Italy - Hungry [2/?]
anonymous
August 15 2009, 05:26:16 UTC
Feliciano scrambles to put the pasta on the stove, while Lovino, beside him, stirs busily. This is the fourth day that they have done nothing but cook, but there are more hungry families out there, Feliciano knows-he can feel them, of course he can-and while it is insane, hopeless, useless to try to feed everyone in their country…
Who would he be if he didn’t try?
So Feliciano wipes exhaustion from his eyes and struggles to focus on the food before him. It’s not a complicated recipe, thank goodness, for otherwise Feliciano worries that he would get it wrong.
No, it is simple pasta they are serving on this day, just as they have the past few days. It is not the most practical food, but it is easy, and Feliciano loves pasta, and so does his brother, so Lovino agrees.
Pasta, pasta, pasta, pasta…
Feliciano scoops the finished pasta out of his pot and onto a large dish, and Lovino is there with the sauce, dependable as always.
Only when Lovino leaves to deliver this food does Feliciano permit himself a yawn.
They have, so far, managed to avoid the inevitable questions-why don’t you need to sleep? Why don’t you need to work? Just who are you?-because not everyone can work four days straight at a simple volunteer kitchen, providing food for the homeless. But he knows that they will face those questions soon, and…He wants to feed as many of his people as he can before he loses the opportunity.
Still, though he doesn’t need sleep, not like normal people do, not sleeping still takes its toll on him.
He has even given up his siestas for these few days, because he realized early on that hunger does not sleep.
Feliciano grabs more pasta.
And Lovino is back, a faint smile on his face, and expression that even Feliciano, despite being his twin, has trouble reading.
They cook in silence, and Feliciano can feel his eyes drooping shut. He shakes his head, firmly focuses on his cooking, and they soon create another large dish of the food.
This time, Lovino gives Feliciano an odd look and says, “You take the food out to them, fratello.”
So Feliciano does. He carries the large dish carefully out into the open, and the line of people amazes him; so long, too long.
But as he begins to dish out the meal he has created, he realizes something. Each person comes up to him with a grateful smile. There are people of all sorts; women with children, elderly men, younger couples struggling to survive.
But they can all manage to find a smile for him, this odd young man who is giving them food, so that they can continue another day.
And suddenly, Feliciano wants to cry.
He gives out all of the pasta, and there are more people waiting, hopeful to get a meal before a miserable attempt at sleep.
Feliciano takes the empty dish back to the kitchen and looks at Lovino, and suddenly he understands that odd expression his brother wore, for his is similar.
And suddenly, it does not matter to him how tired he might be, for he does not intend to rest until he has, at least, fed those people-his brave people, struggling to continue from day to day, but never giving up-some of his homemade pasta.
Re: Italy - Hungry [2/?]
anonymous
August 15 2009, 21:21:06 UTC
I think this is my favorite one so far, anon, because hunger is such an invasive and devastating aspect of so many people's lives, particularly in less developed areas of the world. This made me tear up.
Re: Italy - Hungry [2/?]
anonymous
August 16 2009, 02:16:56 UTC
I love how you wrote this. The dedication, love and passion of Italy and Romano for their people. And then the gratefulness and appreciation of their people for them, the volunteers, receiving and also giving back.
The smiles makes such an impact. It's a simple gesture that spurs and encourages others.
Who would he be if he didn’t try?
So Feliciano wipes exhaustion from his eyes and struggles to focus on the food before him. It’s not a complicated recipe, thank goodness, for otherwise Feliciano worries that he would get it wrong.
No, it is simple pasta they are serving on this day, just as they have the past few days. It is not the most practical food, but it is easy, and Feliciano loves pasta, and so does his brother, so Lovino agrees.
Pasta, pasta, pasta, pasta…
Feliciano scoops the finished pasta out of his pot and onto a large dish, and Lovino is there with the sauce, dependable as always.
Only when Lovino leaves to deliver this food does Feliciano permit himself a yawn.
They have, so far, managed to avoid the inevitable questions-why don’t you need to sleep? Why don’t you need to work? Just who are you?-because not everyone can work four days straight at a simple volunteer kitchen, providing food for the homeless. But he knows that they will face those questions soon, and…He wants to feed as many of his people as he can before he loses the opportunity.
Still, though he doesn’t need sleep, not like normal people do, not sleeping still takes its toll on him.
He has even given up his siestas for these few days, because he realized early on that hunger does not sleep.
Feliciano grabs more pasta.
And Lovino is back, a faint smile on his face, and expression that even Feliciano, despite being his twin, has trouble reading.
They cook in silence, and Feliciano can feel his eyes drooping shut. He shakes his head, firmly focuses on his cooking, and they soon create another large dish of the food.
This time, Lovino gives Feliciano an odd look and says, “You take the food out to them, fratello.”
So Feliciano does. He carries the large dish carefully out into the open, and the line of people amazes him; so long, too long.
But as he begins to dish out the meal he has created, he realizes something. Each person comes up to him with a grateful smile. There are people of all sorts; women with children, elderly men, younger couples struggling to survive.
But they can all manage to find a smile for him, this odd young man who is giving them food, so that they can continue another day.
And suddenly, Feliciano wants to cry.
He gives out all of the pasta, and there are more people waiting, hopeful to get a meal before a miserable attempt at sleep.
Feliciano takes the empty dish back to the kitchen and looks at Lovino, and suddenly he understands that odd expression his brother wore, for his is similar.
And suddenly, it does not matter to him how tired he might be, for he does not intend to rest until he has, at least, fed those people-his brave people, struggling to continue from day to day, but never giving up-some of his homemade pasta.
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I.. just wow...
Thank you anon
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The smiles makes such an impact. It's a simple gesture that spurs and encourages others.
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