" asked Giulia.
"I can't leave mum on her own this time of the year. There's a lot to take care of."
"You are right, Libero. You really are a good boy." Carlo praised him, gently patting him on the shoulder.
"You know, uncle Carlo, I was asking myself something. Before coming here to the city, I thought you were supposed to honk the horn only in an emergency..."
"Yeah, that's right." replied Carlo. "Why?"
"Because it seems like everyone uses it as if they were playing music at a party! They never stop honking!"
Everyone burst out laughing, except for Elio, who was wondering whether Libero was joking or not...
Third Chapter
He realized that the boy was in terror, and burst into laughter
The following morning Libero got Giulia out of her bed, after he had tripped over the corridor's carpet. So, Giulia and he found themselves having breakfast before everyone else had even opened their eyes. When the smell of fresh coffee had invaded Carlo's bedroom, he also made his way to the kitchen and started explaining what had been wrong with Elio lately.
"Do not worry." Libero assured them. "This out-door experience will help him. And mum already has a strategy!"
Once they had reached the train station, Giulia could not stop giving recommendations and making sure that the kids would behave.
Gaia could not wait; she was excited and curious. On the other hand, it was clear that Elio was only being dragged into this. On top of that, he was also carrying along Gaia's heavy luggage only because Libero made him : "Ladies should not carry weights!" he said, which caused Elio to roll his eyes. He could not bear his cousin already.
Libero was wearing a pair of jeans, t-shirt and a civil protection yellow ocher baseball cap, which seemed completely out of place to his cousins. Moreover, he was carrying the remaining luggage with such easiness that they might as well have been empty.
The train departed perfectly on time. There was no one else in the car they had been allocated to. After Libero had arranged all baggage onto the overhead compartment, he suggested:
"Gaia, come with me. Let's go to the restaurant car and let's get some more breakfast. It's going to be a