Angelino: the little angel friend of every child
2nd chapter
ANGELINO: The little angel friend of every child.
"Angelino, stop... where are you going in such a hurry and in a car... then?" The old factory caretaker, had come out of the guardhouse to try and stop that little angel who was so busy bringing a smile to all the children of the world. For a while now, he had hardly used his wings, Angelino had become motorized. Since he had met a special person, a "pilotess", yes, that's right, a sweet and generous woman pilot, Angelino had been taken by motor fever. He was no longer himself, he had forgotten to use his soft wings, that means of transport that who knows how many motorists, often stuck in long traffic jams, would like to see popping up. Angelino had met Miss Speed at the hospital for a charity event during which the beautiful and daring lady was to donate a sum of money raised to buy new equipment for the paediatrics department. Angelino was there, sensitive to the sufferings of those children who were fighting against something unknown, bigger than them and incomprehensible even to an angel, to grant a wish and bring a smile. Angelino was only visible to the children, the adults did not see him, indeed sometimes he played tricks on them, such as making sheets of paper fly from the head nurse's hand, or exchanging the sugar jar for the salt jar in the kitchens when the nurses were drinking coffee during their breaks.
That day it was a great party, the driver, who wore a beautiful red overalls, distributed gifts and sweets while sweet notes spread through the air and when the last toy was donated, Miss Speed gathered all the children around her and began to tell the story of the Mille Miglia, the story of the race that had undoubtedly contributed to the progress of the automobile. The children followed in fascination and rapture the daring adventures of the drivers who raced amidst an extraordinary backdrop of jubilant spectators along a route that crossed some of Italy's most historically rich and artistically beautiful places. They raced cramped in narrow cockpits, their feet roasted by the exhaust pipes placed under the sheet metal floor, and maneuvered with difficulty large wooden steering wheels. The smell of burnt oil... the buzz of creaking sheet metal, but it was worth it. The public considered them heroes, admired them for their temerity. That lady had intrigued him a lot and, at the end of the party, he decided to follow her because he wanted to know everything about her, he had never seen a woman running in a car, usually men are more passionate about engines and speed. At the end of the party, the children went back to their rooms, tired but happy to have spent such a nice day. Miss Speed said goodbye to the authorities and headed for the exit to return to her red open car that would take her home. Angelino, in the blink of an eye, slipped and hid in the back seat of that small and fast car and his eyes lingered on the woman's long black hair that the helmet could barely contain and that fluttered making a scent of honey and bitter almonds reach his nostrils. He liked the woman not so much for her physical appearance, but for her courage and goodness. In the hospital the children had been fascinated and he more than anyone else could recognize the intensity of that light of joy and curiosity that he had read in their eyes.
Don't miss the next episode to find out Angelino's story. Written and created by Elvira Ruocco
