Waiting for the colleague who had entered the shop of Empress to buy a cap, I parked in Via Santa Brigida, in the second row, a position that does not create excessive noise in Naples and that is often imposed by the impossibility of finding parking.
I confided, in addition to the understanding of the other drivers, in the possibility that the policeman who was a bit 'later to meditate on traffic (often direct it is impossible) had an eye for benevolent regard for the uniform; for security I had "absently" resting my arm at the open window, to show the degree on the sleeve, and I continued to monitor the policeman.
A gentleman approaches, leans over to me and tells me "Excuse me, he commands', kindly ..." (I was just a lieutenant of a ship but in Naples, you know, just park outside the University and call you "doctor"; the day after graduation a condominium introduced me to a friend of his as "our young lawyer", in the circumstance of which I write, therefore, the appellative due could only be that of "commander").
I realize that surely the kind gentleman has to get out of the parking lot, that my car is a hindrance to him and reassures him "No, I'm sorry, I'll move right away".
And he "Are you moving? And why?"
"Do not you have to go out with the car?"
"No, he did." I just wanted to talk to you about something of mine. "It's a matter of five minutes." "What do you do?"
I feared that, although I was fluent in the Neapolitan language and thus demonstrating my origins in Campania (so much that I had immediately sorted on "you", that in Naples it is the current form of concern and cordial to speak, the "she" is also concerned but is detached and more by "stranger"), I was targeted by one of the many characters ready to sell you "... 'nu original Rolèx" or some other merchandise "... fall down the street from the van and the driver nun se he noticed it ".
So I replied "Thank you, but I do not need anything"
And the guy "And I want nothing to give you, I wanted to talk about my son"
"Your son, but sorry, we know each other, since I do not think so ..."
"Uh, it's true nun me so 'presented! Permit?" and tell me name and surname.
We knew each other now.
"Very pleased, but ..."
"And now I'll explain. My son, you know [yes, that's right, you know ... but what could I know?] He doesn't want to 'and study' ... so I said and I put it in a workshop of a friend of mine ... but it was said and then I said "
With serene perplexity I listened to him as he told me his business and enlightened me on how little I had deserved to be in the Navy, since I had wanted to study and I had not yet wanted to work.
Undoubtedly I had not had and I did not have the same preferential titles of the child.
Quietly living and hoping that soon ended the chat with this singular character, I replied "And what do you want to do ', you know how are the boys of today, however you have done a good idea, let it go to the marina, there may be that you learn something "
"Bravo, command '. But I in the navy nun cunosco a nisciuno ... only to you ... and then I wanted to ask you ... nun is ca ce putisseve put' na 'bbona word? I leave you the name and surname of the boy and you can see 'if at the volunteer center if putesse does something' and he accompanied this last sentence with the entirely Neapolitan gesture of 'screwed by hand'.
Salvation materialized in the likeness of my colleague who, holding the new beret, was leaving the Galleria Umberto.
I assumed an extremely serious air and said, "Excuse me, but my commander is coming".
And I pointed to the unconscious "shoulder" of this scene, suggesting that I had to leave.
With an air of accomplice and a little accomplice, hinting a half bow, he moved slightly away from the car saying "I understand ... better ca nun hears, eh?" and winked knowingly.
My colleague came to the car and got on board accompanied by a respectful greeting by hand raised by the guy, whom he replied with a polite smile.
I greeted him, I started the bike and started to get into the traffic while my unexpected interlocutor, resting his hand on my arm told me "So Comanda ', is thinking of yours", recitandomi to follow - all in one breath and screaming with discretion - name, surname, place and date of birth of the child.
As we walked away, my colleague asked me "... a friend of yours?"
"No - I replied - only an acquaintance I had never seen".
