Free The City and the House by Natalia Ginzburg Page A

grey woollen dress with four big buttons down one side of her belly and four down the other, with an air of being serious, determined, deep in thought. Every now and again though she would give a shrill, unexpected burst of laughter, like the shrieking of some bird, when she upset the milk or burnt the toast. Danny told me that she and her mother do, not see eye to eye. Anne Marie is also a strong, arrogant woman. I finally realized why Danny came and sat in my room. Because he couldn’t stand Anne Marie and he had realized that I couldn’t stand her either.
    Danny must be about Alberico’s age, or a few years older. Like Alberico he had a difficult childhood. Alberico wasn’t tossed backwards and forwards because there was always Aunt Bice. But he too experienced little or no happiness while he was a child. Everywhere you look you find difficult childhoods, insomnia, neuroses, problems.
    I think I’ll return to Italy in a few months. I thought I’d stay here till June and then return. You will have,to help me find a house. I haven’t talked about it to Ferruccio. I’ll tell him when it’s convenient. Selling my house was certainly a big mistake. You were right. Never mind, what’s done can’t be undone and there’s a reason for everything. A stupid proverb because the things we do often have neither rhyme nor reason to them. Remember me to the Lanzaras. Sometimes I hate them because they are in my house. That house will always be mine, even if I have sold it to the Lanzaras. Remember me to the walls of my house, to the convent garden, to the newspaper kiosk, to the Mariuccia Restaurant and to the Café Esperia.
    Alberico phoned me. He told me he will go back to Italy at the end of the month. I imagine that he will have to look for a house too.
    Giuseppe

ROBERTA TO ALBERICO
    Rome, 23rd January
    Dear Alberico,
    Egisto has told me that there is an empty flat under his. The previous tenant left a few days ago. I don’t know if you can remember who Egisto is. He is a friend of your father’s, and also of mine. A journalist. He lives in Piazza San Cosimato. I met him in the street this morning. He told me about the flat and I phoned the landlady. Then I went there and I think she must have liked me because she immediately agreed to show me the flat. I immediately offered to pay her two months’ rent. I went to the bank to withdraw the cash and I took it over to her.
    I phoned you before I went to the bank but I couldn’t get hold of you. I had to hurry and I thought it best to come to an agreement without asking you. The flat has four rooms. There are some loose tiles and the fittings are shabby, but I don’t think that will worry you. It costs four hundred thousand lire a month. That’s more than it’s worth but not too much more. You can give me the money I’ve paid in advance when you come.
    I hope you haven’t changed your mind in the meantime. If you have changed your mind let me know at once. And in any case let me know the date of your arrival. I have the keys.
    Roberta
    To be honest with you, as soon as he had told me about the flat Egisto rather regretted that he’d done so, probably because he remembered that you had been in prison, and the various things people say about you. He was afraid that you might make him appear in a bad light with his landlady. He started to say that the flat was tiny and too expensive and dark. But I didn’t pay any attention. I had to drag the landlady’s number out of him. He couldn’t retreat any further. On the other hand he’s a trustworthy person and as he will have the flat above yours you’ll be able to ask him to do lots of things for you.

ALBERICO TO ROBERTA
    Berlin, 28th January
    Dear Roberta,
    As I told you on the phone yesterday everything’s fine with me. Thanks very much, as always you’ve been marvellous. I can’t remember this Egisto fellow. I shall arrive