In the wake of Bella's smile

escape with us

And there I was....
staring out of my inharatance,
a three hundred year old diamond
cut glass lead came window.
High on a steep terraced hillside
overlooking this early morning
sweeping sun drenched Tuscan
village.
Someone's almost perfect villa
wrapped around my lonely
undeserving sense of self.

I say almost"because of the roof,
it lay crumbled beneath my cocked
sideways terracotta dust covered
boots.
Open to the early morning sky
I too was bathing in amber light.

After clearing rubble and broken
weathered bones of left behind
old world furnishings,
I dreamt close to lathered
embers crackling in the
blackened smooth stone
fireplace under familiar stars.

The next morning I hiked down to
the village cafe where I rented a
room with a small balcony over
this quaint garden dining area.
Arousing wafts of expresso,
hints of live rosemary and
fresh baked croissants.
Lucky me, the rental sign had
just been put in the window.
I was perfectly situated across
from my beautiful Tuscan villa!

My imagination reached vividly
over my watery gray existence.
All this money falling into my lap,
some foreign land...  a home....

A few weeks later Bella
the daughter of the cafe's owner,
called out to me from the street.
In her stern yet charming accent
informed me that the crate partially
blocking the patio dining entrance
was for me.

Myself, the dishwasher Carlo and
Bella stared into the opened crate.
It's this old hollywood movie prop,
the one and only iconic sea green
vintage Vespa scooter used in the
1953 film Roman Holiday.
Twenty two bids and it was all mine!

With his mouth open
Carlo's eyes swelled.
Bella turned away angrily....
I wasn't sure why.

In his excitement Carlo informed me
that his older brother Tommaso
restores and rents vintage scooters
near the Piazza Venezia in Rome, and
that I should trust only him to put it
back together.
I agreed, Carlo arranged for
it to be shipped toTommaso in Rome.

The old me had all the trust issues,
somehow the new me just let it go.

I applied for citizenship and was told
I was not to leave the country until
a decision was reached.
I felt strange about giving up on
America, at the same time I felt that
I would not live to see her truly united.
The colors of the flag seem to be
disembodied from the whole symbol.
Some white separating red from blue.

Weeks turned months as curious
Caffè Piaggio's patrions and I gazed
across at my little piece of heaven.
Measuring with my feet and sketching
plans turned into jumping through the
hoops to meet the strict renavation codes.
About the time I became a dual citizen
my new home had a reclaimed tile roof
and a balcony too!

Unfortunately Carlo disappeared
around the same time the cafe
was broken into and the cash box
was cleand out....

Bella told me she knew someone
who knew Tommaso and we should
go to Rome and possably find the Vespa.
She told me that vintage Vespas have
a way of disappearing from this part of
Toscana.

She was too beautiful and a little too young.
I wasn't sure whether I was more afraid
of getting us deep into trouble in Rome
or forgetting how older men can become
creepy to a youthful irresistible beauty.

She took my hand and pulled me on to
to the southbound train. For the next
hour and a half she lived in her phone.

It was getting dark and I was
feverishly pacing in my head.
She was twirling her arms length
braid around pearlescent lavender
polished fingernails.
Her glances,soft fluid Italian voice
and reassuring smile helped keep me
seated.I was just getting adjusted to
the incredible speed of the train
as it trembled into Rome.

A short taxi ride later in a sparkling blur
of beautiful lights, she said
"Whatever happens never say my name."
"No Bella" "No Bella"....
Her glossy brown eyes locked with
mine as I gulped air and swallowed.

The car door flew open and four shapely
legs appeared in red tail light glow.
Out of thier steamy silhouette in a rushed
wispered voice"veloce veloce."
We followed them across the street and
climed into a gleaming sliver convertible.
In the back seat Bella pulled my head into
her lap....
Silenced bracelets pressed into my neck;
her forefinger touched to her lips 'shushed'
I layed there witnessing the emanating
light and shadow rome over her full lips
as her long eye lashes aimed steadily
through the sporty windshield.
Nestled below her ribs I felt her racing
pulse gaining in stride with mine.
The weight of her cool black braid rippling
across the bridge of my nose heightened
my senses as the topless night air swirled.

That full moon loreded over the
branched veining old world roads
beneath blue black cloudless sky.

After a few harsh turns we pulled into a
villa's garage and came to a slow stop.
Bella kept me in a tight grasp as four
girlish footsteps disappeared behind
a softly closed door.

She wispered
"it's under that blanket by the work bench."
We gently lifted the cover and for the
first time I saw my 1946 Vespa the first
of it's kind.

