The Neighbor's Girl

The Neighbor's Girl

"Step right up, step right up, gentlemen. Step right up, I'm selling the best. Step right up, my hunger is gnawing at my guts, you blessed souls... Hello, Mr. Giannis. How are you doing, my dear Barbouli? It's been a while since we've seen you. Here, grab this apple."

"How are you, my beautiful Princess? Your aunt Magdalene fell ill and I didn't manage to come last week. Tom brought the groceries from his own neighborhood. Do you remember him, my son?"

"Of course, I remember him, Uncle. You shouldn't have married him off before I met him, or I would have told you what a handsome boy he is."

"Oh, come on now. Always with your jokes, my dear Cynthia. May you always be well. And this apple is just the thing. It will chase away the bitterness from my mouth. How much do you want?"

"Oh, take it. It's on me, you poor man. A gift so that things go well with the Mrs. Send her my regards and tell her I wish her a speedy recovery. I missed her, too."

"Soon she will be able to walk. With a little help from God and from us, she will stand on her feet again. You see, she broke them going down to feed the hens in the ravine, and now we all suffer for a few little eggs."

"Oh, dear, my Mr. Gianni. The ravine is a steep downhill, and you must set up the coop up high. Next to the water tank, so you don't suffer a greater misfortune. You are at a certain age and must take care, you know?"

"That we will do. I've already told my son to go down to the city on Saturday to get the necessary supplies. We'll have some expenses, but the golden hens are worth it. In fact, we have cleaned the basement, and we will put them in there from now on. Since we stopped making wine, what else is there to do? We will make use of the space."

"Did the good wine run out? But why?"

"But, my little girl, in the end, I would be left inside the jar and drowning during the last harvest. I have grown old, and I'm no longer fit for such work or for grape stomping. Do you understand?"

"Alright, Uncle. I understand perfectly, and may you always be well. Whatever you do always has a logic behind it. You are wise, not like us, who still have our heads in the clouds."

"Bless you, my girl. Bless you."