Adamo
Marie hadn’t been to her grandfather’s house in a while. This time it seemed different. It was quieter than usual.
Marie hadn’t b n to visit her grandfather’s house in a while.
This me it s med di erent. It was quieter than usual.
Maria’s mother bends down to say good bye to her
As they enter the house, Maria’s mother bends down to say g d bye to her
She gently reminds Marie how she n ds Adamo to take care of her while she is out of town.
she gently reminds Maria how she needs Adamo to take care of her while she is out of town.
being around anymore.
Maybe you and grandpa can go for ice cream, eh?”
Grandpa is still feeling sad about grandma not being around anymore.
Maybe you and grandpa can go for ice cream, eh?”
“Grandpa is s f ling sad about grandma not
As the days went by, Adamo and Marie kept to themselves. With nothing to do, Marie played by herself, trying to k p busy,
As the days went by, Adamo kept to himself as did Marie, amusing herself with what she could find around the house.
One day she ventured into Adamo’s workshop in the basement. She knew she she shouldn’t be there but boredom was beginning to set in and it always looked so mysterious.
One day she ventured into Adamo’s workshop in the basement. She knew she shouldn’t be there but boredom was begi ing to set in, and the workshop always l ked so mysterious.
“Hmmmm... i wonder what’s in here”
She opened the d r and
She was so caught up in studying the box’s contents that she didn’t notice her grandpa coming down into the basement.
She was so caught up in studying the box’s contents that she didn’t no ce her grandpa coming down into the basement.
Marie no ced him behind her and was hit with a wave of guilt.
marie noticed him behind her and was hit with a wave of guilt.
Adamo rushed to gather up the items to put them back in the box. His quick movements startled Marie and she was afraid he was angry. But he wasn’t.
Then she noticed him start to tear up as he picked up a photo from the box.
Adamo rushed to gather up the items to put them back in the boxes. His quick movements startled Marie and she was afraid he was angry. But he wasn’t. Then she no ced him star ng to tear up as he picked up a photo from the box.
She broke the silence and asked “What’s the picture of grandpa”?
She broke the silence and asked “What’s the picture of, grandpa?”
“I haven’t l ked at this in a very long me, Marie.
“I haven’t looked at this in a very long time Maria. It’s bringing back a lot of memories. A time of being with family - when I used to make shoes.”
It’s bringing back a lot of memories of my father - when I used to make shoes together.”
Astonished, Marie sat and listened to her grandfather’s stories about his store. “How did you make shoes?...Who bought them?
Te me a about it grandpa!”
Astonished, Marie sat and listened to her grandfather’s stories about his store. “How did you make shoes?...Who bought them? Tell me all about it grandpa”! When he finished his stories he looked down at Marie and realized he had been very distant and had never taken the time to share his stories. They hugged and he continued to
He explained that as a young boy growing up in Italy, he was a shoe making a ren ce in his
He explained how he learned shoemaking when he was young in Italy
Hand made shoes were beginning to become too expensive. Factories were making them for much less money so Adamo had to change his business. He began to only sell shoes.
A er making a name for himself with his busine , crea ng shoes by hand was becoming t expensive for most people. Factories were making them for much le money so Adamo had to change his busine . He began to only se shoes.
He looked at Maria’s face and was reminded of Francesca, his wife. She was there when
He l ked at Marie’s face and was reminded of his wife, Pe ine a.
She was there through everything, even when he had to close his shop and he was su enly reminded of how important family was.
As they are cleaning up, under a few of the fa en boxes, lay one special box.
Inside, wais a pair of shiny handcra ed leather shoes.
As she walked around she no ced that the sole was p ling away.
Together, Marie and Adamo got to work.
The next day....
A er a long night of repairs, Marie was eager to get to sch l and show o her new shoes.
When they a ived at Marie’s sch l, she hu ed her grandfather g dbye, and rushed towards her friends.
“L k! L k!” She raved.
Adamo waved g dbye as he held his most cherished photograph.
F ling closer to his gran aughter, he was proud that he could pa on his cra
This is my great grandfather Adamo DeSan s I dedicate this b k to him and to a the grandfathers and cra speople s crea ng.