As we quietly attempted to push the Vespa
out into the moonlight I stumbled over
an oil pan and toppled a dirt bike onto
the rear bumper of the convertible
snagging me down with it.

I could hear Bella kickstarting the Vespa.
My attempts to stand seemed futile
as my feet slipped in the spreading oil.

We could hear dogs barking as a man
shouted "Silenzio! Silenzio!"

I "gulped "

Bella's struggling figure
desperately kicking away.

The door thrust open....
On went the light.
I ripped away my sleeve
rolled over and got to my feet.
The little scooter fired up!
Bella took off....
I ran out of there as a crowbar
just missed my head
violently tumbling across
the stone paved drive.
Bella skidded to a stop.
I slid onto the fender,
looking back as we pulled away
fast moving shepherds closed in.

Full throttled dirt bike screams....
Whoever was coming after us
certainly could outrun two on
a little vintage scooter....

Out of that blue smoke filled garage
came a roaring thunderous
wound out of control
head-on smoke trailing slam'
into a stammered parked
primer gray work van.

I was furled around Bella's slender
waist as gnashing fangs flanked our
tucked elbows.... they tore away
Bella's hem I could see her exposed
scratched thighs pressed together as
I screamed, kicked and pounded thier
mussels.

Cutting through open yards
we smashed through patio furniture,
then plowed through a field of
deep white lillies.
Earthy tasting blizzard of delicate
soft waxy petal flesh on my tongue,
as honeyed spice mist rushed
over us in white flickering
headlight flurry.

Soon after we made it to the road
leaving the dogs behind.

I kissed her on the cheek.
With Bella's braid alive over
my shoulder,
we leaned into the night,
into the pulsating arteries of Rome
and at times with airplane arms.
The rush of the night air foiled
away my thief of time.
Her creamy white silk blouse
whipped away at the years
between us....
I so didn't want it to end.

Then;

I wondered what Bella was...

The purr of the engine slowly
dissolved to a lonely hum....
... I could not help the fact that I had
become infatuated with Bella,
after all, in that fleeting moment
with her in my arms...
she filled the void carved out by my
life's unfurling circumstance.

The night air mixed with the lavender
growing along this winding path.
We leaned in softly to each curve,
following small ground lights
leading to a stone arched gate
vine wrapped in blue moonflowers.
We stopped.

After a curious lengthy pause....

....."let me introduce you
to my mother."

That was the third time
I gulpt air that night.

This time her eyes smiled as I
fell into her lovely expression.
I nodded yes.
As we approached the doorway
the intricate cut glass door and
matching side lights warmly
sparkled like candlelight through
brilliant cristal.

Her name is Serafina.
Sweetly greeted by her firmiller
glossy brown gaze,delicate hands
and full lips.
Thier resemblance rekindled hope
infused smooth blackened stone
dreams.
Her voice was distinctly unique,
a kind and gentle colored rasp
with a refined finish.
I noticed thier matching braided
hair taken in both sides of their
embrace. I was enchanted.

Over the most delicious crusty
torn pieces of sourdough plunged
in perfectly peppered tomato soup;
my half empty glass brimmed as
that night spiritually poured on.

I was taken aback as Serafina
was excited to explaine how she
was the mastermind behind this
well coordinated plan to recover
my specail storied little sea green
Vespa!
Bella's face lit with joyfull retelling
of our bumbling escape as the
beautiful smatter of white lillies
still adorned her hair.

My second chance life...
out of a iconic film and it's
timeless little heart warming
machine that bonds it's
wishful rider's together.

I graciously thanked them both.
Then offered them to go for a ride
anytime.
I could see my pining eye's
reflected in Serafina's.
She tilted her head adorably
before saying,

"let me drive"

The room glowed
in the wake of Bella's
smile.



"Fine'

Author's Note

This story is based around the actual first Vespa the motor scooter that was featured in the classic iconic 1958 feature film Roman Holiday, It captured the attention of the world and exploded the sale and use of motor scooters from a few to millions.

Reviews

[Soren]

Stories of fantasy are often the most interesting. This one bounced between the credible and the incredible. I found it interesting and engaging and it flowed well. Nicely done.

[Throwing Romeo]

I'm pleased that you chose
this one.Thank you for the kind words.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a very interesting story poem....I want one of those bikes...

[Throwing Romeo]

Thank's,
The world's oldest Vespa that was also used in the classic 1953 film, Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, has sold at auction for more than a quarter million dollars. There were 21 bids for the working scooter which was hand-crafted in 1946.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

And such a great film that was!