presents
One Crodino Spritz,
per favore
II take a deep breath of the rain-clean air, and the scent of orange in the corner courtyard immediately makes me feel at home.
I cross the street. The Biondo bar is still there, as always. For years now, everyone has been calling it "Dino's".
I reach for the door, but Paolo gets there first.
birthday,
Dino!
were expecting you in an hour.»
He pats me on the shoulder and pulls me inside. Sunlight pours through the windows, bouncing off the yellow walls. The counter is tidy and neat, the rows of bottles clean and aligned. Everything says: you’re in the right place.
Andrea polishes a glass by swirling a cloth inside it. I smile up at him. «I’ll take over.»
He shakes his head: «I doubt we’ll let you today!» and he points to the entrance.
Marta and Biagio walk in and hug me with their usual enthusiasm.
the sixties
years old.
Isn’t it incredible?»
«Happy birthday, my eternally young friend. How many times have you actually served me?»
I don’t know the answer either. In this bar I have served thousands of people and learned to understand how their day was going from the way they ordered their first drink.
We sit down at the table and Andrea joins us, hands behind his back. «Today we want to thank you, Dino. For everything.» He smiles and pulls out a Crodino Spritz. «This time, let us serve it to you.»
Andrea pours it over ice and finishes it with a slice of orange. I close my eyes and take a sip: the fresh liquid brings back the best memories of my life. Like the day I met Jane, ten years ago. She walked in to try the famous non-alcoholic drink that everyone talks about, you know? and from there we never stopped talking. For days. Then she returned to New York. But I stayed.
«Do you remember Jane?» I clear my throat. «Who knows how she’s doing now.»
Biagio laughs.
«I think her ears must be very hot by now, after we’ve talked about her for so many years.»
Paolo and I burst out laughing. Marta, on the other hand, turns up her nose. «Stop it!» she scolds him. «I’m sure Jane happily lives in Manhattan now. Oh, Dino, how beautiful she was. Is it true that she asked you to go back with her?»
«Yes, it is» Paolo jumps in. «And she had also promised him that she would never drink a Crodino again if not served by him.»
I smile: «Legend has it.»
«But then why don’t you go» laughs Marta. «What are you waiting for?»
The bar door opens. More friends come in, carrying presents and smiles.
The party grows, the drinks are poured, and eventually things begin to simmer down. Finally, it’s time to leave.
Paolo meets me at the door. «So, when are you leaving for New York? Come on, the flight ticket is printed on your face.»
«You’re not giving up, are you?»
He shrugs. «The thing is that you never forget your first Crodino.»
I laugh, but Paolo may be right. I still have Jane’s address. I could take a trip.
Maybe, it’s time for me to cross the ocean, too.
The door to Jane’s beautiful brownstone is closed, leaving me out here on the streets of Greenwich Village.
I knock again, but nothing happens. I climb the steps back down to the street. Okay, attempt number one failed. It’s 5pm, the time Jane loved to hang out at her favorite bar.
I hurriedly walk to it and look around, my eyes searching for her. The place is buzzing, and she’s hard to spot. After all, ten years have gone by, and anything might have happened: she might have married, moved, or opened a vegan bistro in Canada.
After marking an order on a tablet, a server walks towards the counter and a face appears at the table behind him.
A long sheath dress dotted with lemons wraps her bodily shape. Still elegant. Still beautiful.
I walk toward her, my heart in my throat. A little voice inside teases me: What a nice idea to come here, huh?
Jane turns. She sees me. Her eyes bug out. She stays still.
I wonder if she’ll get up and walk away, turn up her nose, or smile. Instead, she raises her hand to call back the waiter.
She puts her hand to her mouth and clears her throat:
«Come to think of it...»
She turns back to me. She smiles.
«One Crodino Spritz, per favore.»