“my dear, don’t you understand,” said sonia’s

8/14/2019 My Dear, Dont You Understand, Said Sonias

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My dear, dont you understand, said Sonias mother. This isnt just any man, this is the

doctors son.

Sonia was on the sofa, dressing gown pulled tightly around her waist, feeling very

sorry for herself.

All I asked you to get was medicine for my flu, she said. Not a fiancee!

Her mother explained how Doctor Baldoni had called her back to the surgery after

hed written the prescription. It was his son, Osvaldo, hed said. Did she think he and Sonia

would look well together? She hadnt answered immediately, of course. It didnt do to be too

forward.

But I never even spoke to the man, said Sonia.

Yes but, imagine what kind of life you could have!

Up till that point her mother had shown no interest in Sonias boyfriends. Right now

she could almost hear her brain ticking over. Shed had a hard time of it bringing her up after

their father died. In moments of rage she often went on about how different things might have

been if shed been lucky enough to marry a lawyer from the city.

Suddenly, everything fitted into place. Sonia had often wondered why Osvaldos

Lancia cruised past their house several times a day. After all, his work as a clerical assistant

at the Ufficio Communale hardly involved travelling. It was, she had to admit, flattering to be

the focus of his attention. On the other hand, shed have been more flattered if the attention

had come from Sergio, the handsome postman. Before she could say exactly what she

meant, her mother interrupted her.

And looks arent everything.

In Sonias mind the gleaming Lancia cruised round and round the square whilst her

friends looked on in envy. Who knows, she thought, maybe he has a nice personality to go

with his nice car? Maybe he just needed someone to bring him out of himself?

Her mother organised their first meeting with military precision. Early one Saturday

evening there was a knock at the door. Smiling knowingly to herself, her mother went to

answer it. Sonia listened to the brief exchange from the sitting room. Every so often her

mothers voice was overtaken by an odd-sounding squeak. It occurred to Sonia that, though

she had seen Osvaldo on numerous occasions, she had never heard him speak.

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Pleased to meet you, Osvaldo said, extending his hand. He was tall and gangly with

coarse ginger hair and sunken cheeks and appeared to have a permanent look of surprise on

his face. His badly-fitting Prince of Wales check suit hardly helped matters. Under his arm

was a box of chocolates.

I almost forgot, he said, handing her mother the chocolates.

Sonias mother watched the exchange as though witnessing a religious spectacle.

Osvaldo stared at his shoes for a moment. The only sound, apart from his clearing his throat,

came from the game show on TV. Finally, he backed into the hall, nodding at her mother as

he left.

So, he called. Tomorrow morning then?

Through the window Sonia watched him almost tripping over the fence as he headed

towards his gleaming car.

Well, then, said her mother.

Maybe hes just never met the right person, thought Sonia.

At nine thirty, Osvaldos Lancia pulled up outside the house. Sonia listened from the landing.

Good morning, he said, his strange voice drifting upstairs.

Sonia had decided to wear the pale green summer dress her mother had bought her

for her nineteenth birthday. By the time she came downstairs her mother was pouring

cappuccino into her best cups. She passed one to her friend, Filomena, as though it were a

cup of consecrated wine. Osvaldo nibbled a biscuit.

Of course, he said, eyeing Sonia over his cappuccino, the Lancia does less miles

to the gallon than other cars, but it has other merits. The braking system, for example.

Im sure its a far superior machine to my daughters Panda, said Sonias mother.

Wondering when her mother had become such an authority on cars, Sonia said, OK,

lets go.

Osvaldo quickly gulped down his cappuccino and quickly got to his feet. He was

wearing an expensive grey silk suit that pulled up short on both wrists. A good inch of white

sock showed below the cuffs of his trousers.

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All the way to the church people turned to stare at the familiar Lancia, some of them

glancing at Sonia and talking behind their hands. Sonia suddenly became aware of an

overpowering scent.

Whats that smell? she said.

It must be my aftershave, said Osvaldo. I dropped the bottle in the sink when I was

shaving this morning. I didnt want to waste it.

By the time they arrived at the church Sonias head was beginning to throb.

Throughout the Mass she found herself listening to Osvaldos voice as he chanted the

responses. She had thought maybe his odd voice was due to nervousness, but it didnt alter

even when he was singing. Though the church was barely half full, Sonia felt hot. She was

glad when they were out in the fresh air.

They walked up and down the square, Sonia fanning herself nervously with the back

of her hand. She told Osvaldo she felt a little feverish. He said, Dont worry, in the country

we had a horse once that went down with a fever. My father found the right medicine for him.

He soon got well. Then he added, Mind you, he died six months later.

I see, said Sonia.

Then, somehow or other, he turned the conversation round to the extensive collection

of football cards he had hoarded since childhood.

Sonia glanced back at her mother as she dawdled at a discreet distance. The proud

look on her face and that of Filomena offered no comfort. Once or twice Sonia was sure she

heard laughter when people passed them. Then Osvaldo said, How is your flu, by the way?

She told him it had almost passed, but before they had completed the square yet

again he had asked the question another five times.

Im sure Osvaldo is very fond of you, said her mother over lunch. He just cant find

the words.

From that time on he came to collect her most evenings. He said, Hi, how are you

today? The rest of the time he said nothing until he returned her home again, when he said,

Bye, see you tomorrow, dear. She went out feeling fine and returned home with a

headache. Was this the price you paid for respect and prestige?

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The following Friday Sonias mother decided to move things on a stage by inviting Osvaldo

for lunch. She was in the middle of her preparations when the Lancia pulled up outside.

I thought Id come early so I could help, he said.

How kind, said Sonias mother. Sonia was about to go to the fish market, werent

you, dear?

