SHORT STORIES - MYES RIMINI Writing Club 2020-21

SHORT STORIES writing club My English School - Rimini

MYES RIMINI Writing Club 20/21 created by Edward Ariel & Jack Giuggioli Sound Engineering Laura Feccomandi

WITH

ISABELLA DI CICCO FILIPPO GATTEI MARIA CECILIA PECCI SIMONA PIOZZI

A word after a word after a word is Power Margaret Atwood

MYES RIMINI PRESS VIA CIRCONVALLAZIONE OCCIDENTALE 32 - RIMINI 0541.384056 - RIMINI@MYES.IT

quiet At

by

place

dawn,

many

he

“Great!” houses

Then,

the

a

the

soon

for

a

All

the

he

Behind

“This

the

just

woman

“What

is

at

was

a

plants

the

tree

at

look

highways, using

sunset,

no

for

the

he

jumping ships

saw

skyscrapers;

the

streets”.

on

the

of

an

he

fell

hill.

a

a

on

holds,

village,

only

Although

ancient

asleep

entered being

were

to

he

heard

the

a

a

few

tired,

portico.

on

the

museum,

he

HippoMa'

steps.

without

paying

mouse!

adorned

taffeta,

possible

he

Furthermore,

any

with

organza,

admire

a

coloured

chiffon

huge

park

curtains,

and in

damask.

the

back.

exclaimed.

someone

talking

in

another

room.

A

man,

the

the

corridor

woman

to

he

finally

woman

replied

“How

had all

fruit

plants

another

visitors

the

being a

are

boy

seen.

The

old

man’s

is

happened flowers

don't

in

the

that

all

park.

yellow,

cyclamen,

The

now

they

geraniums

blossom.

full

entering

voice).

possible

were

withered,

tapestry

boy’s

female

arrived”

the have

young

heard

never

roses

the

and

avoid

around,

the

the a

an

It

found

seemed

seemed

before,

and

more,

(it

of

in

holes.”

the

museum”

another

voice).

left

and

HippoMa'

HippoMa' entered

jumped

quickly

another

room.

into

As

he

depicting

an

voice.

voice

came

from

a

painting

lady.

“It's

impossible”

he

“Of

course,

possible!”

was

staring

She

looked

sober

it’s at

HippoMa’

like

Queen

elegance

imposing

than

thought.

the

and

it

the was

old

clear

Elizabeth,

a

queen.

lady

similar

replied

that

with

pearl

she

the

and

was

same

necklace,

from

losing

the her

hairstyle, but

she

way

she

patience. the

same

was

more

by Isabela Di Cicco

The

I

asked

the

all

dying

today

(it

man

changed;

are

old

as

of

silk,

sick?

violets

have

in

front

heaven!”

dying”

and

“You

and

rivers,

noise,

villa

in

luck

was

one

Suddenly,

looked

The

moment

is

have

said

and

no

HippoMa'

of

brown.

voice

roads

days,

people

balconies

it

getting

say

traffic,

thought,

up,

are

“Don't

to

crying.

are

mimosas

decided

museum.

he

slice

happened?”

“Another

mouse

hill.

fabrics:

curtains

place

a

and

lakes

splendid

course.

precious

a

“No

was

windows

of

of

stopped

woke

of

travelled

interminable

a

and

villa

He

smiling

saw

hill

ticket,

made

old

tomorrow”

as

HippoMà

crossed

three

few

the

it

He

bottom

HippoMa'

visit

city.

exclaimed

and

that

But,

after

he

climbed saw

the

trailers.

at

life,

live.

left

finally,

located

As

to

truck

and,

“I'll

metropolitan

The villa of precious fabrics

Stressed

painting

because

I

is

speaking

haven't

had

and

reading

my

breakfast

yet

and

breakfast

later.

thoughts!

I

am

Maybe

seeing

it

ghosts”

is

just

HippoMa'

thought.

“You

can

have

think

little

about

time.

abilities,

I

hear

because

The to

me,

was

museum

take

villagers

able

is

over

fabrics.

The

inhabitants

fired

and

villa

from

museum,

the

last the

but

news

and

so,

“OK,

but…

Amanda to

is

bought She

village Mr.

