Lucia Gets Thanked

Mister Ezio was part of a family that had been taking care of the village for years. He had a white mustache, and was both dignified and kind.

“I see, so you’re the one that saved Giotto. I heard all about it from him. Now, my home may be small, but please, come in.”

Softening his amber eyes, he invited us inside. When we went in, Mister Giotto was there, sitting with Dahlia on his lap.

“The Sacred Maiden!” Mister Giotto shot up as soon as he saw me, while Dahlia slipped off his lap and ran over to me. “Lucia!”

“Oh, I’m not the Sacred Maiden! She’s a different person.” I corrected Mister Giotto.

I had to deny it. My Soap is too boring for me to be the Sacred Maiden! I only found out it had another use a while ago!

“You are to me,” he said. “If not for you...I would have died, leaving Dahlia all alone. I could never thank you enough, but still, thank you. You saved my life.”

“Yeah, thank you for saving Grampie, Lucia! Thanks to you, they said I can live with him again. I’m so happy!”

While I was flustered from being thanked, Missus Romina laughed and patted me on the back to calm me down. “Ye definitely saved both Giotto and Dahlia, girlie. Now, Ezio. These two need supplies for a journey. I know we can’t offer them money, but we can at least get ’em some things.”

“You’re right, we can. I’m sorry, travelers, would that be alright?”

“Yes, that would be a great help.” Sir Celes readily agreed. “We’ll take you up on your offer for food and water, thank you.”

We still needed money, but it was good that our food problems would be solved.

◆ ◆ ◆

With blankets, rope, a knife, towels, first-aid kit, a change of clothes, soap, water, and food — everything we needed for our journey was piling up on Mister Ezio’s table.

“Uwah!” Suddenly, something was thrown over my head, blocking my vision. Surprised, I pulled it off, and then saw that it was a light yellow dress.

“You can have it.” Turning around, I saw that it was Miss Lella. “You’re wearing Granny Romina’s clothes, aren’t you? You shouldn’t be wearing old lady clothes like that when you’re with Mister Celestino! You’re already so plain, after all.”

“Miss Lella.”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant to say. I came to apologize to you...” Grimacing to herself, she turned to face me straight on, and bowed her head. “I’m sorry for being horrible to you yesterday! I did it because I’m having trouble finding someone to marry, and seeing you so happy bothered me, but I was wrong. Once I got home, Granny got super mad at me, and I realized what I’d done. I’m sorry it took so long for me to apologize.”

“Ah—”

“I can’t change the fact that I hurt you, but I can at least try to help you get on with your journey. That used to be Cara’s. A long time ago, we made some dye from apricot leaves. It looked really nice, so we both made dresses from it. Mine would be too tight on you, so you can have hers. She’d want you to have it.”

“It was mommy’s?” Dahlia spoke up while I was wondering who Cara was.

“Yep, your mommy’s. It was given to me after she died. Lucia saved Uncle Giotto, and made sure you wouldn’t be lonely. So your mommy would want to thank her, too. So thank you. Because of you, Dahlia won’t have to cry anymore.”

Miss Lella called Dahlia over and gave her a big hug.

“Thank you both, Miss Lella, Dahlia!”

“Hey, we’re the ones thanking you here!”

“Thank you so much, Lucia!”

Holding the dress I got from Miss Lella close, I smiled with both of them.