Short Story
s s e n e v i g r o F l a u nt
Eve
It was so still in my room that the clock on the mantelpiece was audible. That and the squeak of my pen on Christmas cards were the only sounds. Outside snow was falling and the twinkling tree lights were giving an intermittent rhythm by the lace curtains, underlining my solitude. The phone rang. The caller’s number was as long as the screen. It was an international call. The answering device kicked in. The voice I heard brought back a million memories. ‘Hi’ the once familiar strong Italian accent strummed like the fingers of a harpist, on my pounding heart. ‘It’s Roberto’
by Maxi
I sang for two weeks in every city and covered many miles in the twelve months I had been contracted to tour. That never bothered Roberto. He would work hard all week, and take an internal flight to see me. We visited Niagara Falls, adjacent to the river Niagara on the Ontario side and named after the city it shares with New York. Roberto told me how the businessmen of yesteryear harnessed the power of the water for electricity and inexpensive hydro power to develop commerce. We took a trip to The Blue Mountains where we walked and watched the sunset over snowy hilltops. He took me to see Sault Saint Marie and shared with me the history of the Canadian Indians as we chose delicacies from a smorgasbord. We went to concerts of visiting artists like Leonard Cohen, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.
Roberto.
‘Ireland’ his ebony eyes looked right into mine ‘that’s in Europe right?’
One eventful evening in Montreal, things became serious. ‘You will give up your career, Sweetie, leave Ireland and marry me’ I stopped in my tracks. ‘Tell your parents, you are starting a new life. Tell your management to release you from your contract. I got people who will help you.’ He had it all planned. There was marriage, a business partnership, raising a family and putting down roots. I told him quietly that I missed my family, and loved music. I was not ready to make the change. He dismissed my reasoning with a wave of his hand. I felt the pull of an invisible chuck chain.
When he left he placed his business card in my hand and on the back I found an invitation to lunch the next day. From that moment we were inseparable. He taught me about Canada the land I had chosen to tour and I taught him about Ireland, the land he had never seen.
I tried several more times to explain but each time he bought me an expensive gift and waved away my objections. The day he presented me with the keys of an apartment owned by him I did the unforgiveable and bolted.
The voice shaved years off my life. Suddenly I was singing on stage in Toronto, Canada, watching a tanned young man take his seat front and centre. I was performing nightly to an appreciative audience. At the interval the promoter introduced us. Roberto was a smart businessman who owned a fashion emporium in the city. He was beautifully mannered and fascinated by my Irish accent.
62 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie
