Badfellas by Tonino Benacquista Emily Read Read Free Book Online

Cagnes-sur-Mer that the American had gone home to get treatment for his nervous troubles.
    “Here, Maggie, they’ll leave me in peace. They leave writers in peace.”
    At that she left the room, slamming the door, with the firm intention of leaving him in peace until death.

    Mme Lacarrière, the music teacher, regarded Miss Blake’s late arrival in her class as a miracle. Belle, unlike those who regarded her class as an opportunity to finish a maths exercise or read through an essay, took the lesson very seriously and joined in on everyone else’s behalf. She was the only one who knew major from minor, or that Bach came before Beethoven, or who could even sing in tune. The tragedy of Mme Lacarrière’s twelve-year teaching career had hitherto been that she had never found the pupil – the one who would have discovered music through her, who would have continued with the subject, who would have played and composed, and who would have made her role as a teacher, so often put into question, entirely worthwhile.
    “I say, Miss Blake…”
    All the teachers, disconcerted by the name Belle, preferred to address her as “Miss Blake”.
    “The lycée is organizing an end-of-term concert, with parents and graduates invited. I’m in charge of the choir, which is going to sing Haydn’s Stabat Mater . I would very much like it if you could join us.”
    “Out of the question.”
    “What?”
    “You can count me out!”
    She had given the same answer to the French teacher, who was putting on a sketch written by the pupils. Ditto to Mme Barbet, who was choreographing a modern dance tableau.
    “But… Think about it… Your parents will be there, I should think… And the mayor, and the local press…”
    “I’ve thought about it.”
    Belle got up and walked out of the class, without permission, before the amazed stares of her classmates; she decided to go and work off her rage in the playground. The local press… Just thinking of Quintiliani’s reaction made her give an uncharacteristic groan. The witness-protection programme strictly forbade protected families from appearing in any photos or making any public appearances. Belle began to resent those who even suggested that she play any part in this damned end-of-term show.
    “You’re just being shy, Belle. Appearing in public might help! A lot of people have conquered their shyness by acting in plays.”
    Her, shy? She had the confidence of a film star! She was as bold as a saloon-bar singer! But she was forced to conceal the real reason for her refusal from those who were urging her to appear on stage: I’m not just a little idiot waiting to be begged – it’s just that I can’t show myself anywhere, the United States of America have forbidden me. Apparently I would be risking my life and my family’s life, and it’ll be like that for as long as I live .
    Still ten minutes till the lunch bell. Belle was getting impatient – she wanted to see Warren. He was the only one she could complain to, he who had long since given up complaining himself about this curse they lived under. She went back into the main building and sat down on the ground, opposite the classroom where her brother was having a history lesson.
    Since early childhood, Warren had had an annoying habit of picking and choosing his educational options.By carefully planning for his adult life he had made a certain number of choices, making it possible, in his view, to concentrate only on essentials. For him the only two subjects which deserved a little of his attention were history and geography. The first was out of respect for his origins, the second in order to defend his territory. He had always felt the need to understand how the world worked, and how it had been organized before he was born. Even back in Newark he had been curious about his background, his descent, the history of his history. Where had his family come from and why had it left Europe? How had America become the United States? Why