Page - 15 - in In and Out & www.whatsyourname.you

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 17 “How should we know that? Is there a sign? A bill of sale that demonstrates that you bought it?” asked Jensika, who wanted to become a lawyer. “Ha ha ha, but here everyone knows that this place is ours. It’s something we decided ages ago, and no one has ever said anything since the time we took it,” said Totore, pointing at an area that was much larger than the area where his friends were standing. Jensika was imagining what types of convincing arguments those guys had used to take possession of the area, and while she was trying to explain to Totore that, according to her, he had no right to occupy forever a place in a public park, Totore pushed Mario. In that moment, Gaetano was passing by. He saw everything and suddenly remembered what he was talking about the day before with the others: “You are my world,” he had said. “I’ll look after you, always!” A terrible scream re-echoed in the park. Gaetano hurled at Totore, and two of his friends intervened to stir up the fight. “Enough, enough,” Jensika cried. “You beasts!” But at a certain point, she decided to join the fight when she saw Mario being punched on his chin. Luckily, before someone could be seriously injured, the garden keeper arrived and started to swear, “Those damned guys… I’m calling the police!” “Guys, the police!” someone cried out in the middle of the confusion. It took a few seconds; everybody ran away in every direction leaving behind a cloud of dust. Later, when things calmed down, it was Mimmo’s turn to speak to Totore and his friends. Mariella and Rahma waited for him from a bit far away to check that nothing dangerous had happened. Totore respected Mimmo since they had shared a story sometime earlier, so they said hello in a friendly way and started to talk seriously about what had happened. Mariella and Rahma saw them discuss, get angry, laugh, hug, and finally say good-bye, patting each other on their backs.