Smith,

and

so

are

me,

thanks

village.

to

No

because

your

one

we

intuitive

else

here

can

richest

man

convince to

sprinkles

in

the

village

government

protect

a

the

the

poison

and

park

that

kills

wants the

and

the

the

plants

a

a

very to

the

government low

build

by

skewed

against

the

price, a

inspection.

pretending

casino,

picture

voice,

custodians

to

He

to

get

will

them

buy

take

the

care

of

instead!”

and

shocked

by

the

terrible

asked:

you?”

to

it

world.

uncommon and the

richest

to

in

his

was

precious

all

the

have

its

diabolical

rich

countess,

and

she

for

who

loved

visited

she

plants.

and

to

plants

tourists,

build to

and

a

create

the

whole

museum.

wanted

plan

she

decided

fabrics

own

village,

ago”.

countries

so

attraction

the

a

fabrics

children

an

years

distant

donating

man

many

she

the

no

proud

out

that

and

became

and

carried

began

In

had

hill,

place

happy

all

Hippoma'

the

on

the

he

at

was

Amanda...and

This

was

the

unable

he

to

skills.

to

marched

there

a

marry

museum.

week,

this

your

trying are

planning

with

villa

to

Smith,

is

mesmerised

most

didn't

wonderful a

is

around

the

because

you

have

Mr

and

already

explained

travel

don't

Every

state

who

name

attract

listen

curtains.

he

was

here,

keepers

week

HippoMa'

“My

villa

the

pierces

to

danger.

the

and

are

they

in

that

precious

You

Now

to

against

take the

over

the

keepers

villa the

are

you

do

not

museum.

“Oh,

I’m

doing

sorry”

in

a

don't

trust

him.

know He

wardrobe, but

if

said

“It's

a

terrible

story.

But...what

picture?”

“You

tie,

Hippoma'

Mr.Smith”

seems

and you

he

is

look

something

wrong

magician,

put

a

good

always

into

in

his

like

Amanda

his

his

on

man.

elegantly

black

face…

spell

answered

me

in

and

is

you

this you

in

will

meet

and

a

black

sturdy suit

because

the

only

him,

as

understand

picture

are

you

tall

dressed

eyes,

I'm

He

“If

one

and

that

his

as

bow

there

servant,

that

a

is a

can

help

mean

and

mouse,

too.

me”.

Hippomà

realized

Amanda

could

He

glad

was

gravity

of

Hippoma'

the

the

coloured

“Hmm... thought. when

the

to

of

have

to

he

sun

men

liquid

One

shop

on

of

Anyway, three

had the

them he

men

was

kind…

had to

a

down,

Suddenly

three

same

He

borrowed went

Smith

discovered

ran

the

Mr.

the

situation.

darkness.

window,

be

the

distracted, When

that

to

buy

take a

camera

heard

climbed

but

his

he

a

was

action

camera.

and

special he

understood

the

immediately!

While

the

and

the

use

shopkeeper

money,

museum

outside

fence

a

but

don't

entered thud

the

powerful

power,

(mice

Hippomà

he

very

and

were

of

and

looked

spraying

was

course).

waited out a

of

in

the

strange,

plants.

is

tall

and

photographed

entered

the

as

sturdy

as

everything,

museum

and

a

wardrobe”

especially

sprayed

the

the

Hippoma' moments

curtains.

by Isabela Di Cicco

of

The villa of precious fabrics

“A

the

morning,

the

amazed

and

initially

Hippomà,

who

Amanda’s

painting

saw

that

was

writing

“Great!” and

be

The

days TV

the

the

local

saw

dark

that

in

the

to

on

police

portico,

as

the

photos

the

the

soon

although strange the

metropolitan

the

and

woke

a

desk!

office

ran

up.

painting,

to

the

“My

are

He

but

They

were

immediately.

into was

the

room

amazed

sitting

at

the

where

when desk

he

and

he

tired and

him

to

were

servant

ask

with

around

very

official for

casually

the

you of

saved

Mr.

the

Smith.

celebration

museum Mr.Smith

to

confer

lunches, an

at

municipal

eyes,

for

Hippomà:

parties

autograph.

looked

the

his

busy

his

his

When

himself coat

in

of

electrified

in

honour.

the a

arms, fur

interviews

ceremony

mirror but

and

All

and

then

his

he

curved

understood. and

hungry,

stressful

skyscrapers, life.

and

preparing

ceremony

band

circles

Hippomà”

you.

newspapers,

shining

dear

magician

we

Hippomà

Suddenly

traffic,

as not

of

stopped

ended, the

So,

spell

before

admired

back.

ran

under

exclaimed

citizenship

villagers

the

they

slept was

found

something.