In that case well go together.

Don Vito the fishmonger was known throughout the village for his outrageous sense

of humour. People went to him as much for the entertainment as they did for the fish. He was

a familiar figure in the village with his red face and Clark Gable moustache.

Youre very lucky. Im down to my last five pieces of cod, I give you these for the

price of four. Hows that?

While he wrapped the fish Sonia wondered where his sense of humour was today.

He handed the package to her, then said, I hope you like the cod, then, with a glance at

Osvaldos Lancia, and good luck with the fish.

Is something wrong? said Osvaldo as she got in the car.

No no, she lied.

Over lunch she could hardly bear to look at Osvaldo. Whilst he wolfed down

everything on his plate she merely picked at hers. Her mother was quick to notice Sonias

unusual lack of appetite.

Im just not so hungry today, said Sonia, avoiding Osvaldos gaze.

Later, as they watched Osvaldos Lancia pull out of the drive, Sonia decided to come

clean with her mother.

Its pure jealousy, she said. Most of the girls in the village wish they were in your

place. No doubt about that.

But theyre laughing at me, I know they are.

Osvaldos in love with you, said her mother, as though that explained everything. I

can tell.

Sonia realised that, short of rejection on his part, there was no going back. All that

was left was to count the blessings - or rather - material benefits. If things were to proceed to

their logical conclusion, as the future daughter-in-law it made sense for her to take a look at

the house she would one day live in. She was also keen to meet Osvaldos mother, a woman

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who was known through the village as a recluse who, on the rare occasions when she left the

house always wore a headscarf and sunglasses.

My mother hasnt been well lately, Osvaldo said. Ill ask my father.

The next day, however, he announced that Sonia was invited for dinner. Shes still

not well, though, so if she behaves a little oddly sometimes, please take no notice.

Is it very serious? said Sonia.

A nervous disorder, he said. My fathers taking care of her.

Sonia, we meet at last, said Doctor Baldoni, shaking her hand. Allow me to introduce you

to my wife, Laura.

Signora Baldoni swept into the room. She was wearing a black cocktail dress and her

fair hair was swept back into a chignon. She smiled stiffly and extended a slim hand.

Pleased to meet you.

Sonia tried to imagine herself in years to come, wearing a similar cocktail dress,

sweeping confidently through room after room in her husbands big house. Aware that

Signora Baldoni might perceive her as an inferior choice of wife for her only son, Sonia was

determined to make a good impression.

Throughout dinner, Doctor Baldoni did most of the talking. This revolved mainly

around the fortunes of the local football team, of whom Osvaldo was a devoted fan. As father

and son chatted, Sonias attention was drawn continually to Signora Baldoni who picked at

her food, gulped down her wine and stared blankly into space.

While Osvaldo and his father were out of the room, Sonia said, This is a very nice

house.

Signora Baldoni lit a cigarette, blew out a plume of smoke and pulled her chair closer.

Tell me, how do you find my son?

The question took Sonia aback. Hes very.... sweet.

Ah yes, sweet, said Signora Baldoni, making Sonia feel that she had given the

wrong answer.

Im sure, said Doctor Baldoni, coming into the room, with you as his wife hell be in

safe hands.

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Suddenly, Signora Baldoni sobbed. It was an eerie sound in the quiet dining room.

Then she got up from the table and left the room. Please excuse me.

Doctor Baldoni went after her just as Osvaldo returned. Right, then, he said. While

he grinned at her across the table, Sonia tried to make out the murmuring in the next room.

Was it something I said? Sonia whispered.

Osvaldo shook his head. I told you she wasnt well.

Just then the murmuring stopped and Doctor Baldoni and his wife returned to the

dining room, both of them smiling. Signoa Baldoni lit another cigarette from the stub of the old

one, then said, Do you like flowers, Sonia?

Yes, I suppose I do, said Sonia.

Come with me. I want to show you something.

As they got up from the table, Doctor Baldoni frowned.

Its OK, said Signora Baldoni, like a small child assuring her father. No need to

worry.

She led Sonia to small conservatory at the rear of the house. Though all the pots

were neatly arranged, all the plants and flowers had long ago withered.

It doesnt matter what I do, said Signora Baldoni. Nothing grows here. Do you

understand me?

Sonia was at a loss for words. Why had she left the table to bring her here to talk

about gardening problems?

Its not his fault, of course, she went on. Hes his fathers son, after all.

Is there something wrong? said Sonia.

Signora Baldoni laughed, a breathless, nervous laugh. No, theres nothing wrong.

Why should there be?

It was her eyes that gave her away. They were the dull, lifeless eyes of someone

who drank too much. Someone whose mind revolved in its own stifling atmosphere.

Someone who was drowning in respectability. From the sitting room Sonia could hear

Osvaldo and his father cheering together as they watched a football match on TV, but all she

could concentrate on was this broken woman staring at her dead plants.

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Without pausing to say goodnight, Sonia crept into the hall, pulled on her coat and

slipped out of the house. She walked quickly down the path, never once looking back at the

house.

Sonias mother was furious when she told her shed broken off her relationship with

Osvaldo. How could she throw away the opportunity of a lifetime? How could she be so short-

sighted?

In the circumstances, Osvaldo took it quite well. He nodded when she told him she

didnt want to see him again, and even agreed that they had little in common.

In time, however, it all blew over. Meanwhile, Sonia began to go out with Sergio the postman.

The first time she brought him to the house her mother said, My daughter was once engaged

to the doctors son, you know.

For Sonia knew these embarrassing little interludes would go on for some time, but

she was past caring.

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“my dear, don’t you understand,” said sonia’s

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