Amanda

and

finally

then

was

arrested

honorary

for

Amanda

broke

will

had

keepers

he

village the

started to

pubs,

go

running back

his

toward

home.

friends

He and

the

exit

missed the

of the

quiet

The villa of precious fabrics

In

by Isabela Di Cicco

was

raining

strangely day so

silent

he

was

full

that

but

he

is

she

Ramon

was

a

to

love

with

her

his

did

she

and

all

the

city

Santa

of

Fe,

the

front

of

his

1960.

sound

of

glass

of

a

friend.

The

Buenos his

was

thoughts.

wine.

bar

Aires

His

was

That

mind

smoky,

was

noisy,

disappear?”

composer

have

over

hear

of

mind.

couldn’t

the

near

in

November

about

within Why

to

sad

care

musician he

3rd

wanted

didn’t

famous

emigrated

the

extremely

now?

moment,

Mercedes

it

travelled

“Where

become

day…

as

sad,

Ramon

that

that

of

known

that

world.

Buenos

Argentine

He

was

her,

was

a

in

born

the

love

in

for

a

and,

story

In

1939,

job

and

at

would

Federacion

1930.

staying

music

and

he

he

met

fell

in

immediately.

****

Merceditas, lived

with

mother

she

had

young, a

the

time.

him.

was

spirit

her

to

for

her

the

a tall

had

fields.

with

her

Noelia,

her

lot.

family

Noelia

she

farm

her.

very

and

She

had

and

thin

and

liked

married

She

but to

very

wanted

to

life.

like

of

her

mother

sacrifice.

but

man

wasn't

in

she

and,

but

had

Mercedes

attracted

independent

a

the

daughters

morning. hard

woman

had

attention

spirit,

normally,

inherited

unusual she

had

her

blond

not

for

hair

only

for

women

her

long

of

blond

the

center

and

was

to

her

and

the

wore

belief

As

after

a

was

a

for

child

shopping,

People that

Pedro

looked

she

played

drove

at

wanted

immensely he

she

and

her

to

her

tall

and

in

a

replace

didn’t

with

her

accept

every

day,

work.

generous

ensure

town

boots.

father

dead.

tired

humble

hard

she

common

loved

was

of

man.

better

He

future

wasn’t

to

his

strong

daughters,

but

Mercedes

Patricia. about

them

becoming

doctors

or

professors

and

wished

for

grandchildren.

that

fateful

usual,

broken

her

When

in

by

sister

she

wanted

day,

the

a

the

told

she

forever.

talked

“My

baby”

will

always

be

by

turned

hardly

breathe.

each

of

to

of

him

her

your

The

them

studying

Noelia.

stay

at

Patricia

beautiful closed

was

playing,

spring

her

day

book,

was

called

home.

standing

what

had

frozen.

didn’t

come

they

walked

as

a

Merceditas

understood

was

of

and

In

close

happened.

a

to

second,

her

together,

time

father's

danced

in

seemed

body, the

she

garden

future.

to

her

was

tranquillity

already

the

told

Noelia

The

Mercedes

about he

to

Noelia

remember

and

cry

her

had

arrived,

to

Merceditas

garden.

cry,

and

heart

stop

and

her

look

She

ran

close

her

cooking

worked

with

like

hair.

she

very

loved

every

father,

for

the

he

he

a

dreamed

her

to

and

that

worked

many

to

went

though

Pedro

as

and

her

walked

Meceditas

even

On

kiss

peasant

father,

was

loved

didn’t

her

also

black

a

happy

and

like

but

way

idea

He

was

who

who

She

with

motorcycle

strange

In

but

She

she

father’s

and

curly

of

her

young

tied.

When

he

lots

common,

eyes,

beauty

the

woman

Merceditas

her

hair

simple

character

grey

lost

sister

strength.

was

Physically,

Having

younger

daughters

singer

and

a

and

as

strong

called

family.

great

her

he

her

was

eyes

wake

be

her

and

mother, black

as

“you

side

and

daughter life

carried

of

must will and

the

for

the

always never

leave

hugged

three rest

follow

her

women of

their

your

heart.

Your

dad

you.” so

tightly

changed life

a

that

in

great

she

that pain

could

moment inside.

by Simona Piozzi

he

painful

was

Aires

where

his

folk

Merceditas

It

Mercedes was

enjoyed

particularly

music

sad

and

dancing.

because

she

The

missed

night

her

she

father

met

Ramon,

more

than

she

others

days.

She

didn't

see

that

distracted

her

While

danced,

she

easier

to

get

that

girl,

until

morning

night

changed at

the

5

those

he

and

streets

calming came.

down.

He

came

to

the

free

whole

and

time,

her

happy

immediately

explain. to

sleep

felt

After

meet

most

the

he

kept for

and

a

but

and

a

the

again

minute.

was

and

as

his

music

the

that

strong

party next

made

feeling

they

day.

it for

chatted

Mercedes

was

Meeting

happy

as

that

ever

in

clothes,

bought

advance.

counting

the

As

he

had

in

his

life

a

bouquet

steps.

walked

It

for

two

hours

but

everywhere

and

never

knew

watched

woman

but

worried.

beautiful

counting

her

meeting

He

meeting

realized He

him.

for

anxious

his

to

looked

the

asked

felt

wore

he

couldn't

inside

he

went

light,

Ramon

couldn’t

time

her

yes.

something

p.m.

her.

he

Ramon

felt

he

replied

same

flowers

to

at

mind.

she

close

and

looked

him

from

afar

was

through

his

way

Mercedes that

until

she

of

of

never

Mercedes

saw

him

go

away Before

leaving

though to

he

didn't

Mercedes

mostly

by

Santa

Fe

Ramon

wrote

know

and

her

they

letter,

as

her

a

letter

address.

The

maintained

they

both

and

a

thought

letter

formal

continued

of

sending

eventually courtship

to

live

in

it

made

for

its

two

Buenos

even way

years,

Aires

and

respectively.

****

In

1941,

refused, Ramon

during

one

ending

the

continued

consequence

of

"Merceditas", music. has the A

The

been

two

In

to

the

send

pain

has

recorded

years. to

her

later

He

been by

her

he

asked

letters

caused the

by

her

most

than

for

his

to

90

many

unrequited

famous

translated

more

1980s

and

article

into

song

nine

marry

more

him

but

years.

love,

of

he

she

from

As

a

composed

Argentine

languages

performers

years

later

him

They

remained

again in

seriously

said

Ramon

but

another

his

wife

but

not

stop

even

about

her

marry

married

Argentine

invited

many

already

did

an

an

Ramón

loved

Mercedes

published

she

visits,

engagement.

considered

text

years

the

so,

his

and

popular the

different

song

parts

of

world.

few

him

of

to

he

trade her

two

was

one

made

met

of

She

yet

by

but

of

his

wife

belonging

his

Ramon

accepted Once

died that

after

bound

life.

interviewed

song.

again.

refused

her

day

the

Aires.

correspondence ill,

feeling

magazine

and

Buenos

the

that

woman

Mercedes

was the

again

he

able

and

to

find

invitation

and

asked

her

to

her.

until

the

another

end

of

marriage

1995

when

proposal.

he,

Again

no.

died

unrequited, Mercedes unrequited

on he

December left

died love

the

her

1995.

copyright

unmarried to

25,

on

of

July

In

his

extreme

Merceditas 8,

2001,

to

act her

taking

of in

the

love, his

eternally

will.

secret

of

this

grave.

Author's note: this tale is based on a true story, a story of love and music that marked the lives of two people, a story that is sometimes sad but also exciting and that has intrigued many people in the world of Argentine music.

I don't know why, out of all the stories that I could have written and invented, I chose this one but I know that the day I started thinking about it I looked at an old black and white photo I received from school as a cue, I closed my eyes and started to feel this song within me that I have danced too many times and that transforms a tango room into a magical moment. We will never know what truth that lies behind this suffered love and perhaps this is what makes this song so special.

by Simona Piozzi

At

troubled

something

immediately

That

he

Merceditas

***

is

Mrs.

that

dancer

Hathaway

sitting

on

about

the

thought ground

something,

almost

fifty

women.

magician

his

of

was

moment,

his

right

young

daughter

(and

Hathaway’s that So

emanated

why

show? at

is

is

girl

in

the

dinner Molly

(as

the

was

the

be

so

show

had

knew

that

the

point

contact on

him

daughter). the

nightclub

like

she

a

stupid husband

male

pale

was

where

her

the

in

loved

his

his

What

felt

George

of

on

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